i've decided to undertake one of the most difficult novels ever. i figure i need something to slow me down a bit. so i'm reading *drumroll* john updike's "couples". this book, with its (no joke) size NINE font (that is 38 lines per page folks!) spans 458 pages with the densest writing EVER (enjoyable, but very dense). many pages contain one loooong paragraph that spills onto the next page. i only got through 15 pages last night.