McSweeney's Collection Complete!

I'm thrilled to have finally completed my McSweeney's Quarterly Concern collection. It took me a long time to start. I actually remember skimming the first few issues and thinking this is unique; yet not really liking the stories. I actually recall holding boxed issue #4 (the most collectible one) and still not buying it. Seven years later I paid $100 for it. Some collections make you suffer. But McSweeney's also inspires. I am so jealous of Dave Eggers' graphic design achievements on top of his literary success. Just last night, randomly, I was thumbing through the current Print magazine and they had an article on McSwys knock-offs. It was very interesting because McSwys borrowed from older design and text standards, but somehow modernized them. So are copycats truly plagiarizing? Or has McSwys developed into a new idiom? Anyway, from my first purchase in Seattle to the used copies bought from Powell's in Portland, and local Ken Sander's bookstore ... I am caught up! So now I'm keeping a McSweeney's diary beginning with issue No. 1 and I'm going to re-read them all and record the good parts, as well as thoughts on McSwys. That way when I want a good read, I'll know what to skip over and where to indulge.