The Silm is an odd one. I found it to be actually a little opaque and intimidating to beginners (i.e., me) in a way most "classics" with an intimidating rep haven't been once I actually opened them up.
I think the advice I'd give to an intimidated first-time Silm reader is actually the opposite of what I'd tell someone starting Proust: just skim until you hit something that catches your attention! It's a collection of drafts and author's notes with an outside editor's unity imposed on it; that's what makes the difference. I think.
(and save the charts for afters, always. Unless you're one of those admirable and baffling people who can learn anything from a chart!)
I think our space cabal would balk at putting babies on the space ship. Have you ever been stuck on a plane with a crying baby who can't understand why its ears feel so bad all of a sudden? If you have to get all the way to space, acceleration and altitude change is going to be even harder to deal with.
no subject
I think the advice I'd give to an intimidated first-time Silm reader is actually the opposite of what I'd tell someone starting Proust: just skim until you hit something that catches your attention! It's a collection of drafts and author's notes with an outside editor's unity imposed on it; that's what makes the difference. I think.
(and save the charts for afters, always. Unless you're one of those admirable and baffling people who can learn anything from a chart!)
I think our space cabal would balk at putting babies on the space ship. Have you ever been stuck on a plane with a crying baby who can't understand why its ears feel so bad all of a sudden? If you have to get all the way to space, acceleration and altitude change is going to be even harder to deal with.