Image& Pilgrimage 1

                    My favorite part of a book, story, play, etc is the "hook." The first sentence, phrase, or paragraph that is supposed to "pull you in," to want to read the rest of the story, to intrigue you to stay tuned for what is going to happen next. My favorite part about this Turner book, Image and Pilgrimage in Christian Culture, is the very first phrase; "Pilgrimages are probably of ancient origin..." I emphasized the word probably in that statement, because that is what contorts this phrase into a sort of humorous sentence. Usually when one writes a book, they use confident, clear, productive words that give off tones of assurance and positiveness. This author, here, uses a word like probably within his very first words. This never, to me at least, exudes confidence and assurance of what you are about to say or talk about. I am not sure what is going to come next after that, but I will be hesitant, at this point, to take matters into my own hands and form my own opinion, after this. I like to think that this was Turner's intention, because it is brilliant. He has taken such a simple term into something complex and extraordinary. Turner is making the reader think and believe and trust what they feel. As I continued to read on, I felt that the entire book was proceeding to become one big persuasive type novel. I very much enjoy every time he puts words in quotes as if to, again, question what he felt should have been a solid factual statement. I may be reading too much into this simple phrase, this simple word, "probably," however, I still think it stands as its own fact and makes logical sense. Even if this were not the author's intentions, he still carries on this motif and tone throughout the first few chapters. I believe it is a brilliant way to write about philosophy and religion, as so many people believe they are entitled to their own opinion; well give them one to think about and form, factually! Turner really knows how to crank my wheels and get my brain going. Thank you for that, I am excited to read on and continue in this journey that Turner and I have entered together. I appreciate the way his vernacular sticks to me, in a way that I can become independent of all of the thrown facts of what is right and what is wrong in a world of such black and white!