Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

percy-l - Re: [percy-l] INVITATION: Join this summer's Walker Percy Slow Reading Group - (Starts Friday, June 5)

percy-l AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Walker Percy

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Leonard <leonardh6363 AT gmail.com>
  • To: percy-l AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [percy-l] INVITATION: Join this summer's Walker Percy Slow Reading Group - (Starts Friday, June 5)
  • Date: Fri, 22 May 2026 11:34:36 -0400

Henry and the gang: 

I'm on board too!

I go along with Doug..."Love in the Ruins" was my introduction to Walker Percy, and I love it. It's also next in line chronologically.

Whatever we read, it'll be fun.

--Leonard Hughes

On Fri, May 22, 2026 at 8:53 AM Doug Brown <wply1223 AT gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Henry,

Count me in. The last two slow reads have been wonderful experiences. You are exactly right - the pace of the reading and the nature of using email for sharing our thoughts work beautifully. Ah, to slow down for summer!

1) I am drawn to the idea of continuing Percy's novels in order. I vote for reading Love in the Ruins next. All of Percy's novels are funny. This one stands out to me as one of his most outright comic novels, although it's Percy, so there is plenty of bite to the comedy and meaningful substance to the characters. It's one of my favorites. 

2) I volunteer to take on one week of offering up an opening and questions. Mine will come from a place of enthusiasm and curiosity rather than scholarship, but I think that approach suits this group well.

Looking forward to hearing from previous and new participants. It is not true that great minds think alike, but it is true that great minds like a think!

Doug Brown
Asheville, NC

On Fri, May 22, 2026 at 7:56 AM <lowry.charles AT gmail.com> wrote:


Thanks for sending this, Henry.  The “slow reads” are a great way to deepen our connection with Percy, and with each other.  They are as sure a sign of summer as the frustration of being a Mets fan.  This leads to two notes:

(1) I would be happy with the selection of any of the four remaining novels for our exercise.  The Second Coming intrigues me because it always seemed a little more light hearted than the others.  Lancelot was always my least favorite aesthetically, but I wonder if that lack of enthusiasm is in this case at all justified.  In short, I shall cheerfully go along with whatever novel is chosen.

(2) To the extent that contributions are welcome from the dreaded “general reader,” though one with a profound love for Percy, I volunteer to serve one week to post questions, observations, etc. to get the discussion started, for whatever section our perspicacious moderator will choose.

Thank you, Henry, for taking steps to continue this interesting facet of our electronic Percy gathering.  I look forward to participating.

Chuck Lowry
Brooklyn, New York



On May 22, 2026, at 12:40 AM, Henry P. Mills III <wppdirector AT gmail.com> wrote:



Dear Percy-L Community and friends,


As in previous summers, we’ll be forming a slow reading group around a Percy novel, to be chosen by the group in the next few days. This year’s discussion will begin two weeks from today, Friday, June 5, and continue for six weeks. Typically, we cover 60 pages a week, depending on your edition of the novel we choose.


If our past groups have shown anything, it is that reading Percy together -- and responding in writing -- continually opens new layers of collective insight and fresh meaning. The slower pace of email discussion allows time for reflection and more thoughtful responses to one another.  Last summer, we enjoyed a close reading of the Last Gentleman after reading the Moviegoer the preceding summer.


If you’d like to participate, please announce your interest now, as well as indicate your preference for this summer's novel. Feel free to share your background thoughts about your choice, and we will come to a group consensus in the next few days.


If you’d be willing to volunteer a short opening post or discussion questions one Fridayit would also be helpful to know that at this time. Volunteers are not expected to lead discussion beyond their post to the group for their week.


Please forward this invitation to friends, colleagues, and family members who may be interested in discovering Percy’s writings, even if they only wish to listen in. I look forward to another rewarding summer of reading Percy together, and I hope you’ll join us. 


Best wishes in Percy,

Henry Mills

walkerpercyproject.org



--

READING GROUP LINKS


Join Percy-L Discussion:

https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/info/percy-l


Read Past Slow Reading Group Discussions (Previous Novels):

https://www.ibiblio.org/wpercy/discussion/slow-reading-group/




__
Henry P. Mills III
Director, The Walker Percy Project
----------------------------------
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

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

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




Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page