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Thomas Hood 
Senior
Book Discussion Leader
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Location: Wyse Fork, NC
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DWill
Stupendously Brilliant
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Location: Berryville, Virginia
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 Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 11:01 am Post subject:
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The running of the gossip gauntlet in the village is a real hoot. Thoreau is at his comic best here. You can picture him venturing into town and then escaping by the skin of his teeth.
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| For the most part I escaped wonderfully from these dangers, either by proceeding at once boldly and without deliberation to the goal, as is recommended to those who run the gauntlet, or by keeping my thoughts on high things, like Orpheus, who, "loudly singing the praises of the gods to his lyre, drowned the voices of the Sirens, and kept out of danger." Sometimes I bolted suddenly, and nobody could tell my whereabouts, for I did not stand much about gracefulness, and never hesitated at a gap in a fence. I was even accustomed to make an irruption into some houses, where I was well entertained, and after learning the kernels and very last sieveful of news -- what had subsided, the prospects of war and peace, and whether the world was likely to hold together much longer -- I was let out through the rear avenues, and so escaped to the woods again. |
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WildCityWoman
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| Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:41 pm Post subject:
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Yes, like 'running the gauntlet' . . . so many instances in our own lives are like this.
I liked the way he spoke of gossip as getting started as being 'something on the wind', how all gossip starts this way. |
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WildCityWoman
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| Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:42 pm Post subject:
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| I also like the way he said 'a man need only to be turned around twice, with his eyes shut, to be lost in this world'. |
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WildCityWoman
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| Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:47 pm Post subject:
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I think he enjoyed being in jail for the night - it seemed to amuse him.
He got his shoe repaired while he was there. |
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