I was going to read this 900 page monster slowly over an extensive number of weeks with, perhaps, weekly progress reports. (But given the 2666 debacle I am probably well out of that one.)
Anyway, Daryl at Infinite Zombies proposed a group read of Moby Dick which sets May 24th as first milestone. In consequence, Cryptonomicon is become a forced route march, because I would really prefer the two not to clash…
But Cryptonomicon is not hard to read, although I wish I hadn’t forgotten all the mathematics I ever knew. Fortunately I have enough brain cells remaining to me to enjoy the rather excellent dialogue.
A Rat in the Book Pile 
i ve been looking at 880 page mexican novel not long out on dalkey archive ,but just not long novel reader ,hope you enjoy moby dick if you do i suggerst leviathon from last years samuel johnson award a great book about whaling and the history ,all the best stu
Sarah,
I am happy to read that you are on your way with Cryptonomicon and find it “not hard to read” with “excellent dialogue”. I hoped/expected a reaction of that sort. The book made me stretch, sometimes, but still manages to be easy to read. And the dialogue is definitely a high point. That, and the perfect way to eat cereal.
I look forward to watching your progress and hearing your reaction to a book I really enjoyed.
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Hi Stu – The long novel fits in with the ‘reading habits’ discussion you were having recently; it’s just a question of how to fit them in. (I’m sure that you do read long novels sometimes, and Don Quixote will be a longish project, won’t it?)
Thanks for the recommendation of Leviathan. Moby Dick seems to come with quite a collection of ‘must read ‘ companions, I can see me becoming very well-versed in whale-lore.
Kerry – Continuing to enjoy Cryptonomicon, although it does not make for entirely companionable reading. The OH is not finding frequent guffawing conducive to his own endeavours with Solzhenitsyn’s Cancer Ward.
Best of luck on this one. Not heard of it ’til now, but looks interesting. Will be waiting for your *final* thoughts, before I make my mind up on this one.
Thanks Uncertain. It’s coming along fine, if slowly, and it helps if you have an interest in the second world war, mathematics, and ICT. So yes, yes, and not so much, but the technological content has not alienated me so far!
How’s Moby Dick going for you? Glad you posted about the read-along because I just got a copy a few days ago. So now is as good a time as any to cross it off my list.
Moby Dick has stalled. But I was enjoying the initial stages and must make an effort to get remotivated. Have you started reading and do you intend to blog as you go? It will be great to have you along.