This is looking like a contest/ Of who can act like they care less

Generally, I do not read the introductions, literary analysis, or commentaries that accompany some books. I don't have a great reason for skipping these, aside from time - I try to almost always be progressing with the project when possible.

I made an exception, though, for Mill on the Floss.Why did I do this? Well, mostly because I was stuck on an airplane and I had finished the book. And, the person in my seat before me had done the crossword and sudoku.

I actually really liked this one; spoiler alert, though! What an ending! That said, I didn't really have an issue with Stephen (I feel like I got that; maybe it's a time period difference), so I was surprised that was the issue of focus here.

Nevertheless, some interesting quotes to think about from the commentary/analysis (this was the Penguin Classics edition):

It is perhaps worth remarking that he is the literary descendant of other energetic, simple, sexually powerful men in novels who create quite complex problems for women whose alternative lovers are perhaps more sensitive but less alive, forceful, and exciting.

Minna's appear[s] to have overestimated the taste, talent, and ability of a handsome young man who was dedicating to her his whole time and attention, and whose homage rendered her the envy of almost all the young women.

If you want to know why I was on a plane, it was because I was going to a place where I got this done: