Zigackly. Wandering (or roving) off the topic, I've read a lot about Italian politics. A few times I've had the experience of reading somebody apparently writing with great authority & insight about (say) Spain and Portugal, only to find that when they get on to Italy they've clearly only read half a book and not understood that one properly. This makes me wonder about the stuff I had thought I could trust about the areas I know less well.

Dunno about this book, as I haven't read it. (Not sure I could get through the prose style.) But that NYT review is weird - the idea that Dylan only gave the odd "tip of the hat" to American folk is bizarre, but not as much so as calling that line about Anne Briggs and Blackwaterside a 'dense aside' about 'minor figures'. Depends what story you're telling, I suppose.