This Woman's Work

This Woman's Work by Julie Delporte
2019
Weight: 1 lb
Method of Disposal: Giving Away

I also got this graphic novel at Little Shop of Stories in Decatur.  I love a good graphic novel, but I find the real gems that speak to me few and far between.  This was not particularly my cup of tea, but that is not to say it will not be yours.  I did so appreciate, "I thought to myself that's me, the unicorn-whale, the gentle feminist.  But you know what?  Female narwhals don't have horns."

The author and artist seems to be very smart, talented, and honest.  She is searching herself and her medium. I think it will be powerful to many in that she captures the memorable moments that occur when something happens to you or you experience something powerful.  Those moments are not always obvious to people who do not live that experience. I think many women will be able to relate.  This is another book worth sharing that may find even more strength with a new owner.

Southern Lady Code

Southern Lady Code by Helen Ellis
2019
Weight: 16 oz
Method of Disposal: Lending Library

I have been feeling under the weather since Thursday.  I looked up a Southern way to say that and was reminded that "under the weather" IS a Southern way to say that.  As is, "Sick as a dawg."   One I apparently felt the need to use with animal rescue folk.  There were times when I considered, "On death's door"or "I'd have to feel better to die," but death gets closer each year and no longer seems like something to through out flippantly, though I can tell you I thought a lot about death.  Not, in that I thought I would die, but thinking of those we love and their deaths.  What is the most painful it gets?  Will I have to know?  Will my loved ones?  Do any of us mean anything in the continuum?  There are twenty year olds who die of the flu.  Thirty year olds that wake up next to a deceased spouse.  It is unbearable to dwell on and so we try not to.  I try not to, but for how long?

Anywho, that is enough of that dreariness for now.  I am sure it will return.  Today, I am giving away Southern Lady Code, which I bought at Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, GA (which I love).  I have a love/hate thing for all things Southern, which is really the only way to love the South reasonably, I think.  We have a dark, sad history, but we also have a lot of really strong, amazing people that have overcome, fought peacefully and hard, worked hard, shown bright.  There is a lot to love.  Fried okra, Flannery O'Connor, Angela Davis, Y'all, peaches, waterfalls.  

Helen Ellis and I had a very different experience growing up in the South, but I could see elements in there.  She was from Alabama and ended up in New York.  I was in Georgia and ended up in Georgia.  It did not bring me all the joy I had hoped for, but I know there are many ladies out there (many of them that I went to college with at Agnes Scott) that would find much to laugh about and relate to here.  I hand it off and hope it finds one of them.  

Far From the Madding Crowd

Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
Weight: 16 oz
Method of Disposal: Lending Library

My honey's mother bought me this book on her last visit.  I had read and loved Tess of the D'Urbervilles in college, but I have had lingering concern about being in a classroom of women who did not think Tess was raped.  I guess that later in my college career, I would be judged by my same peers in the same way.  I did not know that at the time.

We had been discussing what books I enjoyed reading, and she was asking me about British authors.  She agreed that Tess was incredibly sad, which is why she did not like it.  A few days later, before she left, she handed my Far From the Madding Crowd because I had not read it before.  She said it was not nearly as sad, and I guess it wasn't maybe.

As I read Thomas Hardy, I find myself believing that Mr. Hardy was a sympathizer of women, and that he saw the unfairness of their situation.  Sometimes, I wonder if he really, truly saw it or if he just wrote it how it was and still, all these years, later the truth shines through and now it is at a time where we can better see it.

Bathsheba was at times a frustrating character and made some dumb decisions that stood in stark contrast of her better ones, but she always just seemed young and not vicious.  I guess we are to be happy that Gabriel and Bathsheba ended up together, but I almost am not sure it was the true ending to this book.  I thought it was misery watching this young woman get pressured and misguided by two persistent men in her life.  I am surprised that by the time she had matured enough to be with a man she still liked a man at all.  And why did she seem like such a good business woman sometimes--she had to be to be a woman in that position--and the worst business woman ever--reacting to everything like a teenage girl? 

Any who, I love my honey's mom, and I love that she thinks of me and gives me such thoughtful gifts.  She is truly an artist.  She will just tell you that she is teaching me about the greatness of the Brits and maybe she is.

Affinity

Affinity by Sarah Waters
2002
Weight: 13.6 oz
Method of Disposal: Giving to a friend

My coworker brought me a book about lesbian women in history and demanded a book in return.  I brought her The Line Becomes a River book because, if you read that post, you will know I was deeply moved by it.  I also gave her Affinity because she was recently chatting on about Gentleman Jack and lesbian period pieces, and I could not help but wonder if she would get into Sarah Waters.  I am interested to know what she thinks, though I am second guessing if giving her Affinity was the best place to start.

It is one of her more dark, depressing, no-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel novels.  I anxiously await her news.  Let's hope she has more time to read than I do!

The Line Becomes a River

The Line Becomes a River: Dispatches from the Border by Francisco Cantú

2018
Weight: 9.6 oz
Method of Disposal: Giving to a Friend

I found this book on display at Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, GA.  For Better or for worse, I always justify buying a new book or two when I am around an independent bookstore.  There are just so few bookstores left, and I love them!  I made this trip to Little Shop to buy a gift for both my mom and dad.  If you have not seen Cicada by Shaun Tan you should check it out.  I thought it would be the perfect small gift for a retirement party.  Tok tok tok.

This book was amazing.  It was terrible, and it was hard to read, but the author is open and speaks with such sincerity and emotion that it is impossible to look away.  It is a book that is "easy" to read in that I was hooked on every word but also challenging because of the darkness and desperation that will permeate you to your core.  It was emotional and important.  Cantú ensures that you will see the humanity of those crossing the border and those working for the United States Border Patrol, but you will also see people who do terrible things and you will read about deep suffering. 

It is important that you read The Line Becomes a River right now and do not wait because people are dying every day, dreams are being dismantled every day, and the natures of people are changing with each death, drug bust, deportation, detainment.  Our countries (the US and Mexico) are changing and the violence is increasing.  No matter what you believe, this cannot be the way forward.  This is not how we treat our neighbors or how we should be treating our own citizens.  One thing that will come through clearly is that this is a complicated and deep-rooted issue but, for me, it really made me think about who I want to be and what I want to do with my life.  It is challenging to go on each day, acting like there is not a major problem in this country and that our stance on immigration is actively obliterating people's lives.  Of course, it is easy for me to say all of this and not offer a solution.  I understand that, and I hate it.  I wish I knew what we needed to do.  I wish Francisco Cantú knew what to do but, just because we do not have all the answers, does not mean we should not search for them.  It does not mean we cannot be better.

Dear Martin

Dear Martin by Nic Stone
2018
Weight: 6. 4 oz
Method of Disposal: Leaving in Lending Library

Harriet bought me Dear Martin as a surprise, and I am glad she did.  It is a young adult book about racism, being a teenager, being a black teenager among white teenagers, and police shootings.  It is important that we have books like these for young adults.  Young people are seeing young black men being killed by police in the news.  Black teenagers are in between being kids and adults, but they are so often seen as adults by authority figures and not just adults, but also as a threat just by being in a random place (their home/the sidewalk/the train station/the car/etc) at the wrong time (a time where someone with power is feeling scared or angry). 

Today, I watched "When They See Us."  I think I have written about the Central Park Five here before.  It is a story that never gets less heartbreaking and, honestly, just gets worse the more you know.  The people who made this series did a great job.  For any white people who cannot see black teenagers as children, you should watch this and do not look away.  I do not even have children but, if you do, can we please all just open our hearts to what it would feel like to be the parents of these boys?  For everyone else, the siblings, friends, girlfriends.  Whiteness has been constructed.  There is no going back.  We can only go forward. We do not want to keep ruining lives and embracing an embarrassing and incredibly cruel history or acting like it did not happen.  That helps no one.  We have got to do the hard work.