what else do you do besides playing chess?

I despise Grammar Nazis.

What you learn from the literature is way more important.

I read novels in French and write plays in English.

I love listening to relaxation music from Enya

Dubliners is perhaps the greatest collection of short stories written in english--in my doltish opinion.

Yup.  Right up there with the National Enquirer.

tennis, soccer, swimming, table tennis, jogging

That's some good going at your age, you look at least eighty years old. What's your secret? a hand-rolled ciggy and a pint of heavy, everyday?

obviously for the the guy who is reminded of the 3rd grade when he thinks about Finnegan's Wake.

dunno, ilikeflags, it probly all a bit subjective, but "Life´s Handicap" by Rudyard Kipling is pretty darn good - as are any of Kipling´s collections of short stories - in my humble opinion Kipling is the best writer of short stories in the english language that there ever was

I took a seminar class in Milton and thought it was going to be boring, but it turned out to be a wonderful class.  He was the great writer and poet everyone knowledgeable said he was.  What a surprise it was.

My favorite short story is Stephen Crane's "The Open Boat."  I don't know about collections.  It's tough to find a collection by one author that tops Dubliners.

i'm glad joyce wrote Dubliners so regular guys like me could enjoy at least one thing by him.

Portrait is pretty accessible to the average reader as well.  Also, it helps to prepare the reader for the Stephen Dedalus chapters in Ulysses.  Flags, you should check out the Proteus chapter in Ulysses.  It's right up there with "The Dead".

this summer Portrait... is on my list.  we'll see how that goes.  Ulysses--someday i hope.  i wonder what grade Ulysses reminds Afaf of...  Senior year? 

"The Dead" is a great short story.  I taught that to my creative writing class this year, and was somewhat surprised that my high schoolers didn't hate it.  Now, if only they could get Ray Carver.

Have you tried "The Swimmer"?

by cheever?  that's a fantastic story.  I offered an extra credit assignment for his story "the radio" but that was a love it or hate it affair

well put

Goldendog mentioned Samuel Johnson as a critic of Shakespeare and Milton. I liked his poems Rasselas and The Vanity of Human Wishes.

Not much. Not even chess.