Summary
Mitchell Cooley
Chapter 6 is rightly named Running the Loop, because most of the chapter is based around the author Michael Perry run a “loop” around the town. Michael Perry makes these run around three to four times a week, and while he runs he does a sort of inner monologue about experiences he has had in the town. The author recalls a time small things like when he had to go to a guy because of a bad back or major like when they responded to seizure at the Goshen house. The story takes a weird turn as the author recalls former townsfolk Herbie who passed away. Michael talks about how he bought Herbie’s 410 Air Cycle “hovercraft” in an auction after his death, and how later that night his family rode around in it.
Chapter 7 is named My People and starts off with Michael Perry being invited to be on the float during the town’s Jamboree Day parade. Though he is honored, but Michael declines the offer due to thinking about what the float and onlookers would look like. The author then goes on to talk about the stronger men of New Auburn like Jack, who gets into a fight at Tugg’s Bar. Though Jack is outnumbered, his twin brother Mack arrives from the bathroom and the situation soon deescalates. After writing about this the author begins to talk about himself and how is doesn’t seem to fit the idea of a “manly” person. He talks about how he doesn’t visit the bar and darts but instead enjoys a nice glass of wine and his typewriter. The chapter shifts focus to Michael responding to a man who has a heart attack that was then airlifted out.
Comment
Like the rest of the book, this chapter is weirdly placed and takes me out of the story. The chapter Running the Loop has little more then introduce the town and their people but this far back in the book is not a good place for it. The author fails to have any real linear path as each chapter seems to be a complete random and does little to build up character, like Jack and Mack, who I'm guessing aren’t going to show up again. In the first chapters, the Beagle got a great back-story, which got me hooked. After that chapter the Beagle was dropped beyond little mentions. This book seems like autobiography trying to pass itself off as an action story but fails at both.
Discussion Questions
Kenzie Hoefs
Graphic Organizer
Kenzie Hoefs
What is the significance of the run?
We feel that “the loop” signifies that he is running through his past and that his life is coming full circle. Possibly that he is finally figuring out what he wants in life. He is going through past experiences to gather strength. We also find it interesting that because he knows so many people in the town we can get a good feel for the town and the people in it.
Why is Perry so against being in the parade for being a writer?
It seems he thinks he needs to have some type of tough profession like all the other men in town. He may feel like his role, as a writer does not have importance in the community. This portrays him as humble. He idealizes other male role models in the community and looks up to them.
It seems that family is very important, how does he show this in the book?
Perry continues to refer back to his family and his brothers. He talks about the bond they share but the fact that they don’t need to just sit around and talk after being on a call. Perry does not talk much about his father but on the rare occasion he refers to his mother he seems to look up to her. We wonder if the fact that he looks up to the men in the community but does not talk much about his own father shows that there is some distance between him and his father. We will continue to look through the book for clues of this.
Why does Perry continue to refer back to the history of the town?
It is something that everyone in the town has in common which makes the community united. Perry wants the reader to know what role the history has played in making New Auburn what it is today.
Graphic Organizer
Stephen Fong
Throughout chapter 6, entitle “Running The Loop,” Michael Perry takes the reader through the town and the memories which accompany each location. Herbie Gravunder’s, used to run with Perry, although he is dead now, his barn symbolizes his work ethic and fun heartedness, a true Wisconsin man. Next, he runs past the Trailer Park, during which he tells of fires that have plagued the park, this constantly fluid and changing part of town burnt last winter and brought out a heroism type sprit in the volunteers who fought against it, including Perry. The Amish who are an integral part of the community and yet a silent collaborator in building the depth of the town’s population. Finally, Main Street the not more important the rest of his journey but simply the ending point, he speaks of the importance of history rooted in Main Street which he draws from for experience. His loop of the town severs a pictorial representation of his memories encompassing him and the townspeople within.
Vocabulary
Moria Caulfield
Anoxia-noun-hypoxia especially of such severity as to result in permanent damage
Averse-adjective-having an active feeling of repugnance or distaste
Wyes-noun-a Y-shaped part or object
Presumptuous-adjective-overstepping due bounds or taking liberties
craven-adjective-lacking the least bit of courage : contemptibly fainthearted
Aggregate-adjective-formed by the collection of units or particles into a body, mass, or amount
Archetype-noun-the original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies
Indiscernible-adjective-incapable of being discerned : not recognizable as distinct
Galumphing-verb-incapable of being discerned : not recognizable as distinct
Vertiginous-adjective-whirling; spinning; rotary
