I’ve got all the way up to Chapter 34, and was surprised to see my old friend Tom Sawyer show up again. And it looks like I might finish by the library due date.

The following passage, in Chapter 26, reminded me of the dinner party I attended two nights ago, as well as my little book club soiree two weeks ago:

“Mary Jane she set at the head of the table, with Susan alongside of her, and said how bad the biscuits was, and how mean the preserves was, and how ornery and tough the fried chickens was, and all that kind of rot, the way women always do for to force out compliments; and the people all knowed everything was tiptop, and said so—said ‘How do you get biscuits to brown so nice?’ and ‘Where, for the land’s sake, did you get these amaz’n pickles?’ and all that kind of humbug talky-talk, just the way people always does at a supper, you know.”

I do know.