Starting the new Vollmann book "The Dying Grass". I've gotten real used to his way of writing and can handle and appreciate most of the digressions. He does go on about things. This one has a pretty good description of early photographic technology. I saw an interview and review of this book on a Seattle book review program, Vollmann said he liked to entertain himself, and that he had a special deal with his publishers to work for much less money to have greater control of his output.
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/02/b...-vollmann.html
interivew
http://www.tvw.org/watch/?customID=2015090033