I'll help defend it, too, Liberiamom. There are indeed people who read thick books in the world, WayoftheLeaf. Lots of them, thankfully. We're the ones who savor words and phrasing--and, I'll hazard a guess--who are more skilled writers than others. Try reading all the actual words in a book sometime. Funny things about reading. It not only makes people better writers but also develops better intellects.