阅读训练《小说家的困境》_第2页

The authors who have caught America on paper best did it incrementally, not all at once. It's the sum of Twain and Wharton and Faulkner that delivers their versions of America, not any single book. Still, there persists that tantalizing possibility that maybe this time, with one roll of the dice, you can get it all down at once. Reinforcing this possibility is the very American belief that the higher you aim, the less shame there is in falling short. Who wouldn't rather read a flawed masterpiece than none at all? After all, not even Twain could figure out the right way to end Huckleberry Finn.

词句笔记：
epitomize： 体现，作为典范
例句：She epitomizes the loving mother.她是慈母的典范。

dazzle：使震惊
dazzle the literary world：震惊文坛

bite off  more than one can chew:好高骛远，贪多咽不下

do nothing less than: 只想做某事
例句：I want to do nothing less than stay alone.我只想一个人呆着。

monoculture：单一文化体

up for grabs：人人有份，谁都可以竞争的东西
例句：The prize was up for grabs to anyone under16 years of age.十六岁以下的人都可以参与奖品的争夺。

incrementally：循序渐进地，逐渐地