Sunday, January 10, 2016

Critters

I just finished reading American Monsters and my favorite line out of the whole thing is: "As one of Edgin's companion eyewitnesses said, "There ain't nothing right about that thing." I love it. It sounds so formal up until the quote, as if some proper English lords were out on the moor when they spotted something unusual. They stop and stare and fidget and harrumph because there is no seemly way to scamper and it really is rude of this mysterious creature to put them in this situation at all. And then the peculiar beast begins to bound about on its hind legs and one of the valets turns to young Lord Edgin and says it.

Of course, it actually happened in the Ozarks, which isn't nearly as funny. Imagine the British actors of your choice in the role anyway. It's still good for a grin.

The book has also given me something new to look up and think about: the ringdocus! Is it a legendary creature, a wolf, a hyena, or just a botched taxidermy job? Whatever it is, it reminds me a lot of the Beast of Gevaudan.

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