diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 508eb5a..f0cfff2 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -1,256 +1,149 @@
 #![allow(unused)]
 
-use std::collections::LinkedList;
+use std::collections::VecDeque;
 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex, RwLock};
 
 const ARRAY_SIZE: usize = 4096;
 
 #[derive(PartialEq, Debug, Clone, Copy)]
 struct Range {
-    // todo: also consider there might be an off the shelf solution that does ranges
     start: usize,
     end: usize, // exclusive
 }
 
-#[derive(PartialEq, Debug)]
-enum RangeLocation {
-    LeftEnd,
-    RightEnd,
-    Middle,
-    No,
-}
-
 impl Range {
     fn new(start: usize, end: usize) -> Self {
         Self { start, end }
     }
 
-    fn where_in_range(&self, index: usize) -> RangeLocation {
-        if index == self.start {
-            return RangeLocation::LeftEnd;
-        }
-        if index >= self.end {
-            return RangeLocation::No;
-        }
-        if index == self.end - 1 {
-            return RangeLocation::RightEnd;
-        }
-        RangeLocation::Middle
-    }
-
     fn contains(&self, range: &Range) -> bool {
         range.start >= self.start && range.end <= self.end
     }
-
-    fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
-        self.start >= self.end
-    }
-}
-
-#[derive(Debug)]
-struct RangeNode {
-    ranges: Vec<Range>, // valid ranges
-    bytes: [u8; ARRAY_SIZE],
-    start: usize, // global
-    end: usize,   // global
-    capacity: usize,
-}
-
-impl RangeNode {
-    fn default() -> Self {
-        RangeNode::new(0, 0)
-    }
-
-    fn new(start: usize, end: usize) -> Self {
-        Self {
-            ranges: Vec::new(),
-            bytes: [0; ARRAY_SIZE],
-            start,
-            end,
-            capacity: start + ARRAY_SIZE,
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn read(&mut self, start: usize, len: usize) -> Result<Vec<u8>, BlobError> {
-        let mut v = Vec::new();
-        let read_range = Range::new(start, start + len);
-        match self.ranges.last() {
-            Some(last) if read_range.end <= last.end => {}
-            _ => return Err(BlobError::InvalidRange),
-        }
-
-        // check bytes are not already read
-        let mut contains = false;
-        for valid_range in self.ranges.iter() {
-            if valid_range.contains(&read_range) {
-                contains = true;
-                break;
-            }
-            if read_range.start >= valid_range.end {
-                return Err(BlobError::BytesAlreadyRead);
-            }
-        }
-        if !contains {
-            // Invalid range already caught above
-            return Err(BlobError::BytesAlreadyRead);
-        }
-
-        let slice = &mut self.bytes[start..start + len];
-        v.extend_from_slice(slice);
-
-        // we copy existing entries into a new list to avoid iterator invalidation
-        // from inserting while iterating
-        // todo: might be a better way
-        let clear_range = Range {
-            start,
-            end: start + len,
-        };
-        let mut new_ranges = Vec::new();
-        let mut i = 0;
-        while i < self.ranges.len() {
-            let mut extra_range: Option<Range> = None;
-            let mut range = self.ranges[i];
-            if range.where_in_range(clear_range.start) == RangeLocation::LeftEnd {
-                range.start = clear_range.end;
-            } else if range.where_in_range(clear_range.end - 1) == RangeLocation::RightEnd {
-                range.end = clear_range.end
-            } else if range.where_in_range(clear_range.start) == RangeLocation::Middle {
-                let end = range.end;
-                range.end = clear_range.start;
-                extra_range = Some(Range::new(clear_range.end, end));
-            }
-
-            if !range.is_empty() {
-                new_ranges.push(range);
-            }
-
-            if let Some(er) = extra_range
-                && !er.is_empty()
-            {
-                new_ranges.push(er);
-            }
-            i += 1;
-        }
-        self.ranges = new_ranges;
-        Ok(v)
-    }
-
-    fn append(&mut self, input: &[u8]) -> usize {
-        let new_len = input.len().min(self.capacity - self.end);
-        if new_len == 0 {
-            return 0;
-        }
-        let new_range = Range {
-            start: self.end,
-            end: self.end + new_len,
-        };
-
-        // we are appending so only have to check the last range
-        match self.ranges.last_mut() {
-            Some(range) => {
-                if range.where_in_range(new_range.start) != RangeLocation::No {
-                    range.end = new_range.end
-                } else {
-                    self.ranges.push(new_range);
-                }
-            }
-            _ => {
-                self.ranges.push(new_range);
-            }
-        }
-        self.bytes[new_range.start..new_range.end].copy_from_slice(&input[0..new_len]);
-        self.end += new_len;
-        new_len
-    }
-
-    fn available_bytes(&self) -> usize {
-        self.bytes.len() - self.end
-    }
-
-    fn contains(&self, index: usize) -> bool {
-        index >= self.start && index < self.end
-    }
-
-    fn overlaps(&self, range: &Range) -> bool {
-        self.contains(range.start) || self.contains(range.end)
-    }
-
-    fn all_read(&self) -> bool {
-        false
-    }
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct Blob {
-    // todo: consider fallible_vec to detect OOM on append
-    nodes: LinkedList<RangeNode>,
-    end_index: usize,
+    // todo: consider fallible collections to detect OOM on append
+
+    // space complexity O(n + m)
+    // where n is number of bytes
+    // and m is number of ranges
+    // -------------------------
+    // also tried using LinkedList, but slow reading when ranges were inside nodes
+    // and indexing into LinkedList nodes doesn't seem to jive well with Rust's ownership model
+    // especially when considering multi-threaded access
+    arrays: VecDeque<Box<[u8; ARRAY_SIZE]>>, // complexity variable n
+    dropped: usize,
+    ranges: Vec<Range>, // valid, global   // complexity variable m
+    end_index: usize,   // global
 }
 
 impl Blob {
     fn new() -> Self {
         Self {
-            nodes: LinkedList::new(),
+            arrays: VecDeque::new(),
+            dropped: 0,
+            ranges: Vec::new(),
             end_index: 0,
         }
     }
 
-    fn append(&mut self, input: &[u8]) -> usize {
-        let mut remaining = input;
-        let mut written_total = 0;
-        while !remaining.is_empty() {
-            // add nodes if necessary
-            let mut new_node_start = 0;
-            let need_new = match self.nodes.back() {
-                Some(n) => {
-                    new_node_start = n.end;
-                    n.available_bytes() == 0
-                }
-                None => true,
-            };
-            if need_new {
-                self.nodes.push_back(RangeNode::default());
-            }
-            // write to each node's array
-            let node = self.nodes.back_mut().unwrap();
-            let written = node.append(remaining);
-            remaining = &remaining[written..];
-            written_total += written;
-        }
-        self.end_index += input.len();
-        written_total
+    // find array index - O(1)
+    fn locate(&self, global_off: usize) -> (usize, usize) {
+        (
+            global_off / ARRAY_SIZE - self.dropped,
+            global_off % ARRAY_SIZE,
+        )
     }
 
+    // appending complexity time, worst: O(n + a + m)
+    // where n is bytes written
+    // and a is arrays added
+    // and m is ranges added, usually 0 or 1, but reallocation could copy (m)
+    fn append(&mut self, input: &[u8]) -> usize {
+        if input.is_empty() {
+            return 0;
+        }
+
+        let mut written = 0;
+        while written < input.len() {
+            // add new array if needed
+            let global_offset = self.end_index + written;
+            let within = global_offset % ARRAY_SIZE;
+            let physical = global_offset / ARRAY_SIZE - self.dropped;
+            if physical == self.arrays.len() {
+                // O(1) to push_back
+                self.arrays.push_back(Box::new([0u8; ARRAY_SIZE]));
+            }
+            // write to array - worst: O(n)
+            let take = (ARRAY_SIZE - within).min(input.len() - written);
+            let array = &mut self.arrays[physical];
+            array[within..within + take].copy_from_slice(&input[written..written + take]);
+            written += take;
+        }
+        // update the ranges vector - O(1)
+        let new_range = Range::new(self.end_index, self.end_index + input.len());
+        match self.ranges.last_mut() {
+            Some(last) if last.end == new_range.start => last.end = new_range.end,
+            _ => self.ranges.push(new_range),
+        }
+
+        self.end_index += input.len();
+        written
+    }
+
+    // read time complexity, worst: O(n + m + d)
+    // where n is bytes read
+    // and m is ranges added. Usually O(1), but could be O(m) on re-allocation copy
+    // and d is arrays dropped
     fn read(&mut self, start: usize, len: usize) -> Result<Vec<u8>, BlobError> {
-        // early check for out-of-range
+        if len == 0 {
+            return Ok(Vec::new());
+        }
         if start + len > self.end_index {
+            // early range check
             return Err(BlobError::InvalidRange);
         }
 
-        // read the bytes from each node
-        let mut remaining_start = start;
-        let mut remaining_len = len;
-        let mut read_vec = Vec::with_capacity(len);
-        let mut node_global_start = 0;
-        // works, but this is SLOW
-        for n in self.nodes.iter_mut() {
-            if read_vec.len() == len {
-                break;
-            }
-            // if !n.overlaps(&Range::new(remaining_start, remaining_start+remaining_len)) {
-            //    continue;
-            // }
+        let read_range = Range::new(start, start + len);
+        let Some(idx) = self.ranges.iter().position(|r| r.contains(&read_range)) else {
+            return Err(BlobError::BytesAlreadyRead);
+        };
 
-            // todo: this works, but is a bit too clunky
-            let node_global_end = node_global_start + n.end;
-            let want = start + read_vec.len(); // next global byte we still need
-            if want < node_global_end {
-                let local_start = want - node_global_start;
-                let take = (len - read_vec.len()).min(n.end - local_start);
-                let chunk = n.read(local_start, take)?;
-                read_vec.extend_from_slice(&chunk);
-            }
-            node_global_start = node_global_end;
+        // read the bytes - O(n)
+        let mut read_vec = Vec::with_capacity(len);
+        let mut copied = 0;
+        while copied < len {
+            let (physical, within) = self.locate(start + copied);
+            let take = (ARRAY_SIZE - within).min(len - copied);
+            read_vec.extend_from_slice(&self.arrays[physical][within..within + take]);
+            copied += take;
+        }
+
+        // update valid ranges - worst case: O(m), usual case O(1)
+        let vr = self.ranges[idx];
+        let mut remainder = Vec::new();
+        if vr.start < read_range.start {
+            remainder.push(Range::new(vr.start, read_range.start));
+        }
+        if read_range.end < vr.end {
+            remainder.push(Range::new(read_range.end, vr.end));
+        }
+        self.ranges.splice(idx..idx + 1, remainder);
+
+        // reclaim arrays below the lowest unread byte
+        // this will keep memory footprint relatively small
+        // at low cost O(1) or worst on re-allocation: O(number_of_arrays)
+        // compared to a Vec<u8> O(n)
+        // could also use a Vec<Option<Box>>, but this would leave None slots
+        let min_unread = self
+            .ranges
+            .first()
+            .map(|r| r.start)
+            .unwrap_or(self.end_index);
+        while self.dropped < min_unread / ARRAY_SIZE {
+            self.arrays.pop_front();
+            self.dropped += 1;
         }
         Ok(read_vec)
     }
@@ -339,11 +232,6 @@ mod tests {
         let range2 = Range { start: 0, end: 3 };
         assert_eq!(range, range2); // similar
 
-        assert_eq!(range.where_in_range(0), RangeLocation::LeftEnd);
-        assert_eq!(range.where_in_range(1), RangeLocation::Middle);
-        assert_eq!(range.where_in_range(2), RangeLocation::RightEnd);
-        assert_eq!(range.where_in_range(3), RangeLocation::No);
-
         assert!(range.contains(&range2));
         assert!(range2.contains(&range));
 
@@ -369,47 +257,6 @@ mod tests {
         let read = b.read(0, 1); // left read
         assert!(read.is_ok());
         assert_eq!(read.unwrap(), vec![b'a']);
-        assert_eq!(
-            b.nodes.back().unwrap().ranges,
-            &[Range { start: 1, end: 3 }]
-        );
-
-        let read = b.read(0, 1); // dupe read
-        assert!(read.is_err());
-        assert_eq!(
-            b.nodes.back().unwrap().ranges,
-            &[Range { start: 1, end: 3 }]
-        );
-
-        let read = b.read(1, 2); // right read
-        assert!(read.is_ok());
-        assert_eq!(b.nodes.back().unwrap().ranges, &[]);
-
-        let written = b.append(&[b'a', b'b', b'c']);
-        assert_eq!(written, 3);
-        assert_eq!(
-            b.nodes.back().unwrap().ranges,
-            &[Range { start: 3, end: 6 }]
-        );
-
-        let read = b.read(4, 1); // middle read
-        assert!(read.is_ok());
-        assert_eq!(
-            b.nodes.back().unwrap().ranges,
-            &[Range::new(3, 4), Range::new(5, 6)]
-        );
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn test_range_node() {
-        let mut b = RangeNode::default();
-        let written = b.append(&[b'a', b'b', b'c']);
-        assert_eq!(written, 3);
-        assert_eq!(b.ranges, &[Range { start: 0, end: 3 }]);
-
-        let read = b.read(0, 1); // left read
-        assert!(read.is_ok());
-        assert_eq!(read.unwrap(), &[b'a']);
         assert_eq!(b.ranges, &[Range { start: 1, end: 3 }]);
 
         let read = b.read(0, 1); // dupe read
@@ -418,7 +265,6 @@ mod tests {
 
         let read = b.read(1, 2); // right read
         assert!(read.is_ok());
-        assert_eq!(read.unwrap(), &[b'b', b'c']);
         assert_eq!(b.ranges, &[]);
 
         let written = b.append(&[b'a', b'b', b'c']);
@@ -427,7 +273,6 @@ mod tests {
 
         let read = b.read(4, 1); // middle read
         assert!(read.is_ok());
-        assert_eq!(read.unwrap(), &[b'b']);
         assert_eq!(b.ranges, &[Range::new(3, 4), Range::new(5, 6)]);
     }
 
@@ -436,12 +281,11 @@ mod tests {
         use std::thread;
 
         let bm = Arc::new(BlobManager::new());
-
         let handles: Vec<_> = (0..2usize)
             .map(|i| {
                 let bm = Arc::clone(&bm);
                 thread::spawn(move || {
-                    let len = 1_000_000; // 100 MB test takes a while
+                    let len = 10_000_000; // 100 MB test takes a while
                     let data = vec![i as u8; len];
                     bm.create_blob(i).unwrap();
                     bm.append(i, &data).unwrap();
@@ -463,9 +307,7 @@ mod tests {
         use std::thread;
 
         let bm = Arc::new(BlobManager::new());
-
         let num_creates = 20_000;
-
         let even = {
             let bm = Arc::clone(&bm);
             thread::spawn(move || {
@@ -474,7 +316,6 @@ mod tests {
                 }
             })
         };
-
         let odd = {
             let bm = Arc::clone(&bm);
             thread::spawn(move || {