• @toynbee
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    617 days ago

    The only things I remember about the story are the protagonist getting a sabbatical from school and getting slashed by the beak of a heron. Did those things happen in that book?

    Also, did you like My Side of the Mountain and The Education of Little Tree?

    Last question … Were your parents hippies, too?

    (This post might age me somewhat.)

      • @toynbee
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        617 days ago

        I remember two specific parts (sadly without many details):

        At one point, the protagonist kills an animal and finds himself staring at a particular organ, apparently craving the nutrients provided by that organ.

        At another point, he boils water in a leaf, observing that a leaf will never burn below the top of the water due to the water keeping the leaf moist.

        I probably should know whether either of those claims are realistic, but I’ve never been in a survival situation and I still don’t know to this day.

        • @FordBeeblebrox
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          317 days ago

          Never tried a leaf but you can boil an egg in a campfire using a paper cup, the fire will only burn down to the waters edge

          • @toynbee
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            417 days ago

            The information in your post is useful and appreciated.

            But Ford was Zaphod’s cousin, not nuclear family member, so your username is unacceptable.

            • @FordBeeblebrox
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              517 days ago

              Ford Prefect and Zaphod Beeblebrox were both taken on Reddit when I created an account ten years ago. I probably could have got one or the other when I moved to Lemmy but just carried the same one over

              Don’t worry it’s all registered at the Galactic Nomenclaturoid Office

              • @toynbee
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                517 days ago

                Despite my sassy teasing, I liked you already based on our initial interaction.

                I like you better now.

        • @SidewaysHighways
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          117 days ago

          I Remember something about him hollowing out that tree that he turns into his house with fire embers or something. It sounded really cool, but thinking back, I’m not sure if any of it’s possible

          • @Shellbeach
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            317 days ago

            Oh my! All those don’t ring any bell at all. I remember him being a self absorbed school kid who tried to have sex with a sex worker lady? Was I hallucinating?

          • @toynbee
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            217 days ago

            That sounds familiar.

              • @toynbee
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                217 days ago

                I just remembered, also don’t his parents move in with him at some point? That seems weird.

    • @PugJesus
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      English
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      edit-2
      17 days ago

      My Side of the Mountain

      Oh God, grade school flashbacks.

    • Diplomjodler
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      217 days ago

      Greetings, fellow geezer! I don’t remember much of it, to be honest. Must be well over thirty years since I read it. But I remember that I liked it.

      • @toynbee
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        217 days ago

        I was homeschooled from age 7 to age 11 and read the book in a similar timeframe. My parents had some trouble getting bureaucratic approval to take us out of school. IIRC about the book, the main character just took a sabbatical from school, entirely withdrawing without an alternative education plan. I remember wondering about the logistics of that, which I guess is why the point sticks in my mind.

        I think the heron slash might have been the catalyst for the whole story, otherwise I don’t know why it might have stayed with me.

        I do also remember liking all three books, even though Little Tree - presented as an autobiography - turned out to be a lie. It’s still enjoyable as fiction.