Finally finished MD

[Joe Varo]

Well, a few days ago I finally finished reading Mason & Dixon. A while
back, I'd mentioned that I was having trouble getting through it and
received some engouraging words that the last 100-200 pages were much
better.

The last 100-200 pages were, in fact, much better but I don't know that
they make up for the near drudgery of the middle 300-or-so.  For me, the
book started out promising, then got rather tedious, and ended quite
powerfully.  This may grant me pariah status around here, but...?

I don't know that I'm up for a re-read just yet...in fact, I've gone back
to Gaddis' Recognitions, which I was reading when M&D came out.

So if you don't see me too awfully active around these here parts for a
time, it's because I don't feel especially prepared to comment upon M&D,
not any fear of moderation...which just made me think of Henry's
signature: everything in moderation, including moderation (or something
like that).

Joe