The Third Peregrination: Week Two: Part II (7 Chapters)

[Edward C. Patterson]

This second part of The Third Peregrination has some of my favorite bits - new villains, new characters and the Really Big Show. It also has one of the longest chapters I've ever wrote at some 7,000 words.

Here's some discussion questions and points:

The part opens with a new villain and an old villain. Do you recognize villain # 2? BTW, the cute little Maltese was based on my friends obnoxious little Maltese. What kind of name is Pelesar (don't forget the Third).

What does the Shadow Play suggest?

How did you like the little WTC match in John Battle Hall?

What do you think the significance of Moe is? What is the author trying to do by putting significance on common, everyday objects?

What is your impressions of Rose Whitaker? Is there any actress that might come to mind in her portrayal?

What is that horn call - and where do your think it's coming from?

How much sex appeal do think Sydney has?

What is the significance of the second triangulation at the really big show? What is the Buddhist's Wheel of Life signify? (anybody . . anybody . . . I'm doing a Ben Stein).

The hallmark of this second book is its layers. Every chapter will give you something to recall later as things mount and the story evolves. We also spend the least time outside of China in this books, because in the next part, we're Chinabound again.

I hope you are enjoying this second book as much as the first.

Ed P

[Ann in Arlington]

O.K.  Got the things to think about:  now on to the reading. . . . .

[Ann in Arlington]

Here's some discussion questions and points:

The part opens with a new villain and an old villain. Do you recognize villain # 2? BTW, the cute little Maltese was based on my friends obnoxious little Maltese. What kind of name is Pelesar (don't forget the Third). I didn't recognize the nasty tour guide at first. . . .but it became very obvious later

What does the Shadow Play suggest? Hmm. . . .was definitely the story of the d*mn Owl. . . .not sure if you mean anything else

How did you like the little WTC match in John Battle Hall? Not sure I thought much about it at all. . .it was neither out of place, nor completely expected. . . .I think I had figured out that P'ing was her cousin so was a bit surprised that Nick and Rowdy hadn't made that connection. . . . she did seem rather 'out there' in desiring revenge, but she's basically a hateful person so anything to give her an excuse would work.

What do you think the significance of Moe is? What is the author trying to do by putting significance on common, everyday objects?  All I can think is that people thought the Owl was just a common everyday object but then it becomes more powerful when in proximity to any number of other things.  Of course, the Pen is the clue that an old nemesis has returned. . . . .

What is your impressions of Rose Whitaker? Is there any actress that might come to mind in her portrayal?  I don't pay much attention to actresses -- maybe Katherine Hepburn -- someone strong, for sure . . . .on the face of it, it is a bit surprising that she and Rowdy were ever married. . . but she does clearly know her stuff which would appeal to Rowdy. . .can't see him going for a dumb bimbo:  OTOH, he hired one for his secretary -- though I think he pretty quickly realized how foolish that was!

What is that horn call - and where do your think it's coming from?  No clue. .  . .I think I forget this part. . .which is sad because I just finished reading this section this afternoon.

How much sex appeal do think Sydney has?  Well, I have always preferred the geeky type so. . .pretty sexy. . . .  Plus, he's smart and efficient and unflappable.  Good Qualities.

What is the significance of the second triangulation at the really big show? What is the Buddhist's Wheel of Life signify? (anybody . . anybody . . . I'm doing a Ben Stein).  Geez. . . .back to the literature class type questions!   I really do think I need to pull out my "Oriental Philosophies" book from HS and remind myself of some of this stuff!

Still really enjoying it. . . .looking forward to part 3. . . . .

[Edward C. Patterson]

I'm looking forward to you reading Part III, Ann - where it all hits the fan.

Good answers. And you should hear me recite Rose's lines . . .of course, I do a wondeful Katherine Hepburn impressin (and peek at the cover). Some of your questions re: her and Rowdy getting togethr ae answered in "TransPacifica"

Keep track of Moe.

Ed P

[Ann in Arlington]

Oh. . . besides Katherine Hepburn. . . .the actress whose name escapes me who played Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager. . . .actually, now that I think about it. . . .I think she might have played Katherine Hepburn too. . . .

I must go to bed now but hope to be able to start part III tomorrow. . . .

[Edward C. Patterson]

Kathrine Hepburn is my all time favorite actress and I tried my best to get her Bryn Marn accent into Rose's character, as sure as my Daddy is a dentist. (Of course, Kate H.'s daddy was a surgeon). (The late Patrick Swayze played a drag queen from Byrn marn in To Wong Foo). I also have her call Rowdy, Rawden, because I originally named the protagonist from the character Rawden Crawley from Vanity Fair. Only becaase on the day I named Rowden, another famous actor committed suicide (another favorite of mine), Rowdy got his final name. The actor was Spaulding Gray. Sydney's name was less imaginative. I drove by a Firestore Tire Store while head-writing, and the second name came in. There's no such name - Sydney (with an e) but I allowed the misspelling to remain as a quirk. Nick Battle derives his last name from my mother's favorite newscaster - Pat Battle. Gillenhaal is deried from Jake (although I don't know why). Audrey was another favorite girl's name from my mother, although her most favorite name was Amy, a name I DO use later in the book. Moorehouse is a cousin (although I'll never connect the two in a novel) of Todd Moorehouse from Cutting the Cheese and Look Away Silence. Wewoka not only appears in the title of my Cherokee poems, Come Wewoka, but is also the name of one of the Cherokee towns in Northern Gerogia before the Trail of Tears. Miss Chatty's full name is Edwin Chatsworth. And Gilgamish Muffin is a name I always wanted to use, ever since an operetta libretto I wrote when I was twelve. Now as for Simone DeFluerry, which is a drag queen's bad spelling in French (it should be correctly DeFleurry - of the flowers), we know that he's Simon Gelbfarb and, in his own words to Wewoka, from "a different tribe altogether." I'll translate some of the Chinese names at some point, but I'll tell you that P'ing Hu, means Soldier Tiger.

Ed Patterson

[dnagirl]

The part opens with a new villain and an old villain. Do you recognize villain # 2? BTW, the cute little Maltese was based on my friends obnoxious little Maltese. What kind of name is Pelesar (don't forget the Third).  I knew Mrs. Wu would come back at some point.  She was just too nasty not to.  I have no idea what kind of name Pelesar is.

What does the Shadow Play suggest?  The Shadow Play showed some of the journey of the Jade Owl.  How the guardian was chosen.

How did you like the little WTC match in John Battle Hall?  I thought it was interesting.  I had this idea of Mrs. Wu as more of a "brunhilda" type of person, not the type to scratch a face in anger, but to go in for the kill swiftly.  I thought she'd talk less, act more.

What do you think the significance of Moe is? What is the author trying to do by putting significance on common, everyday objects?  I think that Gillenhaal (probably spelled wrong) had a hard time forming emotional bonds to people and instead formed them with objects.  He named his pens for that reason.  I think the author puts significance on everyday objects to show that even the most ordinary object can hide an importance behind it's everyday normality.

What is your impressions of Rose Whitaker? Is there any actress that might come to mind in her portrayal?  Statuesque, put-together, strong, white shirt, ebony pants...Katherine Hepburn for sure.  Though, I must say that her use of "Rawden" drives me nuts because I am a stickler for spelling and my brain keeps reading it as a typo instead of a voice inflection.

What is that horn call - and where do your think it's coming from?  This is most likely because I have a strong Christian background, but the horn to me is like the horns the seven angels blew in Revelations.  Seven angels = seven sisters?  Not sure.

How much sex appeal do think Sydney has?  None, but in my eyes, Sydney is an old man.  Even though you may not have detailed him that way.

What is the significance of the second triangulation at the really big show? What is the Buddhist's Wheel of Life signify? (anybody . . anybody . . . I'm doing a Ben Stein).  The second triangulation begins to confirm Nick's dream.  I believe the old man he talks about wanting to talk to him is the same man from his dream.  The second triangulation is also interesting because it is very different from the first and Rowdy/Nick start to become scared of what may transpire for the first time.  If Nick would have continued to watch, could he have walked into the vision and disappeared?  As for the Wheel of Life, it has been a long time since I've taken a Comparative Religions class, but if I'm not mistaken, it represents the cycle of birth, death and rebirth?  Basically, reincarnation of the spirit?

[Edward C. Patterson]

DNAGirl:

You're right on the money, all set up to be tossed off the road. 

BTW, you're not the only one annoyed with Rawden - Rowden hates the sound of Rawden, but I liked it because it reminded me of Rawden Crawley from Vanity Fair.

Sydney will surprise you then, because . . . I won't spoil it.

Buddhsm sits at the heart of this book (just as Confucianism sit at the hart of The jade Owl - the great familial relationshis, and Taoism is at the heart of The Dragon's Pool). Get set for Naturalism in The People's Treasure and Legalism in In the Shadow of Her Hem.

I assume you're on your way to China with TransPacifica.

Ed P

[dnagirl]

I'll be on to part 3 tomorrow!