Somehow I've made it to chapter 19 of The Scarlet Letter without killing myself.
Not that it's horribly bad, it's just so much of it in one sitting is a bit...ickish...is the only work I can think of.

But I can't help wondering. What if Dimmesdale never was the father? What if he was protecting that man and Hester? Wouldn't that be horrible, if he was in love with Hester but only got to show it by hiding her love for another? I'm not sure which would be worse. It reminds me a bit of the whole James vs. Snape thing. How they both loved Lily but Snape could only show it by protecting the child of Lily and James?

A bit tragic.
Almost Shakespearean, really.

Alas, I still have five more chapters to wade through.