In chapter 8, we really begin to dig into Mr. Hudson's secret journal. He explores with Nancy Ashford. At first, Bobby thought that Hudson was a psychopath, but later, he found a hint of sanity that encouraged him to move on. Nancy and Bobby learn that Doctor Hudson was a Christian, but he kept it a secret. He says that he read the verse in the Bible that says "If your left hand causes you to sin, cut it off." At first, he took the Bible very literally, but later dug deeper into the real meaning of it all. Unlike many people, Hudson valued the Bible, and considered it to be far from lees.
New words from this week
Exultant - pg. 112 - Triumphantly happy - "Returning from Tony's, wide awake and exultant, he [Bobby] had resolved, late as it was, to decode a few pages of the journal."
Lees - pg. 113 - Dregs; refuse - "He had gouged his hot face into his pillow and decanted his wrath to its bitter lees..."
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Magnificent Obsession Post 4: Chapters 5-7
Chapter 5
Nancy Ashford (the receptionist at the hospital) and Bobby go on a car ride together. Bobby says that he'll do the listening; Nancy will do the talking. Bobby gives Nancy the proffer to drive. Bobby's plan doesn't quite work out as he talks as much as Nancy does in a pretty evenly split dialogue. Eventually, Nancy brings up Dr. Hudson's secret journal (which is an actual book that Lloyd C. Douglas published as a supplement to Magnificant Obsession). But, the journal is written in code! Bobby decides that he'll devote his time to solving the puzzle.
Chapter 6
In chapter 6, we take a break from Bobby's story and come to Helen and Joyce. Helen warns Joyce not to go to Gordon's for dinner. Of course, Joyce goes against her mother's wishes. Helen describes Gordon's as a "dangerous place." When Joyce returns home, she's drunk as a skunk (what does that even mean?). Wasted as ever, she says to Helen (fyi, there are no typos in the following quote, this came directly from the book) "Tommy nice boy! Goin' - goin' to marry Tommy. ... Well - can't you congrat - can't you feli - I'm afraid I can't say it very distinc'ly - but aren't you glad - about Tommy and me? ... I come home - all happy - to announce my engagesh to Tommy - and you cry! What's the big idea? Do you want him?" Luckily, Joyce's hangover was ephemeral.
Chapter 7
Bobby solved the encrypted journal! The first line says
READER I CONSIDER YOU MY FRIEND AND COMMEND YOUR PERSEVERANCE HAVING ACHIEVED THE ABILITY TO READ THIS BOOK YOU HAVE ALSO THE RIGHT TO POSSESS IT MY REASON FOR DOING THIS IN CIPHER WILL BE MADE PLAIN AS YOU PROCEED
Obviously, Bobby was thrilled. He had quite the swagger.
Next we explore the story of Tony, an italian cook. Like the late Dr. Hudson, Tony is a bit of a philanthropist. He loans money and doesn't ask for the money back, but he does leave a box out for those who do want to repay him. When people return money to the box, Tony stays quiet about it, and respects the ones he's loaned money to.
New words from this week
Proffer - Chapter 5, page 84 - "Many of his wards and beneficiaries have been coming to see her with expressions of sympathy, and some with proffers of assistance if she needed it."
Verb
Hold out (something) to someone for acceptance; offer.
Noun
An offer or proposal.
Ephemeral - Chapter 6, page 100 - "She had been disposed to wave that implication aside as a mere pose ... a bit of ephemeral martyrdom to be toyed with until he tired of it.
Adjective
Lasting for a very short time: "fashions are ephemeral".
Swagger - Chapter 7, page 103 - "... swinging his long arms with a triumphant swagger."
Verb
Walk or behave in a very confident and typically arrogant or aggressive way: "he swaggered along the corridor".
Noun
A very confident and typically arrogant or aggressive gait or manner.
Nancy Ashford (the receptionist at the hospital) and Bobby go on a car ride together. Bobby says that he'll do the listening; Nancy will do the talking. Bobby gives Nancy the proffer to drive. Bobby's plan doesn't quite work out as he talks as much as Nancy does in a pretty evenly split dialogue. Eventually, Nancy brings up Dr. Hudson's secret journal (which is an actual book that Lloyd C. Douglas published as a supplement to Magnificant Obsession). But, the journal is written in code! Bobby decides that he'll devote his time to solving the puzzle.
 |
| The first page of the Hudson Journal, on page 91 (the last page of chapter 5) of Magnificant Obsession. No copyright infringement intended :) |
In chapter 6, we take a break from Bobby's story and come to Helen and Joyce. Helen warns Joyce not to go to Gordon's for dinner. Of course, Joyce goes against her mother's wishes. Helen describes Gordon's as a "dangerous place." When Joyce returns home, she's drunk as a skunk (what does that even mean?). Wasted as ever, she says to Helen (fyi, there are no typos in the following quote, this came directly from the book) "Tommy nice boy! Goin' - goin' to marry Tommy. ... Well - can't you congrat - can't you feli - I'm afraid I can't say it very distinc'ly - but aren't you glad - about Tommy and me? ... I come home - all happy - to announce my engagesh to Tommy - and you cry! What's the big idea? Do you want him?" Luckily, Joyce's hangover was ephemeral.
Chapter 7
Bobby solved the encrypted journal! The first line says
READER I CONSIDER YOU MY FRIEND AND COMMEND YOUR PERSEVERANCE HAVING ACHIEVED THE ABILITY TO READ THIS BOOK YOU HAVE ALSO THE RIGHT TO POSSESS IT MY REASON FOR DOING THIS IN CIPHER WILL BE MADE PLAIN AS YOU PROCEED
Obviously, Bobby was thrilled. He had quite the swagger.
Next we explore the story of Tony, an italian cook. Like the late Dr. Hudson, Tony is a bit of a philanthropist. He loans money and doesn't ask for the money back, but he does leave a box out for those who do want to repay him. When people return money to the box, Tony stays quiet about it, and respects the ones he's loaned money to.
New words from this week
Proffer - Chapter 5, page 84 - "Many of his wards and beneficiaries have been coming to see her with expressions of sympathy, and some with proffers of assistance if she needed it."
Verb
Hold out (something) to someone for acceptance; offer.
Noun
An offer or proposal.
Ephemeral - Chapter 6, page 100 - "She had been disposed to wave that implication aside as a mere pose ... a bit of ephemeral martyrdom to be toyed with until he tired of it.
Adjective
Lasting for a very short time: "fashions are ephemeral".
Swagger - Chapter 7, page 103 - "... swinging his long arms with a triumphant swagger."
Verb
Walk or behave in a very confident and typically arrogant or aggressive way: "he swaggered along the corridor".
Noun
A very confident and typically arrogant or aggressive gait or manner.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Magnificent Obsession Post 3: Chapters 3-4
Chapter 3
At the beginning of the chapter, we see Joyce (Hudson's daughter) and Tom Masterson (Bobby's college friend) having a conversation in the garden. They talk about how Bobby has had a change of lifestyle. He stopped drinking (as much) and started to be a better person. Helen tells Masterson how Hudson was a philanthropist. She tells a story about hot Hudson once loaned $20,000 to a man so he could get back on his feet, and out of his destitute way of life. When the man finally had enough to pay Hudson back, Hudson refused the money! He said, "I've used it all up myself!" The characters in the book have no idea what that meant, and quite frankly, neither do I.
Chapter 4
In the first sentence of chapter four, we're introduced to a new character: Nicholas Merrick, Bobby's grandfather. Nicholas was a pretty awful father to Clif, and consequently, Clif was a pretty awful father to Bobby. But, Bobby decides to do something with his life. When Nicholas learns that Bobby is graduating from college, Nicholas is overjoyed.
New words from this week
Destitute
From chapter 3, pg 58
Adjective
1. Without the basic necessities of life.
2. Not having.
Synonyms
needy - indigent - poor - necessitous - penurious
Eohippus
From chapter 4, pg 66
Noun
earliest horse; extinct primitive dog-sized four-toed Eocene animal
Eocene - from 58 million to 40 million years ago
At the beginning of the chapter, we see Joyce (Hudson's daughter) and Tom Masterson (Bobby's college friend) having a conversation in the garden. They talk about how Bobby has had a change of lifestyle. He stopped drinking (as much) and started to be a better person. Helen tells Masterson how Hudson was a philanthropist. She tells a story about hot Hudson once loaned $20,000 to a man so he could get back on his feet, and out of his destitute way of life. When the man finally had enough to pay Hudson back, Hudson refused the money! He said, "I've used it all up myself!" The characters in the book have no idea what that meant, and quite frankly, neither do I.
Chapter 4
In the first sentence of chapter four, we're introduced to a new character: Nicholas Merrick, Bobby's grandfather. Nicholas was a pretty awful father to Clif, and consequently, Clif was a pretty awful father to Bobby. But, Bobby decides to do something with his life. When Nicholas learns that Bobby is graduating from college, Nicholas is overjoyed.
New words from this week
Destitute
From chapter 3, pg 58
Adjective
1. Without the basic necessities of life.
2. Not having.
Synonyms
needy - indigent - poor - necessitous - penurious
Eohippus
From chapter 4, pg 66
Noun
earliest horse; extinct primitive dog-sized four-toed Eocene animal
Eocene - from 58 million to 40 million years ago
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