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Prologue

• Annie Dillard expresses her memories of the landscape where she grew up in Pittsburgh. Her city, which is located where two Pennsylvania river meet, was founded by George Washington in the 18th century.

• Annie's father has wanted to visit New Orleans since he was a child. He is drawn to the slow, sad jazz music there, and decides to buy a river boat and sail it down to Louisiana. He gets as far as Louisville before becoming so lonely that he decides to sell the boat and fly home.

• While her father was away, Annie developed insomnia and lied awake in bed, pondering the world. She realized that everything could be dwelled on, and a conscience could be developed.

Part One: Pages 15 through 38

• Annie writes that the years of the 1950's were filled with silence because all the families were trying to recuperate after the war. During...

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