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Right now I have Mike's book ogling me from a bedroom shelf. It's been there for weeks. I suspect I just have to pluck up enough courage to open it and start reading and it'll be okay. As long as I finish it before June, when I'm attending a concert by Mike, Bruce and the lads...
John K, I've been thinking about the best course of action for you, LOL. Read the book, get mad at Mike, be mad at Mike at the concert, but then maybe the concert eases the anger. Or go to the concert, enjoy the concert fully, then read the book and get mad at Mike... I don't know which is better!
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I specifically recall two attempts at Ulysses The first time, I was about 22, fresh out of college, and proud to be reading my copy on the bus to and from work. 'See this, everyone? Ulysses! Quite a massive tome, here. I assume you're all appropriately impressed with me. Yep, I'm the smart guy.' About 350 pages in, I had to admit to myself I had literally no idea what was going on. I put it away.
Captain, I did this exact thing with War and Peace. Went like:
Me: "Hey everyone, look how scholarly and edu-ma-cated I am with my Bachelor's degree and my big book for smart, literary types like myself!"
Everyone: "Oh cool, what part are you at?"
Me: "The part with a list of names I can't pronounce or recall the next time I read them".