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  • From: Sean Hadley <seanhadley AT outlook.com>
  • To: "percy-l AT lists.ibiblio.org" <percy-l AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [percy-l] INVITATION: Join this year's summer Slow Reading Group - The Last Gentleman (Starts Fri, June 13)
  • Date: Fri, 30 May 2025 15:51:56 +0000

I've never read this one, so now seems a good time!

Like John, I'm traveling a lot in June, but would be happy to be an active participant in July.

Cheers,
Sean Hadley

From: percy-l-request AT lists.ibiblio.org <percy-l-request AT lists.ibiblio.org> on behalf of jp AT jlarsp.com <jp AT jlarsp.com>
Sent: Friday, May 30, 2025 10:12 AM
To: percy list <percy-l AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [percy-l] INVITATION: Join this year's summer Slow Reading Group - The Last Gentleman (Starts Fri, June 13)
 
I’m in. I really enjoyed the slow read we did last summer.
I am traveling the last half of June, so will pick join in more when I’m back early July.
Thanks Henry,

John Pearson
Wheaton, IL

On May 30, 2025, at 10:09 AM, lowry.charles AT gmail.com wrote:

I am in as well.  I very much appreciate Henry’s careful yet imaginative approach to this list.

I am really looking forward to this.  It is maybe my favorite WP novel that never won the National Book Award!

Chuck Lowry
Brooklyn, New York 

On May 30, 2025, at 9:42 AM, Thomas Gollier <tgollier AT gmail.com> wrote:


Henry,

I'll be traveling, but, assuming I can keep up, I'd like to join the group. Also, although I don't have any particular chapter in mind, I'd be willing to volunteer for introducing one of them.

Thanks,
Tom Gollier

On Thu, May 29, 2025 at 9:59 PM Henry P. Mills III <wppdirector AT gmail.com> wrote:
Dear Percy-L Community,

As in summers past, we will be forming a slow reading group of a Percy novel—this time for The Last Gentleman. We’re currently set to begin on Friday, June 13, two weeks from today (or another date that suits all participants). The group reading will be for six weeks.

If we've learned anything from our previous groups, it’s that engaging Percy’s fiction together—and through writing—always reveals new layers of collective insight and fresh meanings. In addition, by following last summer’s reading of The Moviegoer witThe Last Gentleman, 
his second novel, we'll have the opportunity to witness Percy developing his craft as a novelist, as well as his expansion of his themes. 

A fun, preliminary online quiz and introductory article will be provided to start us off. Further details about this year's reading group are below.

Please announce your interest at this time, and also if you'd be willing to provide an opening post one Friday to start discussion off for that week
Volunteers do not have to lead discussion after their opening post. I look forward to another enlightening and rewarding reading experience together. I hope you’ll join in!

Best wishes in Percy,
Henry Mills
walkerpercyproject.org


------------------------------------------

INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE – SUMMER READING GROUP – THE LAST GENTLEMAN

At this time I invite Percy-L members to announce their wish to participate in this summer's book discussion. This will help us gain a sense of the group size and also identify needed volunteers. Of course, all community members are welcome to follow and join the conversation at any time, whether or not they sign up. Discussions will take place over the course of 6 weeks.


PROPOSED START DATE / ANY BOOK EDITION ACCEPTABLE
  • Proposed start dates are either Friday, June 13th or 20th. However, the group can also choose a date by consensus.  
  • Any edition of the book is acceptable. (Amazon purchase link available below.)

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR WEEKLY OPENING POST
  • Weekly volunteers are needed to post opening comments each Friday for that week's readings (generally 30-40 pages)
  • Opening posts may take any approach: a brief personal reflection on the reading; a compelling quote with questions; or any comments or observations of personal interest to you.
  • Opening posts can be of any length and reader level. Volunteers do not have to lead discussion after their opening post. (Rhonda McDonnell has graciously offered to start us off. Thank you, Rhonda!)

AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND OUR COMMUNITY



PLEASE ANNOUNCE YOUR INTEREST

  • Please announce your interest at this time and also whether you'd be willing to serve as a volunteer to provide one Friday's opening post. Send any questions to wppdirector AT gmail.com.


I look forward to seeing all on the list!


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From The Last Gentleman, opening passage:

ONE FINE DAY IN early summer a young man lay thinking in Central Park. 
     His head was propped on his jacket, which had been folded twice so that the lining was outermost, and wedged into a seam of rock. The rock jutted out of the ground in a section of the park known as the Great Meadow. Beside him and canted up at mortar angle squatted a telescope of an unusual design. 
     In the course of the next five minutes the young man was to witness by chance an insignificant, though rather curious happening. It was the telescope which became the instrument of a bit of accidental eavesdropping. As a consequence of a chance event the rest of his life was to be changed... 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PURCHASE BOOK ON AMAZON
–Picador Publishing, $20 softcover
–Library of America, $29 hardcover (includes MG and LR)

READING GROUP LINKS
Read Past Slow Reading Group Discussion (Past novels): https://www.ibiblio.org/wpercy/discussion/slow-reading-group/
Reading Group Archives (Current novel): https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/percy-l/2025-06/
__
Henry P. Mills III
Director, The Walker Percy Project

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USING PERCY-L
* Read Percy-L Charter and Policies: https://ibiblio.org/wpercy/listserv/charter-policies.html
* Manage Your Membership: https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/info/percy-l
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LISTSERV ARCHIVES
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----------------------------------
USING PERCY-L
* Read Percy-L Charter and Policies: https://ibiblio.org/wpercy/listserv/charter-policies.html
* Manage Your Membership: https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/info/percy-l
* Submit a Post to Percy-L: percy-l AT lists.ibiblio.org (Members only)
* Contact the Listserv Manager: percy.listserv.manager AT gmail.com

LISTSERV ARCHIVES
* View Percy-L Discussion Archives: https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/percy-l/

THE WALKER PERCY PROJECT
* Visit The Walker Percy Project website: https://www.ibiblio.org/wpercy




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