[perfTerm]

Hmm, I never had to read him for AP but I read a novel of his, can't remember the title, about these guys on Cuba, sittin in their town, and it just had me going. His sprawling style as you note just sort of fit the sprawling lives these characters lived. I've got another sitting on my bookshelf and one day after the other twenty or so odd books I ordered off Amazon but haven't quite read yet I'll get into that one too.

He is himself, also, as real life characters go, one of the greatest and most interesting I've ever had the chance to read about. What an eccentric and alcoholic lifestyle.

I could see not liking being forced to read his work though. Like the author of As I Lay Dieing which was itself a tough read, I really needed the time and mood to truly enjoy it.