I have a few drafts in my dashboard, so I'm going to throw them all into one post and clean up around the joint.

1. When you say it more, it means more. Right?:

My infatuation with repetition bloomed when I read Robbe-Grillet's Jealousy. I read a translation since I am not a polyglot. But all that's beside the point. The novel itself is so good and so mind-twistingly psychological. The unnamed narrator watches and watches and watches and his conclusions are confirmed by his (circular) observations and there's a stain on a wall that may or may not be from a squashed centipede and may or may not grow with time. I'd recommend it to readers who enjoy tension and ambiguity and non-direct lines of information and questionable narrators.

2. Rumpel-what?:

I remember the Reading Rainbow production of Rumpelstiltskin. It was two-dimensional cut-out characters that moved across the book's background, kind of like when you fly in a graphic in Photoshop. I've searched and can't find an online video of it to confirm my memory, but I liked the end where R spun around and around before he disappeared in a puff of smoke (I think). Totally unfaithful to the Grimm version (which is more grim) and R's leg sinks into the floor and he rips himself in half. However the story ends, there's not a clear cut moral. Which makes me wonder, other than teaching young girls to break deals with short warty men, why is this story a classic? Well, there's the greed thing.

3. In regards to your kind letter of this Wednesday past:

Most High and August Majesty of the Southern Continents,

Congratulations on your entry. I have no doubt that your touching snapshot will warm the hearts of many a troll, lurker and blogger. The muse is temperamental and she arrives most often the the midst of perspiration. Or mist depending on your typing habits/cartwheeling technique.

The great majority of entries this year are far above the cream/milk line. I've read to the 100 mark and have a list of about 15 to re-read. The comments this year have been smart and to-the-point and complimentary. And ole pjd and Aniket sure get around.

You have no cause to shame at dropping wordcounts. You have a rock-star husband, kids, church people (shudder), and, oh yeah, a billion books to review. And beyond that, it's summertime so everyone depends on Mom to make the plans. Hooray! Writing is happening down in the 'Sip, but it's a slow process here too. If it's important enough you make the time. Currently, USA summertime shows are what's important in Mrs. Betty and I's life. have you seen Royal Pains? Brilliant. Like a beach read without the sand or the reading.

Remodeling is a pain in the tookas, but more time on the front end means less time in patch jobs down the road. I hope.

Mrs. B, Athena and Zora send their love.

Sincerely,
B., CDotU(Jr.)

PS - I thought the delivery driver had tried to deliver but thought our house was vacant and took them home to read to his children. That would have been okay, I guess.