AM Barthes

Phew! If only Balzac and Tolstoy knew!
Why do I feel like a lab rat that just ran a through a maze? Barthes (sure has) a way with words, doesn't he? If the (parenthetical) comments weren't distracting, then his italics sure were. Gees! Who was his editor? I feel like I couldn't get his point without reading his passage from, "The Pleasure of the Text" a few times. So, according to Barthes, I utilized his "applied" reading technique; slowly. In doing so, I admit I felt as though I was gaining comprehension, but somehow missing the warmth and humanistic quality of the piece. I would rather consider some other perspective on the categorization of reading. Partly because I am not otherwise familiar with Barthes and question his sources. Who is he and who ordained him the holier-than-thou word god? And why do I feel like he would judge me upon completion of reading his essay? Regardless of my insecurities, I think Balzac and Tolstoy would be less than happy if they knew their art were to be broken down and labeled like the bones of a skeleton.