From leftatthegate at gmail.com Mon Feb 16 20:00:47 2009 From: leftatthegate at gmail.com (D.E. Pierce) Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:00:47 -0600 Subject: [percy-l] Hello from a new member. Message-ID: <313d1c730902161700g33520687i7ba116d7cb7cbd7e@mail.gmail.com> Good evening, all. My name is Enos, and I've just signed up here at Percy-L. I've visited here several times over the past few years, and while the discussion here seems rather sporadic, it's still (in so far as I can tell) the only Percy-centric message board going. So, here I am. I'm 34, male, and I live and work (nominally given the current economic climate) in North Alabama. With regards to those topics most often discussed on this board, I am largely self-educated. I believe I came to Dr. Percy via Richard Ford, whose work (especially the Bascombe novels) I very much admire. I recall having heard or read somewhere Ford having remarked on Percy's influence, and I suppose I went from there. The degree to which Dr. Percy's writings have influenced my thinking (or, perhaps better said, clarified already-brewing thought processes) over the past several years is difficult to understate. And just as Ford gifted me with Percy, Percy has gifted me with Dostoyevsky and Kierkegaard. Suffice it to say, it's been quite a literary pilgrimage. Anyway, I look forward to reading and participating here. Y'all take care. e. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From RGray at montreat.edu Tue Feb 17 08:31:25 2009 From: RGray at montreat.edu (Gray, Rich) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:31:25 -0500 Subject: [percy-l] Hello from a new member. References: <313d1c730902161700g33520687i7ba116d7cb7cbd7e@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <3FE19AF0B946EE4D8FAB89F9F1159F4C02185B02@e3kmail.montreat.edu> Enos, Have you read any of Percy's essays or interviews or the two biographies on him? I don't want to throw a bunch of books at you, but Percy's non-fictional statements about what makes people and the world tick, reflect in his novels. Rich Gray From: percy-l-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:percy-l-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of D.E. Pierce Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 8:01 PM To: percy-l at lists.ibiblio.org Subject: [percy-l] Hello from a new member. Good evening, all. My name is Enos, and I've just signed up here at Percy-L. I've visited here several times over the past few years, and while the discussion here seems rather sporadic, it's still (in so far as I can tell) the only Percy-centric message board going. So, here I am. I'm 34, male, and I live and work (nominally given the current economic climate) in North Alabama. With regards to those topics most often discussed on this board, I am largely self-educated. I believe I came to Dr. Percy via Richard Ford, whose work (especially the Bascombe novels) I very much admire. I recall having heard or read somewhere Ford having remarked on Percy's influence, and I suppose I went from there. The degree to which Dr. Percy's writings have influenced my thinking (or, perhaps better said, clarified already-brewing thought processes) over the past several years is difficult to understate. And just as Ford gifted me with Percy, Percy has gifted me with Dostoyevsky and Kierkegaard. Suffice it to say, it's been quite a literary pilgrimage. Anyway, I look forward to reading and participating here. Y'all take care. e. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kterrell at sheastokes.com Tue Feb 17 10:49:22 2009 From: kterrell at sheastokes.com (Karl M. Terrell) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:49:22 -0800 Subject: [percy-l] Hello from a new member. In-Reply-To: <313d1c730902161700g33520687i7ba116d7cb7cbd7e@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: Enos, I was introduced to Percy in college, late 70s (back when I also had time to read Dostoyevsky). I do not count myself by any stretch as a scholar on Percy -- just a fan, really -- but I've read everything by or about him that I can get my hands on. His ideas are thought-provoking, and his writing style really grabs and fascinates me. I admire Richard Ford also, who I discovered later, almost by accident. In an airport, needing a book for the flight, I grabbed a paperback "Independence Day" (I think I was attracted to the lady golfer's legs on the cover). I've since read all three of the Bascombe novels. I'd be interested to hear from those more knowledgeable than me concerning their thoughts on Ford, WP's influence on Ford, and comparisons of WP and Ford. Karl ________________________________ From: percy-l-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:percy-l-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of D.E. Pierce Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 8:01 PM To: percy-l at lists.ibiblio.org Subject: [percy-l] Hello from a new member. Good evening, all. My name is Enos, and I've just signed up here at Percy-L. I've visited here several times over the past few years, and while the discussion here seems rather sporadic, it's still (in so far as I can tell) the only Percy-centric message board going. So, here I am. I'm 34, male, and I live and work (nominally given the current economic climate) in North Alabama. With regards to those topics most often discussed on this board, I am largely self-educated. I believe I came to Dr. Percy via Richard Ford, whose work (especially the Bascombe novels) I very much admire. I recall having heard or read somewhere Ford having remarked on Percy's influence, and I suppose I went from there. The degree to which Dr. Percy's writings have influenced my thinking (or, perhaps better said, clarified already-brewing thought processes) over the past several years is difficult to understate. And just as Ford gifted me with Percy, Percy has gifted me with Dostoyevsky and Kierkegaard. Suffice it to say, it's been quite a literary pilgrimage. Anyway, I look forward to reading and participating here. Y'all take care. e. ********************************************************* PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATION This e-mail and any attachments transmitted are legally privileged and confidential, and are intended only for the individual or entity to whom it is directed. If you are not the intended recipient, this email was sent to you strictly inadvertently. You are not to read, copy or distribute this email, and instead should delete this email and all copies and backups thereof. Thank you. ********************************************************* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From lowry.charles at gmail.com Tue Feb 17 10:58:30 2009 From: lowry.charles at gmail.com (Charles Lowry) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 10:58:30 -0500 Subject: [percy-l] Hello from a new member. In-Reply-To: References: <313d1c730902161700g33520687i7ba116d7cb7cbd7e@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: http://www.theconnection.org/shows/2005/06/20050623_b_main.asp It may be time to repost this link to the Richard Ford radio interview in which he nominates *The Moviegoer* as "the book that changed my life." I think it has been posted to the list once or twice before. I am strictly a Percy amateur, both literally and metaphorically, a semi-literate salesman, but maybe after the February revenue goals are met (ha!), I'll send a few thoughts on some of the Percy-Ford co-happenstances that I have thought about. Chuck Lowry On Tue, Feb 17, 2009 at 10:49 AM, Karl M. Terrell wrote: > Enos, > > I was introduced to Percy in college, late 70s (back when I also had time > to read Dostoyevsky). I do not count myself by any stretch as a scholar on > Percy -- just a fan, really -- but I've read everything by or about him that > I can get my hands on. His ideas are thought-provoking, and his writing > style really grabs and fascinates me. > > I admire Richard Ford also, who I discovered later, almost by accident. In > an airport, needing a book for the flight, I grabbed a paperback > "Independence Day" (I think I was attracted to the lady golfer's legs on the > cover). I've since read all three of the Bascombe novels. > > I'd be interested to hear from those more knowledgeable than me concerning > their thoughts on Ford, WP's influence on Ford, and comparisons of WP and > Ford. > > Karl > > ------------------------------ > *From:* percy-l-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org [mailto: > percy-l-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] *On Behalf Of *D.E. Pierce > *Sent:* Monday, February 16, 2009 8:01 PM > *To:* percy-l at lists.ibiblio.org > *Subject:* [percy-l] Hello from a new member. > > Good evening, all. > > My name is Enos, and I've just signed up here at Percy-L. I've visited here > several times over the past few years, and while the discussion here seems > rather sporadic, it's still (in so far as I can tell) the only Percy-centric > message board going. So, here I am. > > I'm 34, male, and I live and work (nominally given the current economic > climate) in North Alabama. With regards to those topics most often > discussed on this board, I am largely self-educated. > > I believe I came to Dr. Percy via Richard Ford, whose work (especially the > Bascombe novels) I very much admire. I recall having heard or read somewhere > Ford having remarked on Percy's influence, and I suppose I went from there. > > The degree to which Dr. Percy's writings have influenced my thinking (or, > perhaps better said, clarified already-brewing thought processes) over the > past several years is difficult to understate. And just as Ford gifted me > with Percy, Percy has gifted me with Dostoyevsky and Kierkegaard. Suffice it > to say, it's been quite a literary pilgrimage. > > Anyway, I look forward to reading and participating here. Y'all take care. > > e. > > > ********************************************************* > PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATION > This e-mail and any attachments transmitted are legally > privileged and confidential, and are intended only for > the individual or entity to whom it is directed. If you > are not the intended recipient, this email was sent to > you strictly inadvertently. You are not to read, copy or > distribute this email, and instead should delete this > email and all copies and backups thereof. Thank you. > ********************************************************* > > > > -- > An archive of all list discussion is available at > http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/percy-l/ > > Visit the Walker Percy Project at http://www.ibiblio.org/wpercy > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From sldye at bluegrass.org Tue Feb 17 10:59:03 2009 From: sldye at bluegrass.org (Dye, Steve) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 10:59:03 -0500 Subject: [percy-l] Hello from a new member. In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Welcome to the list. I have been a "contributor' for several years and enjoy the posts by scholars who are far more knowledgeable about Percy and related subjects. I had the great fortune to stumble on to Percy while on vacation in New Orleans in 1988 and was looking for something interesting to read by the pool. I picked up "Lost in the Ruins" and was totally enthralled by it (and by Tom Moore!) and then proceeded to read all of his novels and his essays. I particularly enjoyed "Lost in the Cosmos" as I am in the mental health field. It was by turns, very insightful and very funny. In my humble opinion, Percy, sadly, seems to be falling out of favor to some extent, although with the current state of the economy and the massive uncertainty in the world, "Lost in the Ruins" seems more pertinent and "relevant" than ever. Steven L. Dye, MA Director Bluegrass MH-MR Board, Inc. 1500 Leestown Road, Suite 338 Lexington, KY 40511 -----Original Message----- From: percy-l-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:percy-l-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Karl M. Terrell Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 10:49 AM To: Percy-L: Literary and Philosophical Discussion Subject: Re: [percy-l] Hello from a new member. Enos, I was introduced to Percy in college, late 70s (back when I also had time to read Dostoyevsky). I do not count myself by any stretch as a scholar on Percy -- just a fan, really -- but I've read everything by or about him that I can get my hands on. His ideas are thought-provoking, and his writing style really grabs and fascinates me. I admire Richard Ford also, who I discovered later, almost by accident. In an airport, needing a book for the flight, I grabbed a paperback "Independence Day" (I think I was attracted to the lady golfer's legs on the cover). I've since read all three of the Bascombe novels. I'd be interested to hear from those more knowledgeable than me concerning their thoughts on Ford, WP's influence on Ford, and comparisons of WP and Ford. Karl ________________________________ From: percy-l-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:percy-l-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of D.E. Pierce Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 8:01 PM To: percy-l at lists.ibiblio.org Subject: [percy-l] Hello from a new member. Good evening, all. My name is Enos, and I've just signed up here at Percy-L. I've visited here several times over the past few years, and while the discussion here seems rather sporadic, it's still (in so far as I can tell) the only Percy-centric message board going. So, here I am. I'm 34, male, and I live and work (nominally given the current economic climate) in North Alabama. With regards to those topics most often discussed on this board, I am largely self-educated. I believe I came to Dr. Percy via Richard Ford, whose work (especially the Bascombe novels) I very much admire. I recall having heard or read somewhere Ford having remarked on Percy's influence, and I suppose I went from there. The degree to which Dr. Percy's writings have influenced my thinking (or, perhaps better said, clarified already-brewing thought processes) over the past several years is difficult to understate. And just as Ford gifted me with Percy, Percy has gifted me with Dostoyevsky and Kierkegaard. Suffice it to say, it's been quite a literary pilgrimage. Anyway, I look forward to reading and participating here. Y'all take care. e. ********************************************************* PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATION This e-mail and any attachments transmitted are legally privileged and confidential, and are intended only for the individual or entity to whom it is directed. If you are not the intended recipient, this email was sent to you strictly inadvertently. You are not to read, copy or distribute this email, and instead should delete this email and all copies and backups thereof. Thank you. ********************************************************* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jhforest at gmail.com Tue Feb 17 12:05:51 2009 From: jhforest at gmail.com (Jim Forest) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:05:51 +0100 Subject: [percy-l] Hello from a new member. In-Reply-To: <313d1c730902161700g33520687i7ba116d7cb7cbd7e@mail.gmail.com> References: <313d1c730902161700g33520687i7ba116d7cb7cbd7e@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <53c59b0c0902170905t202308fbjf7bf839835ac5a97@mail.gmail.com> Dear D.E. Pierce, It's good to have a new voice on the list. You may well wake us from hibernation, which we fall into from time to time. I am fellow autodidact who has a long running affection for Percy's writings and for the man himself. I treasure a couple of letters he sent me late in his life. Would that he might write a few more. I'm 67, a transplanted American who have in Holland the last 32 years, a writer, but no Walker Percy. Have you a favorite Percy book? Friendly greetings, Jim Forest * * * Jim & Nancy Forest Kanisstraat 5 1811 GJ Alkmaar The Netherlands home: (31)(72) 515-4180 / mobile (31)(6) 510-11-250 Jim & Nancy site: www.incommunion.org/forest-flier/ In Communion site: www.incommunion.org photos: www.flickr.com/photos/jimforest/sets/ *revised, expanded edition of "Living With Wisdom: a biography of Thomas Merton":* http://jimandnancyonpilgrimage.blogspot.com/2008/11/new-improved.html *revised, expanded, all-color edition of "Praying With Icons":* http://incommunion.org/forest-flier/books/praying-with-icons/ *"The Road to Emmaus: Pilgrimage as a Way of Life":* http://incommunion.org/forest-flier/books/the-road-to-emmaus-pilgrimage-as-a-way-of-life/ *"Silent as a Stone," a children's book about a community of rescuers in Paris:* http://incommunion.org/forest-flier/books/silent-as-a-stone-mother-maria-of-paris-and-the-trash-can-rescue/ * * * blogs: On Pilgrimage: http://jimandnancyonpilgrimage.blogspot.com/ A Tale of Two Kidneys: http://ataleof2kidneys.blogspot.com/ * * * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From sldye at bluegrass.org Tue Feb 17 12:24:12 2009 From: sldye at bluegrass.org (Dye, Steve) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:24:12 -0500 Subject: [percy-l] Hello from a new member. In-Reply-To: Message-ID: It exposes my lack of "intellectual polish" that I cannot even recite the titles of Percy books correctly. It is, of course, "LOVE in the Ruins" , not "lost". Sorry, but I hope you get my drift about Percy, so to speak. Steven L. Dye, MA Director Bluegrass MH-MR Board, Inc. 1500 Leestown Road, Suite 338 Lexington, KY 40511 -----Original Message----- From: percy-l-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:percy-l-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Karl M. Terrell Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 10:49 AM To: Percy-L: Literary and Philosophical Discussion Subject: Re: [percy-l] Hello from a new member. Enos, I was introduced to Percy in college, late 70s (back when I also had time to read Dostoyevsky). I do not count myself by any stretch as a scholar on Percy -- just a fan, really -- but I've read everything by or about him that I can get my hands on. His ideas are thought-provoking, and his writing style really grabs and fascinates me. I admire Richard Ford also, who I discovered later, almost by accident. In an airport, needing a book for the flight, I grabbed a paperback "Independence Day" (I think I was attracted to the lady golfer's legs on the cover). I've since read all three of the Bascombe novels. I'd be interested to hear from those more knowledgeable than me concerning their thoughts on Ford, WP's influence on Ford, and comparisons of WP and Ford. Karl ________________________________ From: percy-l-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:percy-l-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of D.E. Pierce Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 8:01 PM To: percy-l at lists.ibiblio.org Subject: [percy-l] Hello from a new member. Good evening, all. My name is Enos, and I've just signed up here at Percy-L. I've visited here several times over the past few years, and while the discussion here seems rather sporadic, it's still (in so far as I can tell) the only Percy-centric message board going. So, here I am. I'm 34, male, and I live and work (nominally given the current economic climate) in North Alabama. With regards to those topics most often discussed on this board, I am largely self-educated. I believe I came to Dr. Percy via Richard Ford, whose work (especially the Bascombe novels) I very much admire. I recall having heard or read somewhere Ford having remarked on Percy's influence, and I suppose I went from there. The degree to which Dr. Percy's writings have influenced my thinking (or, perhaps better said, clarified already-brewing thought processes) over the past several years is difficult to understate. And just as Ford gifted me with Percy, Percy has gifted me with Dostoyevsky and Kierkegaard. Suffice it to say, it's been quite a literary pilgrimage. Anyway, I look forward to reading and participating here. Y'all take care. e. ********************************************************* PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATION This e-mail and any attachments transmitted are legally privileged and confidential, and are intended only for the individual or entity to whom it is directed. If you are not the intended recipient, this email was sent to you strictly inadvertently. You are not to read, copy or distribute this email, and instead should delete this email and all copies and backups thereof. Thank you. ********************************************************* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From leftatthegate at gmail.com Tue Feb 24 11:35:37 2009 From: leftatthegate at gmail.com (D.E. Pierce) Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:35:37 -0600 Subject: [percy-l] Thank you for all the kind replies. Message-ID: <313d1c730902240835o10d54758j9e33d57ee78be587@mail.gmail.com> Hey y'all - Thanks for all the kind replies to my introductory post last week. I'm sorry it's taken me as long as it has to respond - I've been taking a few "media-free" days and steering somewhat clear of the web. To answer a few of the questions asked: I've read all of the novels. Were I to be forced to pick a favorite, it'd probably be The Last Gentleman, as it hit closest to home. My reaction to passages in that novel were exactly those of the alienated commuter from "The Man on the Train": "I'll be damned if that's not precisely the way it is!" I've also read the two collections of essays, the Tolson and Samway biographies, and Paul Elie's wonderful book about Percy, O'Connor, Merton, and Day. More recently I read the two "Conversations..." volumes published at Ole Miss. In specific response to Karl and Chuck: I had a similar experience in discovering Ford. I was in a used bookstore in DC about ten years ago and picked up a copy of The Sportswriter. (It was an early pressing, and had a small blurb from Percy on the cover.) I think I just liked the title and the use of a sportswriter as a sort of "everyman". When I think of the two of them together - Percy and Ford - what jumps out at me immediately is a similarity in technique, at least where The Moveiegoer and the Bascombe novels are concerned. That is, the use of first person present tense and the carrying-on of an almost constant interior monologue. A technical question: how does one go about replying to individual posts? Hope everyone has a safe and happy Mardi Gras. Tomorrow I'll be sitting around with ashes on my forehead watching Tiger tee it up for the first time in what seems like forever. (Watching sports on television is not among my Lenten sacrifices, which likely says something about my rather half-assed piety.) Y'all take care. e. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: