11.08.09 -- The Accidental Tourist -- the Acrostic

Sunday, November 8, 2009
ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon, edited by Will Shortz
Today’s quotation is drawn from
The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler.
Annotation -- Macon Leary is a travel writer who hates both travel and strangeness. Grounded by loneliness, comfort, and a somewhat odd domestic life, Macon is about to embark on a surprising new adventure, arriving in the form of a fuzzy-haired dog obedience trainer who promises to turn his life around.
The quotation: I’VE ALWAYS THOUGHT A HOTEL OUGHT TO OFFER OPTIONAL SMALL ANIMALS. I MEAN A CAT TO SLEEP ON YOUR BED AT NIGHT, OR A DOG OF SOME KIND TO ACT PLEASED WHEN YOU COME IN. YOU EVER NOTICE HOW A HOTEL ROOM FEELS SO LIFELESS?
The author’s name and the title of the work: ANNE TYLER ACCIDENTAL TOURIST
The defined words: A. Fate who cut the thread of destiny, ATROPOS; B. Diamond frame that may have no bottom, NINTH; C. Author of “The Beauty Myth” (2 wds.), NAOMI WOLF; D. Derby won by Dante in 1945 and Galileo in 2001, EPSOM; E. Tough match for a wild card (2 wds.), TOP SEED; F. What started as Jerry and David’s Guide to the World Wide Web, YAHOO; G. Put a cap on, LIMIT; H. Bunk, tommyrot, EYEWASH; I. Cheese to grate on pasta, ROMANO; J. Position between “parade rest” and “rest” (2 wds.), AT EASE; K. Puss that might be named Patches, CALICO; L. Elect, elite, exclusive, CHOSEN; M. Home built with spirally rising blocks, IGLOO; N. Heavy kettle for slow cooking (2 wds.), DUTCH OVEN; O. Panegyric, encomium, EULOGY; P. Injection intended as a stimulus (2 wds.), NEW BLOOD; O. Outer part of a tire, TREAD; R. Rose of Sharon, by another name, ALTHEA; S. Knockout delivery, maybe (2 wds.), LEFT HOOK; T. Gland that shrinks in adults, THYMUS; U. In recent days (2 wds.), OF LATE; V. Providing some service, USEFUL; W. Membrane attached to the optic nerve, RETINA; X. Its Parliament, Tynwald, founded by A.D. 979, is one of the world’s oldest legislatures (3 wds.), ISLE OF MAN; Y. Fond indulgence for Mark Twain, STOGIE; Z. Che’s “The Motorcycle Diaries,” e.g., TRAVELOG.
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Puzzle available on the internet at
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1 comment:

Leon said...

Thanks for the write-up.

Geena Davis won an Oscar for her role in The Accidental Tourist. The roles she turned down or lost to others is fascinating.

The entire movie is on youtube in 12 clips.