ACROSS LITE PUZZLE: [ IN THE BEDROOM]
PROGRAM: [Across Lite]
PROGRAM: [Java]
PRINTOUT PUZZLE: [ IN THE BEDROOM]
PROGRAM: [Adobe Acrobat]
There’s really no need to rehash the laughable promise I made to myself that I’d eventually read “Ulysses,” “Moby Dick,” and “Gravity’s Rainbow.” I’ve mentioned it a handful of times already. We all know it probably isn’t going to happen. So why bring it up again?
Recently, a good friend of mine also bemoaned the fact that he too hadn’t read the aforementioned novels. He added to the hilarity by saying “Proust! Never read a word.” So, he decided to do something about it. He set aside some time to read a measly 15 pages (minimum) a day, every day, until he finally finished one of these books. First up: “Ulysses.” Needless to say, I was inspired, and grabbed my copy and placed it on the nightstand.
It stayed there. Untouched. Frankly, I couldn’t drum up the courage to tackle it. Especially since the time I usually read for fun is just as I’m about to go to sleep. So Joyce has been collecting dust. Once again, the laughable promise to read these books continues on.
Yet my buddy’s determination to get through these difficult books stuck with me. I figured if he could pull it off, why couldn’t I? Then the solution presented itself. I took the plunge yesterday and installed Kindle on my droid. Downloaded “Ulysses” shortly thereafter, and then began. I have vowed to myself that I shall return to the ebook while I’m waiting in line, on public transportation, whatever.
Here’s are the reasons why I think this is it. This is the time I’m going to pull it off.
- I’ll always have it with me as I never leave home without the phone.
- I’m already accustomed to pulling out puzzles while I’m waiting in line, on public transportation, whatever. How is pulling out an e-book any different?
- Ignorance is bliss. And since I’m not carrying a doorstop around, I really can’t be daunted by how massive the book really is.
- On the other hand, Kindle happily tells me how far along I am in the book. To the percent.
Yesterday I was 2% of the way through it. At this rate I should be roughly three-quarters of the way through “Ulysses” by the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. Keep me honest, folks. Stay on my case and ask how the Kindle experiment is working.
Meanwhile, share the puzzle. New one on Monday.
This one was a personal best at 11:14, and no wonder. Not only was there a nice (ahem) somewhat familiar main topic that made two of the big answers fall with no crossings at all, but the first one, before I got the theme, crumbled with one letter.
Also: sci-fi/fantasy answers, metacrossword clues, computer clues, minimal sports, not even any new bands to learn about! (I don’t mind some music clues, but Brendan keeps exposing me for a poppy philistine.) The only way this one could be more custom-made for me is if it featured webcomics trivia.
So I love how you ran this puzzle the day I was trying to enable my crossword-lovin’ grandfather. Reeeeally awkward. Thanks BEQ.
Also, I really hope your version of Ulysses is annotated. I would rather kill myself than read through the original again. Regardless, props to you for going for it. Good luck!
amen and good luck. i haven’t read the other two, but GR is very readable. i’m sure i failed to understand about half of it when i read it, but it was enjoyable anyway.
proust, by the way, is amazing. back when i was un(der)employed and single, i got about 3.5 books in. now i’m too daunted to retackle it, and i’m sure i’ve forgotten everything important about those books. but boy are they delightful to read.
Sorry, Maria. There are 304 other (mostly) clean puzzles to tackle, remember.
Thanks for the great puzzle, definitely put a smile on my face.
BTW, Moby Dick is not at all difficult. It’s a very compelling read and one of the few classics that I’ve read more than once. Give it a go. You’ll get through it faster than you think.
I don’t understand. Why would you force yourself to read a book? Isn’t reading supposed to be enjoyable?
I hope that if you find that it’s a total slog to finish one of these books, then you’ll stop reading it and not pick it up again.
Nice theme today. Which is why you should enjoy Ulysses — it’s full of Joyce’s smutty humor. Once you get past the first hundred or so pages it gets easier, and more enjoyable. Moby Dick, on the other hand, is great in the beginning and end and bogs down in the middle with extended digressions. But both are so worth the effort.
By the way, I flew Southwest from Denver to Phoenix yesterday and I was very happy to find a BEQ puzzle in the magazine (“Return Trays Upright”). Another reason why Southwest has become my preferred airline. Brendan, is that a regular gig?
A Kindle with all the Great Books of the Western Civilization on it. That would be kool.
I saw two BEQ puzzles in January on Southwest. Taking a SW flight tomorrow, good to know it won’t be a complete waste of time!
More on topic, I don’t get the answer to 19a. If there’s not an unwritten rule not to discuss answers, can someone enlighten me?
Contract inked, finally.
I’m skipping the earlier comments for now because I haven’t done the puzzle yet (have been shoveling my way out from under the snow) but I wanted to suggest that you read the review by Michael5000 (The Life & Times of Michael5000–great blog out of Portland, OR)….it could save you some pain. With a universe of wonderful novels, do you really have to flog yourself through _Crime and Punishment_ and _Ulysses_? Life is short (I’m in my Sixties, so this isn’t just an expression,) and I no longer have time for indigestible books. There are books that were unusual and ground-breaking for their times, but ultimately fail to stand the test of time in terms of readability and relevance. That said, if you haven’t read _KonTiki_ (nonfiction, actually, but still); Look Homeward, Angel; Angle of Repose; The Shipping News; The Edge of Sadness (Edwin O’Connor, amazing writer from your neck of the woods); Greengage Summer (Rumer Godden)….well, allow me to recommend ALL of those.
Oh! “lOots”! Thought that might be taking the theme too far… 🙂
Nice and breezy puzzle – but I have to say – you must have some kind of ‘stores’ in your ‘hood to describe the theme as a ‘department’ — we have mere ‘sections’ round these parts. O, joyous the day when I find one of these places and say to someone, “Excuse me, can you direct me to the [theme] department?”
The second parts of each phrase is an item used during sex. You might buy them in a sex shop. In said sex shop, you would probably find a section called “Anal”, just as you would find “Produce” in a regular grocery store.
I recommend listening to Ulysses (Recorded Books, unabridged version narrated by Donal Donnelly and Miriam Healy-Louie. Much more musical, much less intimidating. (I can say this because I’ve also read it several times out of necessity.)I’ve also tried to post this comment several times which speaks to my severely limited intelligence.
Nice how the theme devices are all tied to TANGO in the middle. Oh, whoops, not everyone knows about that . . .
Maybe 15 pages at a time IS the way to finally read Infinite Jest. That puts me somewhere in July, right (even without the footnotes)
Well, the book discussion is definitely more, um, elevating than the puzzle subject. (God, what part of Boston are you living in?) As KS pointed out, TANGO was pretty funny (by then really needed something to brighten things up)…. Way back then, the only way to see that movie was at the university, because it wasn’t allowed in the theaters. Place was packed…
read infinite jest on a phone just seems so so wrong
so, what is BEQ trying to tell us about himself with this puzzle?