Percy-L: Literary, Religious, Scientific, and Philosophical Discussion of Walker Percy

["Dye, Steve" <sldye AT bluegrass.org>]

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.

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