Cecil Vortex

GRDM, Week 3 — Book thread

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Hi, Per the previous entry, this is the spot to post re the latest chunk of Gravity’s Rainbow. For chat, please scroll down to the next entry below. Note: And for completists, don’t forget to take a stroll through the first batch of comments this week, over in the original Week 3 thread. Thankee, -Cecil

GRDM, Week 3 — Chat thread

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Hi, Here’s an experiment — I enjoy the banter, but I don’t want it to keep us from actually talking about the book. If we had threaded comments, we could prolly do both together, but in this one-big-stew approach, I’m not sure. So howzabout we use this entry as the bantery and chat thread… And … Read more

Building a flock

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They’re building a flock of geese out by the base. For six months now they’ve been working on it, piece by piece sun, wind, rain. First came the bones. Then the organs, the muscles. Fat and flesh. Last week they put on a soft undercoat of feathers. Then beaks. (Honk.) And I was like: “wow, … Read more

The Gravity’s Rainbow Deathmarch, Week 3

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Well, we started this venture with an astounding 35 or so folks out the gate. And inevitably, people are beginning to tumble off the trail. (Well, we wouldn’t call it a deathmarch if it was easy….) At this rate, by my calculations, -5 people will finish the journey. But what’s math, right? A poor predictor … Read more

Frogs

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I remember frogs — feeding them, caring for them pressing that spot on the base of their spines… Small frogs, caught by the creek cupped for a moment, captive, fluttering released open-hand. Huge store-bought bullfrogs kept in shaded back-of-garage aquariums. I don’t remember naming them. But I do remember holding them close looking down their … Read more

He was a fine mouse, and other laments

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Put it in a box and bury it by the side of the house with a few friends, a eulogy. Soft voices and a turning embrace. Gone, like our grandmothers and grandfathers. And not coming back. No matter how young we are inside. How frolicking. How ready to go to the circus. But it’s gone. … Read more

Mouth-feel

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Saying the word “doodle” out loud — “Doodle.” “Doodle.” — makes me feel three months more young, light, and lean three months less gassy and gray. Noodle Poodle. Streudel. “Doodle.”