Mao 2: Chapter 4-6

     While I was reading chapter 5, I could relate to Bill somewhat--which is something I never thought I would say.  I don't consider myself a recluse writer by any means, but I connected with some of his ideas.  One of those instances was when Bill is having dinner with Karen, Scott, and Brita.  He says, "It's interesting how 'guest' and 'host' are words that intertwine.  The etymologies are curious.  Converging, mixing, reciprocating.  Like the human groupings marked by the words.  Guests bring ideas from outside" (67).  After writing an etymology paper for Grammar this year, I think a lot about the origins of words, how they used to be used, and how they came to be as they are now.  I sometimes find myself thinking about things that would never come up in other's minds, and when I try to explain my thoughts to people, they give me strange looks.  Bill also seems to think deeply about ideas that others would dismiss without a second thought, which would explain why he admires Brita for her work photographing writers.  I also liked what Scott says a little later in the conversation: "the withheld work of art is the only eloquence left" (67).  He understands Bill's passion and dedication to writing, just as he understands Brita's passion for photography.  It doesn't matter so much to them that everyone sees their work.  But the fact that they continue to do work that goes unseen proves their dedication and passion.