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

["Karey Perkins" <karey1 AT charter.net>]

PS:  RE: stalking you college kid on Facebook:  You first have to convince her to “friend” you and that you’ll behave – you’ll avoid putting mortifying posts like “I love you sweetie” all over her Wall for all of her friends to see – that is, if you want to stay her “friend.”  But it’s a great way to stay in touch - that’s how I saw my daughter’s pictures of her trip to Germany – and I know what she’s doing on the weekend.

 

(Oops – am I really recommending Facebook to the Percy listserv??) But I actually am posting Percy quotes – not sure anyone but a couple of people really appreciate them. Which brings me to a question:  I posted this quote: 

"The nineteenth-century Russian novelists were haunted by God; many of the French existentialists were haunted by his absence. The English novelist is not so much interested one way or another. "The English novel traditionally takes place in a society as everyone sees it and takes it for granted. If there are vicars and churches prominent in the society, there will be vicars and churches in the novel. If not, not. So much for vicars and churches." (Message in the Bottle 103). 

Followed the next day by: Percy doesn't leave out "...the Americans' perennial disposition toward 'philosophical megalomania.' American failings include pretension, grandiosity, formlessness, Dionysian excess, and a kind or metaphysical omnivorousness.... American novels tend to be about everything. Moreover, at the end, everything is disposed of, God, man, and the world... A large order that, but the American novelist usually feels up to it."

(Hilarious!  Now that had me ROFLMAO!  Percy had a great turn of phrase!) 

And someone asked if he has a similar quotes about American cinema?  Obviously he must but…  anyone know of a profound and pithy Percy comment on American cinema?

Another Facebook/Twitter observation – you are limited to a certain number of characters – it’s fast food updates, not long philosophical ponderings that are encouraged, just like our society.

 

 

 

From: percy-l-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:percy-l-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Karey Perkins
Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 10:31 AM
To: 'Percy-L: Literary and Philosophical Discussion'
Subject: Re: [percy-l] Ten Best Southern Novels of All Time...

 

If you have teenagers, it behooves you to learn the lingo…  : ) 

 

Or join Facebook.  I’ve joined – as have many of my friends – all old people like me!  It’s quite a phenomenon - sad to say, I actually love it! 

 

Now what would Percy say about THAT??? 

 

But, besides keeping up with “friends,” it’s a great way to stalk your college aged kid… : )

 

Karey

 

From: percy-l-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:percy-l-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Jim Forest
Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 3:50 AM
To: Percy-L: Literary and Philosophical Discussion
Subject: Re: [percy-l] Ten Best Southern Novels of All Time...

 

David, as another person at sea over contemporary American acronyms (ROFLMAO? Po-Mo moment?), I wonder if you could ship a crate of Geritol this way? (There's no such beverage in Dutch pharmacies -- you see how far behind the Dutch are when it comes to health care.)

 

Jim

(in Alkmaar, Holland, where not too many people read Walker Percy) 

PS There are web resources to help the computer-speak illiterate. Take a look at Wiktionary.

 

On Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 5:09 AM, Beck, David A <dabeck AT iupui.edu> wrote:

Thanks, Ken. I'll go drink my Geritol and go to bed.

-David

Quoting Ken Wilson <kfw1 AT va.net>:

> Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Beck, David A" <dabeck AT iupui.edu>
> To: <percy-l AT lists.ibiblio.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 10:39 PM
> Subject: Re: [percy-l] Ten Best Southern Novels of All Time...
>
>
>> At the risk of exposing myself as an old guy, what does ROFLMAO mean?
>>
>> Ever-increasingly clueless,
>>
>> David
>>
> --
> An archive of all list discussion is available at
> https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/percy-l/
>
> Visit the Walker Percy Project at http://www.ibiblio.org/wpercy
--
An archive of all list discussion is available at https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/percy-l/

Visit the Walker Percy Project at http://www.ibiblio.org/wpercy

--
Jim & Nancy Forest
Kanisstraat 5
1811 GJ Alkmaar
The Netherlands

intl code+31-72-515-4180

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://incommunion.org/forest-flier/books/living-with-wisdom/
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/

* * *

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.89/2359 - Release Date: 09/10/09 05:50:00

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.89/2359 - Release Date: 09/10/09 05:50:00