Author Topic: Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon ~ March Book Club Online (Read 104759 times)

ginny · « **Reply #360 on:** April 03, 2014, 09:00:31 PM »

The Book Club Online is the oldest book club on the Internet, begun in 1996, open to everyone. We offer cordial discussions of one book a month, 24/7 and enjoy the company of readers from all over the world. Everyone is welcome.

March Book Club Online

Blue Highways - a Journey into America
by William Least Heat-Moon

This should be FUN! Whether you decide to read and discuss William Least Heat-Moon's classic 1978 travel account or share your own memories of the "blue highways" of America, you will probably leave winter doldrums behind - in your driveway. Heat-Moon coined the term to refer to small, forgotten, out-of-the-way roads connecting rural America (which were drawn in blue on the old style Rand McNally road atlas).

The book chronicles the author's 13,000-mile journey and the people he meets along the way, as he steers clear of cities and interstates, avoiding fast food and exploring local American culture. His book was on the NY Times’ best seller list for 42 weeks in 1982-83, and its title became a cultural code word for a journey of introspection and discovery.

Some questions we'll explore:
   * What's left of the country stores and cafes on the old blue highways?
   * Do you have photographs?

Discussion Schedule:
   Part One ~ March 3-7 (Eastward)
   Part Two ~ March 8-11 (East by Southeast)
   Part Three ~ March 12-13-14 (South by Southeast)
   Part Four ~ March 15-16-17(South by Southwest)
   Part Five ~ March 18-19-20(West by Southwest)
   Part SIX ~ March 23-24-25-26(West by Northwest)
   Part SEVEN ~ March 27-28-31(North by Northwest)
   Part EIGHT ~ April 1-3 (North by Northeast) ~ NY, VT, NH
   Part Nine ~ April 4- 9 (East by Northeast) ~ Maine, Mass., Rhode Island, Conn, NY, NJ., Del.,MD

Relevant Links:
Least Heat Moon's route map (interactive)
Interview with Least Heat-Moon "Be a Traveller, not a Tourist"
  Recent Interview with William Heat-Moon on Book TV
QUOTES noted from Blue Highways

Some Topics for Discussion

April 4- 9 (East by Northeast) ~ Maine, Mass., Rhode Island, Conn, NY, NJ., Del.,Maryland

1. What does Heat-Moon mean when he says that TIME is not the traveler's 4th dimension on the road, CHANGE is? Do you see CHANGE as the theme from here on out? Has Kennebunkport changed in a good way over time?

2. What did Heat-Moon learn about the fish we eat while aboard the Allison E? Does he view all change bad, new regulations in the fishing industry, for example?

3. "Taking blue highways down the Northeast seaboard is not difficult, it's impossible." US 1, which followed Indian trails...now "four lanes of American lust for hideous ugliness." Does Heat-Moon view all modern development hideous and depressing?

4. How has Thames St. In Newport, RI changed since Heat-Moon's Navy days 15 years ago? What does he think of the "redevelopment for urban blight" - and what has become of his old navy base?

5. Are you familiar with the Pine Barrens of New Jersey? Why did the waitress in the diner warn him to avoid these parts in "the Middle" of the state?

6. Do you share the optimism of Roberts Roemer of Othello NJ - that man can change his future by changing his "angle of vision"? Do you think future development will grow from the past, not obliterate?

7. Delaware - breakfast at Rehobeth Beach, through Ocean City, to the Eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay and Alice Venable Middleton of Smith Island, Maryland. Did you think Heat Moon found their conversations depressing or did they leave him with some hope for the future?

8. "By seeing the futility in trying to relive the old life and the danger in trying to obliterate it, man can gain the capacity to make anew... His very form depends not on repetition, but upon variation from old patterns. It necessitates turning away from replication." Is Heat-Moon talking about himself with these conclusions?

Contact: JoanP

ginny · « **Reply #361 on:** April 03, 2014, 09:02:23 PM »

Hoping to hear your thoughts on Heat-Moon's conversation with Pete Marvin(Masucci)...his farm, his vineyard...

I thought it was very interesting, in fact this entire section is interesting, even down to what he told the Canadian Customs was it, when asked his purpose: "Passing."

The story of Pete and Pauline and Filomena is romantic, isn't it? It's almost like a novel. I'm glad he put them in his book. I thought Pete's thoughts on vineyards, chickens, and the dairy cows were accurate, and it's a shame really, because in that area that's a lot of land. I remember in New Jersey, the farm market was a big thing. Fresh eggs! Fresh vegetables! A real live FARMER! And here these people are living it but can't sell it for this or that reason. I found it to be true. "Go big or go home" is right.

All over Italy, at least wherever I've gone by train in the last 25 years, from the top of the country to almost Sicily, the Italians have at least a couple of vines and a garden outside their homes, no matter where the home is, or how big it is, whatever. . I was somewhat shocked when, in going to the Villa Arianna, to find an entire sort of mini farm behind row houses in a city. There were pigs and chickens, trees and a small patch of garden and of course grapes, always a couple of grape vines. It sounds so romantic, but as he found, it's very hard to make a profit.

I thought what he was saying was true. He does have a lot of "s---- on XXX" expressions but he's tried a lot of things.

(What, by the way, is cardoon?)

I also marveled at the stone wall, they laid 20 feet. In one day. I loved the idea that the stones were a test of friendship (or character) and that they had an urging in the rocks to be put in just so....as if they were alive.

I have to wonder, skeptic that I am, how that wall held out. I haven't gotten to that in the Revisited book yet. I would suspect it did not, for some reason.

I loved the bit about "It was hot and tent caterpillars warmed the ground like the Chinese army and bees hummed in the horse chestnut blossoms."

I love that picture; that's good writing. Those magnificent old horse chestnuts, also gone, pretty much. I remember them from Pennsylvania, they were unbelievable.

This is a nice section full of surprising people. I am not sure why I am enjoying it as I am, but it seems somehow more familiar than the western bars and sections. But then again, it would.

ginny · « **Reply #362 on:** April 03, 2014, 09:13:04 PM »

Actually I DID just this minute find the stone wall on page 209 of the Revisited book. Of course I have no idea what it looked like then. It appears to have done some sliding which I think would be expected. Not sure where the actual "wall" is, but it's a slope of stones, right enough.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #363 on:** April 03, 2014, 09:24:40 PM »

Ginny I think cardoon has to do with part of an artichokes - never saw artichoke growing - Have you? I did not know they grew so far north - I always thought of artichoke as coming from Southern California.

maryz · « **Reply #364 on:** April 03, 2014, 09:33:05 PM »

Barb, there's a globe artichoke, and a jerusalem artichoke. Maybe he means a different kind.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #365 on:** April 03, 2014, 10:18:18 PM »

Aha we have always called the one that looks like a daisy Sunchoke and it is the tuber that grows underground that we eat. I never associated it with an artichoke and yet, the name ends the same - interesting how we learn things - my friend has steamed the globe artichoke and she showed me how to dip the ends in melted butter - maybe I thought it grew only in California because that is where she lived for many years.

Frybabe · « **Reply #366 on:** April 04, 2014, 07:03:55 AM »

Glad you asked what a cardoon is Ginny; I wanted to look it up, but forgot.
Pix: https://www.google.com/search?q=cardoon&client=firefox-a&hs=Upi&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=-I8-U5uYL-rfsATk84GwBg&ved=0CKYBEIke&biw=1167&bih=673&dpr=1
It belongs to the artichoke family, but looks more like a thistle.

I think the whole section is interesting (don't forget to stop for some Maple Syruping). And the next section is interesting too. I just hitched a ride on a fishing boat. The description reminds me of Deadliest Catch and Dana Stabenow's descriptions of the fishing and crabbing industry in Alaska.

JoanP · « **Reply #367 on:** April 04, 2014, 09:45:07 AM »

Fry, I'm looking forward to the next section too. The east coast is my stomping ground, and I'm finding so many familiar sights here...and some that I was not aware of too. - Like the huge tract of land - the Pine Barrens in New Jersey! (I grew up in New Jersey! How did I miss that?)

Before we pull out of New Hampshire, though, I'd like to pick your memories to be sure I understood what bits of wisdom Heath-Moon picked up from Mrs. Robie, her elderly friend and her cousin, the maple syrup man in Melvin Village. Don't you get the feeling that he's storing their stories in the back of his mind (or on his tape recorder) to help him make sense of his life once he gets back to Missouri?

His excuse for visiting Miss Robie was to learn who Melvin was. But he was attempting to learn more about the village...and the people who lived there...the oldtimers especially - and what they thought of the changes that have taken place in their quiet little village. I really didn't expect what they had to say...wonder if you were too?

maryz · « **Reply #368 on:** April 04, 2014, 10:17:35 AM »

Interesting, Frybabe. I'd never heard of a cardoon. And, of course, an artichoke is a member of the thistle family.

JoanP · « **Reply #369 on:** April 04, 2014, 10:54:28 AM »

Maryz - you are all reminding me of what Heat-Moon said in one of his interviews... as he was writing this book, he pictured the reader sitting in a chair with an Atlas on one hand...and a dictionary on the other. I'll bet "cardoon" was one of the words he thought we'd look up -BUT I'll bet he didn't think we'd all be sitting at the computer looking up the words and finding pictures of artichokes - cardoons.

ANNIE · « **Reply #370 on:** April 04, 2014, 11:12:34 AM »

Well, I have finished the book and listened to the 3hr interview and liked both. Although, I began to find LHM rather boring in parts of the interview. I do believe that although he didn't describe clearly about his "breakdown" in the book, he really became clearer about it in the interview. Also, one of his callers had seen the monk from Conyers,GA out in New Mexico and spoken with him (just two weeks ago, the man said). In "Revisited" that's where that author found him.

LHM tells Connie?

??, that his wife who is Catholic asked him one night as they sat on their deck outside how he could get along without going to church. He responded by gazing over the countryside and saying that nature was his religion. I would add that people and their interesting lives are his religion also.
So, he has written 4 books and is considering writing a novel. Says he has the story to tell. One that he made up! Since the interview is from 2005 0r 2007, maybe we should be looking for his novel.

We love to add an artichoke to our meals now and then. They are easy to prepare and one puts out small dishes of melted butter and sour cream for dipping. Hmmmmm, good! I seem to remember a whole area of California just south of San Francisco, down past silicon valley lies.

ANNIE · « **Reply #371 on:** April 04, 2014, 11:17:04 AM »

I was up 'til 5am this morning finishing our f2f book, "Still Alice". I did like the way it ended immensely. So, now I know that any one can be tested for the gene of alszimers.

Frybabe · « **Reply #372 on:** April 04, 2014, 12:27:40 PM »

Well, it doesn't look like a novel has materialized yet. His Last two books, published last year I believe, are. Here, There, Elsewhere: Stories from the Road and An Osage Journey to Europe 1827-1830: Three French Accounts.

I went looking for a website page or blog, but only came up with a Facebook page where a note says that an administrator gets all the comments and then passes them on to LHM. He supposedly reads everyone. My impression of him along the way is that he is a rather private type of person about himself. It appears that he remains so, even though he does do interviews and book signings. On the other hand, continuing with the theme of old ways of doing things passing, perhaps he is one of those writers (there are still a few around) who doesn't like to use computers.

ANNIE · « **Reply #373 on:** April 04, 2014, 01:46:08 PM »

When he is being interviewed he says that he hand writes several versions of what he wants to tell and then uses his computer to write the best one and send it to his editor.

ginny · « **Reply #374 on:** April 04, 2014, 07:00:28 PM »

I appreciate all that information on the "cardoon, " I had no idea!

Funny on how local things are pronounced, I love the discussion in the book on how Chichester and Puget Sound are pronounced. Love the Indian names of the towns he mentions.

I remember being in a class once here in SC and the professor asked if there were anybody from PA in the class and he was delighted. He said he'd always wanted to know how Schuylkill was pronounced. It looked so poetic to him and he had wondered, (this was before the Internet) and he had tried out several different iterations of it.

Since I was born in Philadelphia, I naturally know how it's pronounced, but he didn't believe me! hahahaha And he was disappointed at the harsh sound of it. He was a lovely man, one of the best teachers I ever had.

That's a good chapter in this book, too, Section 6 page 364 in the paperback.

ANNIE · « **Reply #375 on:** April 04, 2014, 07:16:14 PM »

A quote from LHM: I love his description of the people he meets.

Eating in a restaurant called Pat's, he said of his waitress. She wore threads of wrinkles like Chantilly lace over her forehead and spoke her English in, rounded Cajun measures. As she cleared the table, she says, "Did they eat lovely like mortal sin?" and winked a lacy eyelid.

She also tells him that the Cajun population is dying out. "Us, we're the last. But, when I was a girl on our schoolyard when they open the day with raisin' Old Glory, we sing the Marseillaise--we thought it was America's song

JoanP · « **Reply #376 on:** April 04, 2014, 09:03:05 PM »

He does have a way with words...with very few words, provides a picture of a woman I'd recognize if I ran into her in any Jersey diner ...or even if I didn't, I recognize her

"The waitress, with a grudge of a face and a golden chain cutting into a puffy ankle, complained her way around."

Oops! - forgot the rest of the paragraph...and it's important -

"The waitress, with a grudge of a face and a golden chain cutting into a puffy ankle, complained her way around. Everyone seemed to like her, although she had no good tidings for anybody."

Concerned that LHM looked as if he hadn't slept that night, really concerned that he intended to drive into "the Middle." of the state. How many times do I hear that when I tell people I grew up in New Jersey. There is no Middle. It all looks like the Jersey Turnpike or the Jersey shore.

"You're a nice boy. Go to Atlantic City. But for godsakes, don't go to no middle." The Pineys breed like flies in there. Live like animals."

Heat-Moon writes - "It was almost an axiom that anyone who lived off the main highway was an animal that bred like flies."

Of course he went anyway. I don't know how I ever missed the Pine Barrens - - its size equal to the Grand Canyon National Park! But I did.
I wonder what this area is like today - or thirty years later is it described in Blue Highways revisited?

The place I really intend to get to is Ye Greate Street in Othello and Greenwich! Today I'm going to try the google map...and see whether any of those old houses can be seen - are still standing.

ANNIE · « **Reply #377 on:** April 05, 2014, 03:18:57 PM »

When we flew one of our nieces back to NJ in the 70', we were surprised at the trees in the northern part of the state. And I have a neighbor who moved here from NJ and he also commented on the forest in northern NJ. My brother who lived in Cherry Hill had much to say about the great hiking in the forest in the southern part of NJ. So, where were you living??

CallieOK · « **Reply #378 on:** April 05, 2014, 03:29:31 PM »

I had to check the book in yesterday - and discovered that "Blue Highways Revisited" may no longer even be in the system. Since it wasn't on the shelf in my branch - although the catalog had said it was - and wasn't in the "to be shelved" area,
two librarians were busily trying to find out why when I left.

I'll enjoy reading other comments and hope I took enough notes to remember a few details.

ANNIE · « **Reply #379 on:** April 05, 2014, 03:31:09 PM »

I just started another Louise Penny book today. "How The Light Gets In" with Inspector Gamache.
I read the "The Beautiful Mystery" by Penny last month. Its a very good mystery about an abbey out in the middle of nowhere and where a murder has occurred. The description the abbey and monks matches the one in the Trappist abbey in Conyers, GA and LMH's visit. His monks sang in Plainsong and in Penny's book, they sang Gregorian chant. In fact the Gregorian chant and someone's huge ego brings the case to a close. Faced each other in the church the same. Tried to remain silent.

Thomas Merton was a Trappist monk. Remember Seven Story Mountain??

"Revisited" is just a real pleasure to read and see the wonderful places in living color that LHM saw in 1978. Hope your library finds that book, Callie.

CallieOK · « **Reply #380 on:** April 05, 2014, 08:18:09 PM »

I just checked the on-line catalog and it now indicates that my library's copy of "Blue Highways Revisited" is loaned. However, two other branches have copies - supposedly "on the shelf" - so I've put a reserve on it.
It may have been checked out from my branch earlier in the day I went to look for it.

JoanP · « **Reply #381 on:** April 05, 2014, 10:06:40 PM »

One of my favorite...no, probably my very favorite character Heat-Moon met on the route was Miz Alice Venable Middleton out on Smith Island, MD Unfortunately she passed away even before Blue Highways was published - so of course the Ailors weren't able to retrace Heat-Moon's time with her. But did they return to Smith Island? Did they go to any of the small towns on the East Coast - or the big ones?

Heat-Moon practically flew down the coast from Maine to Maryland, didn't he? Was it because those states are so close together? So many tourists in those towns, starting with Kennebunkport. He didn't have much opportunity to talk to the "natives" - those who knew the history of the towns and could talk about the changes they had experienced in their lifetime. Maybe he encountered the tourists because he visited the coastal towns where tourists came to vacation.

I liked it better when he went to the Middle where the tourists feared to tread. I'll bet the Ailors in Blue Highways Revisited found Greenwich/Othello NJ much the same as it was thirty years ago - especially since so many of the houses were designated Historical Landmarks. I did try to follow Ye Grande Street between Greenwich and Othello on the Google Map, Callie You're right - it was time-consuming, but I was able to see quite a few of the old homes from the road.
I also found this Historic Greenwich website. It doesn't look like much -not a place newcomers would seek out and then change the villages to suit their needs, does it?

Annie - I guess you'd say my town of Cranford in Union County NJ was - "in the Middle," though only 40 minutes from NYC, (a small town - with trees!) - a place with a sense of community - where people knew who you were...where the librarian would collar you as you were checking out and scold you because your brother's books were overdue!

Cranford, NJ

In my experience the rapid growth and development really occurred in the beach towns - Ocean City, MD, the Outer Banks. It's difficult to find natives when we vacation in the Outer Banks now. I've often thought it would be quite an experience to spend a winter there - when all the tourists are gone.

Frybabe · « **Reply #382 on:** April 06, 2014, 06:58:46 AM »

I believe LHM mentioned that he was surprised at how fast he went down the coast. I didn't realize that Long Island is bigger than Rhode Island, something I will check on. LHM was disappointed that his old Navy haunts had disappeared, not only the hangouts, but the yard as well. Typical government, the paint was barely dried on the new, high bridge that allowed for the carriers when the carrier base was reassigned elsewhere. I don't think I came across as many comments about being lonely or angry or depressed on this leg, just some disappointment that "progress" bulldozed over old and in some cases, historic places.

I am just coming up on the Pine Barrens now. I knew it existed, but didn't know where it was.

Frybabe · « **Reply #383 on:** April 06, 2014, 07:02:17 AM »

Yup, Long Island is larger. In fact it is the largest island in the US at 1,401 square miles. Rhode Island is 1,214 square miles.

JoanP · « **Reply #384 on:** April 06, 2014, 03:38:28 PM »

Didn't Heat-Moon say he thought Long Island should be a state, Fry? My sister lives there...I'll see what the Islanders think.

A recurring theme seems to be: nothing is the same as it was in the past. To change is necessary for survival - But, the past cannot not be completely obliterated either. The present is built on the past, the future is being built right now on the present.

Sure, LHM was disappointed that his old haunts had disappeared - and the navy yard too..but the navy presence lives on in Newport -

Naval Station Newport,RI

A neighbor, a navy man was about to retire from the Navy...really looking forward to it. He wanted to be a handyman...loved to fix things. A great neighbor to have, right?

Something happened to those plans along the way...he was named Admiral and sent to command the War College in Newport!

JoanP · « **Reply #385 on:** April 06, 2014, 04:15:59 PM »

Backing up the coast to Kennebunkport,ME for a moment... - had to laugh at Heat-Moon's description of this quaint and picturesque old shipbuilding, fishing town. The whole thing had me laughing. This was 1978, right? You really can't blame the touristy changes on George Bush, can you?

I thought the coffee mug souvenirs with the "Made in Japan" stickers was funny. I wonder if Ed Ailor checked those mugs 30 years later when he went through. Where do you guess they came from? Why the change?

nlhome · « **Reply #386 on:** April 06, 2014, 10:11:54 PM »

I have been on my own road trip of sorts this week, so have not been able to read the discussion for several days.

I think part of the speed of travel in the north and east is the congestion: more people, and even in less populated areas, still people and towns are closer together than out in south west and south. Also, at least to me, people in the south just don't move as quickly as in the north and east. The pace is less hurried. So I had the sense that his travels adjusted to the pace.

I had to laugh about the cardoons. When we lived in southern California back in the early 70's, we had artichokes in our yard but didn't know what they were so considered them ornamentals along with the bird of paradise plants. Years later we realized what we had wasted.

Right now we are in Georgia and planning our trip home with an eye to the weather and a hope to take more time and avoid the interstates. Our trip south was on limited time. We bought a new road atlas so we could get a more complete picture of our route and now we'd like to see some of those towns we missed on the way down. Like many of those in the book, the names of the towns intrigue us.

maryz · « **Reply #387 on:** April 06, 2014, 10:28:12 PM »

Stop in Chattanooga on your way north, nlhome. The rain is supposed to continue through tomorrow morning, and keep moving north. Maybe you can slow down enough that you don't catch up to it.

I'm sure you could get in touch with Steph via e-mail, but I'll keep you posted with any information I get.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #388 on:** April 07, 2014, 01:17:17 PM »

Not sure where everyone is - last night I went from Philly to Greenwich Delaware - just fascinated with the story and the community activism Roemer, a withit kind of guy explained, who was a part of a controversy, how best to use and preserve the town's history -

I think as you say nilhome, the speed of the activity and large population of the Northeast kept him moving. Where Delaware is on the cusp and has the slower pace of some of the "middle" not only the Middles of NJ but the middle of the Northeast. Even in this more southern culture of Delaware there is still a crispness and let's-get-things-done-Now along with what comes across as an attitude that there are marching bands behind everyone's ears. I think this pace is also good for him - taking a swim in an isolated river/stream may be lovely, poetic, however, he wrote the story of Greenwich and the nearby shore as confidently as Robert Roemer explained it and spoke with the command of himself that I saw in the photo - that association seemed to affect Least Heat-Moon so that during that section he was not whinny.

Loved Bob Roemer's outpouring on change, fee will, and I laughed outloud at his bottom line using Tertullian and the absurdity that finally settled for awhile the controversy if Jesus was man or God or both - not settled till the split between the east and west however, for 100s of years the determination pushed from Rome was that Jesus is both God and man, because, according to Tertullian it was too absurd not to be believed -

I did not know the Quakers were/are about property and preserving - during the early settlements buying land from the Indians - then it appears we have the Presbyterians to thank for being a leader in setting up free schools. I know here in Austin we have the German's to thank for the same free school approach - interesting couple of units or chapters.

JoanP · « **Reply #389 on:** April 07, 2014, 03:26:47 PM »

Barb - you're right. I don't see him whining...complaining about how lonely he is...haven't seen it for some time now. Sometimes he's irritable when he doesn't find things the way he expected them...but there's a difference between that sort of complaining.

When I read about Roberts Roemer, I thought back to those tombstones he was reading with his lunch in Holliston Mass. (Cemeteries seem to be a favorite stopping place) ...One stood out - that of a Minuteman who died in 1757:

Quote

"As you are, now so once was I.
Prepare for death and follow me."

After reading this, Heat-Moon comments that he is not ready to die...and states

Quote

"the rule of the blue road: the highway side to where you've been is better marked than the one to where you're going

..."

Hmm...I lost my point - oh, was thinking of Rob Roemer... an optimist, an activist, a believer in change, as you pointed out. Back in the cemetery, Heat-Moon cited Henry Miller:

Quote

"Our destination is never a place, but rather a new way of looking at things."

We've seen Roemer's way ...Do you see changes in Heat-Moon's way of looking at things? His angle of vision shifting a bit?

JoanP · « **Reply #390 on:** April 07, 2014, 03:35:36 PM »

New Atlas! Small towns! Good for you, nlhome - avoid those Interstates if you really want to see the country! Couldn't agree with you more about the congestion in the towns and cities of the Northeast...and the brisk pace too. You've got to get off the Interstates~
My DIL grew up in Lewes, Delaware - a small village on the Chesapeake, not too far from Rehobeth, on the Atlantic. There's a ferry you can ride across to Cape May, New Jersey...another great place to spend time, to vacation. But you've got to get off the highways to find these places!

Maryz...that welcome mat is inviting!

maryz · « **Reply #391 on:** April 07, 2014, 05:07:27 PM »

Any time, JoanP (assuming we're in town, of course

).

Frybabe · « **Reply #392 on:** April 08, 2014, 07:42:52 AM »

I am thinking about the comment (was it Alice Venable Middleton or Roberts Roemer?) about building the future upon the past rather then destroying the past and building the future over it. We see through history man's efforts to destroy the past to build over it rather that using the past as a building block - prime example in modern times was Mao Tse-tung and the revolution that sought to obliterate thousands of years of history. It worked in some ways to modernize society, but in the end the people are looking back and reconnecting with their glorious past. The Incas and Aztecs, I don't think, were as lucky.

Finished the book last night. He really sped past the states on his leg West and towards home. LHM seems to have finally come to peace with himself and is ready to begin anew.

JoanP · « **Reply #393 on:** April 08, 2014, 08:49:46 AM »

I'm so excited to talk about Heat-Moon's time on Smith Island with Alice Venable Middleton - thought their meeting was climactic in a way. This woman seems to have made the strongest impression on him - clarified his thinking on the importance of the past on the present, the present on the future...as you noted, Fry, building the future upon the past, rather than destroying the past to build over it.

I remember thinking as I read about her, he could have ended the book right there, as far as I was concerned.

In one of his interviews he spoke of Alice and her importance to him...also said he had apologized to her for the photo he used in the book. Said he had taken several pictures of her...in which she was smiling. Should have used one of them in hindsight, but at the time, thought the one he selected best described her grit and determination. (I'll have to check that interview to be sure these were the exact words he used.)

Edit - checked the interview - the exact words he used to describe Alice - "indomitable" - "could stand up to anyone." He added that she was none too happy with the one he selected, with good reason. "She was not a scowling type of person. This was one choice he would have liked to take back. (He mailed her the smiling pictures.)

Have you ever heard of Smith Island, MD? I would love it if you all would motor through the island again - the Alice chapter - Part Nine, Chapter 14, so we might focus together on the impact of this amazing woman! Many words of wisdom here - perhaps the reason he was able to arrive home in peace, Fry

ANNIE · « **Reply #394 on:** April 08, 2014, 11:51:26 AM »

He missed a good part of Indiana and focused on the Harmony story which was interesting piece of history. But, he missed another monastery experience in southern Indiana which would have been interesting to compare. Forget the name of it.

maryz · « **Reply #395 on:** April 08, 2014, 11:56:27 AM »

AdoAnnie, two of our daughters go to knitting/weaving/fiber weekends several times a year at a southern Indiana monastery. I don't know the name, either, but I'll bet it's the same place.

ANNIE · « **Reply #396 on:** April 08, 2014, 05:30:16 PM »

I think the name of the monastery you might be speaking of is St Meinrads Monastery run by the Benedictine Monks. Link:http://www.saintmeinrad.edu/the-monastery/history/

But, there is also a Sisters of Providence property in that same area. Its named St Mary of the Woods and has an interesting history. So, maybe your daughters might go there? Another
link:http://spsmw.org

link to their church:http://spsmw.org/providence-center/attractions/church-of-the-immaculate-conception/

maryz · « **Reply #397 on:** April 08, 2014, 06:13:04 PM »

I think you're right AdoAnnie - it's probably the St. Mary of the Woods place. They love going there.

JoanP · « **Reply #398 on:** April 09, 2014, 03:15:28 PM »

Can't let this discussion come to an end without spending some time on Heat-Moon's time with Alice Middleton. They were important to the author, providing him with the clarity he needed for the return trip home.

What was it about Alice that so impressed the author?

~ She was an octogenarian, who "made life something you don't want to miss."
~ She was an educator in the true sense of the word:

"Learning rules is not an education."
"Only place to get an education - the school of thought."
"Education is thinking and thinking is looking for yourself and seeing what's there."

~ She lived her whole life on Smith Island, but never felt limited - thought of the island as "land surrounded by water."
~ Recognizes the hardest thing about living on the island is "having the gumption to live different and the sense to let everybody else live different."

For me, the difficult part was when the two walked to the end of the island to realize that there was no place, but on the island to discard all of the junk, the broken appliances, etc.. There are no repair shops on the island. No place else to discard. "This was the end of the assembly line."
Alice tells Heat Moon there is not enough space to hide junk. "Get used to living beside trash," she told him - "it's the way of things."

So what is it that Least Heat-Moon learned from this remarkable woman living beside trash on Smith Island?

JoanP · « **Reply #399 on:** April 09, 2014, 03:55:03 PM »

Heat-Moon wastes no time visiting the sights, or even talking to people as he travels westward towards home, Annie. How did you understand that? Once he left Miz Alice in Smith Island, his need to be on the road seems to have diminished. Why the rush to get home? No more need for quiet reflection in a monastery or retreat house? Desire to organize all the material and recordings of the places he's been, the people he's met - before he forgets the insights he has acquired on the road? Has he decided yet to get working on a book?

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Author Topic: Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon ~ March Book Club Online (Read 104759 times)