Books I've Read

"Or maybe it is Margaret that I mourn for" -- Related to a poem by G. M. Hopkins (pg. 50)

Bench strength (pg. 219) -- The quality of the players sitting on the bench.

Inextricable (pg. 169) -- Incapable of being disentangled or untied.

"Frees their minds," I said,"to romp with the mind of god." -- (pg. 154)-- Now I have to read The Great Gatsby!

cathexis (pg. 220) -- Concentration of emotional energy on an object or idea. One source suggests a "crush" as an example.

Cathexis (pg. 41) -- From MSN Encarta: the concentration of a great deal of psychological and emotional energy on one particular person, thing, or idea

Ineffable (pb. 188)-- Incapable of being expressed in words. I've used the word, but, as usual, couldn't have put a coherent meaning to it.

Lunsmen (pg. 47) -- Probably mispeled "landman", fellow native in yiddish.

"This is exactly the right moment," I said, "for me to light two cigarettes and hand one to you."
"Makes you regret not smoking for a moment," Susan said.

Neurasthenia (pg. 231) -- A condition that is characterized especially by physical and mental exhaustion usually with accompanying symptoms (as headaches, insomnia, and irritability), is believed to result from psychological factors (as depression or emotional stress or conflict), and is sometimes considered similar to or identical with chronic fatigue syndrome. I think I've got it.

Several ducks waddled promptly over expecting to be fed. They were brown ducks for the most part except one which had a green head and was probably a male duck, though I wasn't sure. I didn't know a hell of a lot about ducks. (pg. 286)

Lisle (pg. 50) -- A fabric made of lisle thread, which is a smooth tightly twisted thread usually ade of long-staple cotton. You didn't know this?

Sere (pg. 102) -- Being dried and withered.

The street was lined with eucalyptus trees that sagged heavily, their branches nearly touching the ground in some places. (pg. 104) I can't visualize eucalyptus trees looking like that.

The trip wasn't a total waste. I was able to stop at a Dunkin' Donuts near the Redstone Shopping Center and had two plain donuts and a large coffee. Failing to learn anything is hungry work. (pg. 83)

It was a lovely December day, brisk and sunny. Unfortunately it was the first week in April. (pg. 93)

"Sometimes your cynicism achieves Shakespearian resonance," I said.
"Coming from you," Hawk said, "that a real compliment." (pg. 117)

"He going to bring donuts," Hawk said.
"I don't think Sean ever ate a donut," I said.
"Then how much help he going to be?" (pg. 135)

hire another Hawkshaw (pg.53) -- Slang for detective, probably from the comic strip Hawkshaw The Detective, by Gus Mager.

The trouble with being up and at 'em bright and early was once you were up most of the 'em you wanted to be at weren't out yet. (pg. 143)

"How come it takes you all that time to find the right donut?" I said. "They're all the same."

"No two donuts are alike," Chollo said. "You had Indio blood, you'd understand." -- pg. 192

On the other hand, I couldn't think of anything some donuts wouldn't help. -- pg. 206

Quem Quaeritis (pg. 41) --Quem Quaeritis? (literally, "Whom do you seek?") refers to four lines of the medieval Easter liturgy that later formed the kernel of the large body of medieval liturgical drama.

Dramaturge (pg. 41) -- A specialist in the art or technique of dramatic composition and theatrical representation.

Deracinated (pg. 70) -- To remove or separate from a native environment or culture; especially : to remove the racial or ethnic characteristics or influences from. Uprooted.

Chacun à son goût (pg. 191) -- Everyone to his taste.

It wasn't like talking to a dumb seventh grader, it was like talking to a pancake.

Scanlan took in some more smoke. I knew so few people who smoked anymore that it was kind of fascinating to watch him.