The Birthday Bundle

The First Bundle:
1. A Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Coloring Book
2. Drinking, Smoking, and Screwing: Great Writers on Good Times edited by Sarah Nickles
3. Heartbreak: The Political Memoir of a Feminist Militant by Andrea Dworkin
4. The Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, Empathy—and Why They Matter by Marc Bekoff
5. Bottlemania: How Water Went on Sale and Why We Bought It by Elizabeth Royte
6. The Law of Sex Discrimination J. Ralph Lindgren and Nadine Taub
7. Freckle Juice by Judy Blume
Weight: 5 lbs
Method of Disposal: Birthday gift for a truly amazing friend

I have been lucky enough to be able to surround myself with book-loving individuals for the last decade. I have been thinking about all of them a lot lately, and I have begun to gather bundles for each one of them. As I place one stack on the table for someone in particular a book will grab my attention from across the room that will remind me of someone else I should gather for. Today, I am writing about a special bundle. I have a friend that I have known since 5th grade, and her birthday is coming up this week. I give her used books on her birthday often, and I do not see why this year should be any different. Unfortunately, she is one of three people who read this blog. Just know you’re special even though I am spoiling the surprise!
I have picked out the assortment of books listed above for the following reasons:
1. We all need to color from time to time, and I know this woman is a coloring beast when she wants to be.
2. This book belonged to her almost ten years ago. I borrowed it and never gave it back—something I really only ever did to her and no one else. The book, itself, was not even all that wonderful, but the title made up for anything it was lacking.
3. I admire Andrea Dworkin so much, though I am not at all anti-pornography. In fact, I am quite the opposite. Her autobiography was strong, bitter, and beautiful. I read it on a road trip to Florida and loved it. I know “Grapenut” (names have been changed to protect the privacy of those involved) will love it too.
4. I read The Emotional Lives of Animals recently, and I think it is time for Grapenut to get even more into animal-related and animal rights books. The story of Jasper, the bear, who lived in a “crush cage” left me with so much despair. I have never quite moved on. The last time I was drinking with said friend I began crying while discussing the bear and soon moved into the mass murder of dolphin families. The night ended quickly from there.
5. There are not many things that can compete with how scary the water business is. I think everyone in the United States needs a lesson on bottled water, large water businesses, and the cruelty surrounding all of it. I know that if Grapenut reads this book she will have even more information to spread to others—she knows a lot of people so she is the best person for it. If she talks, hundreds will hear.
6. I bought this book for a Women and the Law class while I was in college. It is a textbook and may not always make for exciting reading, but there is a ton of important information inside.
7. Do I even need to explain this one? I will try. It is Freckle Juice by Judy Blume. Dig it?