Whatever else you may think of it, Look Homeward, Angel is good for a little vocabulary building:
phthistic: Archaic Any illness of the lungs or throat, such as asthma or a cough.
stipe: the stem or stalk-like feature supporting the cap of a mushroom
convolve: to roll together; writhe.
octopal: resembling or having the characteristics of an octopus. "all the slow octopal movements of her temper" — Thomas Wolfe
guerdon: reward, recompense.
If you eat poison stipes, you may experience only a phthistic reaction, or possibly an octopal convolving of the intestines will be your guerdon. Better leave 'em alone.
