Curious George Goes Camping

 Curious George Goes Camping by Margaret and H.A. Rey's
1999
Weight: 7 oz
Method of Disposal: Donating

I was packing up some home supplies and deciding what to donate, what to trash, what to recycle, and what to keep.  I have not been able to bring myself to throw out my camping supplies, despite not having gone camping in the last 8 years.  I am determined that Harriet will try it at least once.  We have used some of the items when the power has gone out or when we have, for some odd reason or another, had an unusual sleeping arrangement.  Like, when our senior dog had an accident in bed.  Poor girl could not help it, but we had to seek refuge.  

H is bound and determined that camping is not for her, and I am afraid she is 100% right, but it is worth a shot!  Right?  

This is a children's book about a curious little monkey that wanders away from camp.  "There is a lesson about forest fires--'Fires can be nice, if you're careful,' said the ranger.  George agreed.  Especially for roasting marshmallows."

A Dream of Ice

 A Dream of Ice: Book Two of the Earthend Saga by Gillian Anderson and Jeff Rovin
2016
Weight: 10 oz
Method of Disposal: Donating

I was so excited for another book co-authored by Gillian Anderson, of course.  Without the X-files and Sex Education, I have to find something to fulfill my desires.  I have watched The Crown.  I finished The Fall years ago.  Playing By Heart, The Mighty Celt, The Last King of Scotland, Bleak House, Hannibal, Great Expectations.  She may be prolific, but I consume it all too fast.  There just is never enough Gillian Anderson in the world, I guess.

The Stopping Place: A Journey Through Gypsy Britain

 The Stopping Place: A Journey Through Gypsy Britain by Damian Le Bas
2018
Weight: 1.02 lbs
Method of Disposal: Giving Away

I bought this book on my last trip to England, along with too many others.  I am just trying to collect all the information I can about all the things I do not know and, of course, read anything that brings me closer to Harriet.  Not that her upbringing has much to do with Gypsy Britain.  It has very little, though people identifying themselves as Romani did stay on her grandparent's land periodically, there were horse sales, and sometimes caravans of people passing through in the North.

I have occasionally heard about gypsies.  In Russia, in England, in Ireland, in Victor Hugo.  It is not uncommon to hear a sneer along with the word.  When pressed, people will tell me about theft and people who leave trash in their wake, but these same people seem to know very little about where the people they label "gypsies" come from, what motivates them, what they find important, how they identify.  Now, clearly not all gypsies are the same or come from the same bloodlines or even countries, so why all the generalizations.  Like all other groups of people, there is so much more than the stereotypes  you were raised with.  Look around you, take a peek into history.  All I know for sure is that, if anyone claims to be able to sum up a group of people in a few sentences, you should not trust them.

I have so many questions.  This book is just a scratch on the surface, but it is a start. More to come!  I will leave this book in a lending library because you never know who might pick it up without a care or a thought and then learn something new.

The Russian Icon

 The Russian Icon by Irina Solovyova, Vera Laurina, Irina Rodnikova
2007
Weight: 1 lbs
Method of Disposal: Donating

I used to dream of visiting Russia.  I feel like I have let that dream go.  It is a little sad and a little okay.  I am still in awe of the strength, writing, and art that has come out of that country, but I am also horrified by the human rights violations, death, and lies.  All countries have their crimes, but Russia seems to have more than their fair share.  And yet, so many courageous people persevere.  

How To Talk to a Liberal (If You Must)

 How To Talk to a Liberal (If You Must): The World According to Ann Coulter
2004
Weight: 1.4 lbs
Method of Disposal: Recycling

Every now and then I feel like I should read something abhorrent just to see what people who are nothing like me are reading and taking in.  I do not know why I would have chosen Ann Coulter of all authors, but the Laura of 2004 had her reasons, I am sure. 

Let's see if I can highlight some of the golden tidbits so that you can spare yourself.

"Want to make liberals angry? Defend the United States."

"My position hasn't changed since the column I wrote the night of 09/11.  For reasons I cannot understand, I am often asked if I still think we should invade their countries, kill their leaders, and convert them to Christianity.  The answer is: Now more than ever!"

"The invasion of Iraq has gone fabulously well, exceeding everyone's expectations--certainly exceeding the doomsday scenarios of liberals."

The title of chapter 3 is "A Muslim by Any Other Name Blows Up Just the Same."

"I tuned in late and consequently can speak only to the last three hours of Halle Berry's acceptance speech at the Academy Awards last Sunday. But inasmuch as she engaged in wild race-baiting to get her Oscar, Berry's expressions of shock were not very believable.  She has spent weeks complaining about one time she did not get a role because of her color.  It was the part of a forest ranger.  Arnold Scwarzenegger probably has trouble getting roles as a ballet dancer, too.  And yet, still, somehow white guilt worked on Hollywood liberals!  Berry had successfully mau-maued her way to a Best Actress award--and then acted surprised.

It's interesting that Berry makes such a big deal about being black.  She was raised by her white mother who was beaten by her black father.  But clearly, Berry has calculated that it is more advantageous for her acting career to identify with the man that abandoned her rather than the woman who raised her."  

In case, at this point, you are wondering.  Ann Coulter is a racist and also a shitty human being.  I could keep going, but I am not sure it is worth the extra pain and toxicity it would add to the interwebs.

Tomorrow is Inauguration Day.  Let's just hope no one dies.  There are some seriously angry, unhinged, and brainwashed people out there right now.  Ann Coulter would not think it possible, but I hope we are able to preserve the beautiful things about the United States, protect our democracy, and make the world a safer/kinder place.

The Lure of the Lancashire Witches

 The Lure of the Lancashire Witches by Jennie Lee Cobban
2011
Weight: 12 oz
Method of Disposal: Donating

I read a book by Jeanette Winterson about the Lancashire Witches right when Harriet and I started dating.  At this time, Harriet had moved back to England, and we were long distance.  We spent a lot of the time on Skype, learning about each other, our families, our past, where we grew up.  As it turns out, the "witches" were in Harriet's hometown, over 400 years ago.  Her mom, who is a most excellent gift giver, bought me this book so I would be able to read the history alongside the fiction.  

In the 1600's, Lancashire was seen as a place on the outskirts, known for its crime and sexual deviance.  It makes total sense then that, over 400 years later, I would find the love of my life there, right?  6 of the 12 accused came from two families.  There was Elizabeth Southerns (Demdike), and her lineage, and there was Anne Whittle (Chattox) and her family.  It is thought that these two families slung accusations at each other, which was clearly a terrible idea for everyone involved.

This dark and sinister history can be tracked down by interested folks in modern times, and it is. Anything terrible, after so many years, can become a tourist attraction, but "witches" seem to hold a special lure.

The Art and Craft of Papier Mache

 The Art and Craft of Papier Mache by Juliet Bawden
1990
Weight: 2 lbs
Method of Disposal: Donating

I remember discovering and falling in love with Papier Mache as a child.  I made masks, pigs out of soda bottles, animals, all sorts.  I dreamt of making a papier mache Noah's Ark, which turned into me making an ark out of popsicles sticks, which turned into an utter disaster.  The wet scraps of paper, the paste, the fun of creating something new--I loved it all.  

This is a book seemingly more geared towards adults that still hold that sense of fun and creativity in their hearts.  There are boxes, bowls, frames, hats, masks, dolls.  I have not done papier mache in ages, and I am not sure if the luster is still there for me to start again.  I am passing this book on, hoping it is there for someone else, and that this book encourages and inspires them.

Growing Up Gay/Growing Up Lesbian: A Literary Anthology

 Growing Up Gay/Growing Up Lesbian: A Literary Anthology Edited Bennett L. Singer
1994
Weight: 15 oz
Method of Disposal: Donating

This was one of very few lgbt books I was able to find when I was growing up, and I cherished it.  I remember trying to get my father to read it and offering to make a book cover for it so that he could read it on the plane when he was flying for business trips.  No one would have to know.

I did not realize that I was being introduced to some amazing writers I would later study in college, like Gloria E. Anzaldua, Audre Lord, Jeanette Winterson, and Dorothy Allison.  I would end up reading all of Annie on My Mind, The Well of Loneliness, Zami, Oranges are Not the Only Fruit, and Rubyfruit Jungle.  Dad should have taken me up on my offer.  

Lilies and Cannonballs

 Lillies and Cannonballs Review: Volume 1, Number 1: Spring/Summer 2004
Weight: 12 oz
Method of Disposal: Donating

This literary review brought me back to a different time.  A time of Bush, Rumsfeld,  Cheney, War, the Patriot Act, WMDs (or the lack thereof).  It was a dark time, but we had no idea then just how dark it could get.  

Secrets of Tallulah

 Secrets of Tallulah: Histories, Mysteries, and Colorful Tales from Georgia's Nineteenth Century Mountain Resort by Brian A. Boyd
2003
Weight: 7.2 oz
Method of Disposal: Donating

I have been to Tallulah Gorge several times now but, after reading this book, I would like to go back with new eyes.  It is hard to imagine photographers in the 1800's dragging all that equipment with them to take photos of people hanging out in the treacherous landscape.  I am glad they did though.  It is fun to see the old photos of when Tallulah Gorge was a big vacation destination.  

I have always loved exploring Georgia.  Day trips are easy to pack into the weekends and the dogs can go.  During the pandemic, it has been a particular blessing to be surrounded by so many trails, waterfalls, mountains, and outdoor activities.

Tallulah is brutal with all if its steps, but it is a great place to take someone from out of town, even though just looking at the suspension bridge gives me the shakes.  I am proud to say that, despite my fear of heights, I have crossed it several times.  I also feel that I should never have to do it again.

Mau Mau and Kenya

 Mau Mau and Kenya: An Analysis of a Peasant Revolt by Wunyabari O. Maloba
1998
Weight: 1.47 lbs
Method of Disposal: Donating

In college, I took a Women, War, and Militarism in Africa course.  It was hard, valuable, and a lot packed in.  How to cover all of Africa in one semester?  Our teacher tried to help us scratch the surface and inspire us to look further and regularly.  I remember her telling us that it is important to read news from other countries' media outlets and not just those in the United States.  At the time, my French Professor was encouraging the same.  It seems like obvious advice, though it definitely is not something a lot of people I know do.

This book was much like that course.  A detailed description of the Mau Mau but trying to pack a lot into one book.  It was valuable and insightful, and it made you want to look further.  It brings to light the strength of people standing up against colonialism and also the terrible things that they suffered and endured at the hands of the British.  It shows the complexity and problems with trying to define and easily contain people within one label.  It paints the Mau Mau in a very different light than what others had previously said about the them, something that was needed.

It has been a long time since that class, but it was a memorable one.

Cootie Shots

 Cootie Shots: Theatrical Inoculations Against Bigotry for Kids, Parents, and Teachers: Plays, Poems, and Songs Edited by Norma Bowles with Mark E. Rosenthal
2000
Weight: 1.9 lbs
Method of Disposal: Donating

I am not an educator, and I do not work with children.  I am confident that I would not be the best person to review this book.  What I do like, is having helpful conversations with kids about race, ability, sexuality, gender, consent, age, and culture instead of acting like every person is the same and that you need to see no differences.  This way of thinking hinders children, as they exist in a world where racism, sexism, ableism, etc DOES exist and then they do not have the words or comfort level to further explore and understand this.  If we do not have the language, we cannot learn and progress.

This book offers playful ways to get children talking and learning about diversity.  You know it is going to be good when one reviewer claims it will cause gender confusion in children and encourage cross-dressing!  Mostly this book receives 5 star reviews, and it looks like that particular reviewer was never inoculated.  Do you see what can happen?

The Poisonwood Bible

 The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
1998
Weight: 1.9 lbs
Method of Disposal: Donating

I think this is my last copy of the Poisonwood Bible!  Some books just have such a wide audience and so many people recommend them that you end up inheriting multiples of the same book.  That is definitely what happened with The Poisonwood Bible.  I am trying not to take duplicates of the same book to the new home.  This is a harder feat than you would expect, and I am consistently surprised to find books like this one still in the library.  Not because I did not enjoy it, because I did.  I am glad to be able to share it with someone else now.

The Audacity of Hope

 The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
2007
Weight: 9.6 oz
Method of Disposal: Donating

If I had not already been a fan of Barack Obama, I would have become one after reading his memoirs.  I cannot begin to tell you how much I miss having a competent, collected, savvy leader.  I know there are many people out there that can empathize.  His memoirs were great.  They were interesting and inspiring. He showed you some flaws, many of his strengths, his passion for helping people, and his sense of community.  The love story of Barack and Michelle was fun to read about.  He had a perfect past to set him up for leadership.  He had spent ample time in other countries, which broadened his mind, no doubt, but he had a clear love for America and was an established American (since that was such a big issue to the birthers, like Trump himself).  His work as a community organizer, his upbringing, his family, his being young and doing what young people do--all of it made him a real person that so many of us could connect with/see ourselves reflected in for so many different reasons and in different ways.

Obama really did give me hope and made me expect more and want better.  I did not feel like the things I had heard growing up about politicians held true anymore, not to me.  I was able to break out of the mindset that "all politicians are corrupt" and that "both parties are the same."  The idea that the government does not exist for the people.  I began to really think about just how hard of a job it would be to be the President of the United States of America.  I can tell you, even if it were on the table, I would turn that job down!  It takes a special person, and Obama was uniquely special.

I would not have wanted him to serve more than 8 years because I appreciate our democracy and the rules that are in place to stop us from having a dictatorship.  That being said, it is hard to imagine how different 2020 would have looked with a leader like Obama.  It is painful anyway, because the last four years have been so trying and overwhelming.  I wake up every morning expecting there to be another massive news event or emergency and, most of the time, there is.  I think of Naomi Klein's Shock Doctrine, and I see it happening all around me.  It is terrifying.  

We are really in a mess now and, while I am grateful to Biden for stepping up, I do not envy him.  Can you imagine being the leader of this ship?  

To this day, I am soothed by Obama's words when he speaks publicly.  His voice is reassuring and his composure helps me regain mine.  I dream of having another leader like him.  What a difference we could make in America.  Also, and I never quite realized how much this meant to me before Trump, what are all the great American things that we could preserve.  This has been a scary time for our democracy, and I am worried about how much damage has been done, though I hope this is just the chaos of old ideas dying off.  The rallying cry of people who no longer have a footing in a new, more progressive world.  I want to hope that we are on the precipice of something we can all be proud of creating, even as it looks like we are losing ourselves to global warming, violence, and individualism.  Thank you, Obama, for helping me know that dreaming big is not being unrealistic.  It is important and necessary.  We have to dream big to make big changes, and the changes we make (for better or worse) will be felt for generations to come.

Are Women Human?

Are Women Human? And Other International Dialogues by Catharine MacKinnon
2006 Weight: 2 lbs
Method of Disposal: Donation

 

In college, I did an independent study on Catharine MacKinnon, and I have never been able to give up the books from that course.  We studied them closely and constantly.  There were only three of us, working with our professor, to discuss and understand the work.  MacKinnon argued that pornography should be illegal and that it subordinates women.  I am not anti-pornography, but she is one smart woman and has some powerful ideas.  It was powerful to have someone pushing me and teaching me, constantly. If nothing else, you could use her work to make a strong argument for sex industry reform, and people have.  She has done incredible work on sex equality and the law, impacting sexual harassment, prostitution, rape, war crimes.  It is really impressive stuff.

Reading MacKinnon and reading the feminist scholars that tried to tear up her work made me terrified of ever trying to write or publish anything in the field of Women's Studies.  There are a lot of smart people out there, and there is a lot of anger and complexity to the ways people are oppressed.

I have read and re-read my MacKinnon books, and I know it is time for someone else to have them.  I am still not brave enough.  

You gotta love the title of this book though, right?  

 

 

Ice Cream

 Ice Cream: Contemporary Art in Culture: 10 Curators, 10 Contemporary Artists, 10 Source Artists
2007
Weight: 6.5 lbs
Method of Disposal: Donation

Goodbye 6 lb art book.  Our last 5 or so years together have been sweet, even if we spent most of that time distant and distracted with each other.  When I held you, I was curious, and my heart was filled with intrigue.  My favorite moments with you were when I flipped your pages, gently in my hands--especially that first time when I did not know anything about you yet.

In that time, the excitement has dimmed little by little and, now, the weight seems to WEIGH on me more and more and our time together seems to be coming to an end.  You lived with someone else before me, and you will live with someone else again.  When you see that new glimmer in your eye, you will feel safe again.  I hope you enjoy it, and I hope they enjoy you even more.

Thank you for the time and for opening my mind just a little more.

Different Hours

 Different Hours: Poems
2000
Weight: 12 oz
Method of Disposal: Donating

We have been looking at buying a house so it is time, yet again, for another big push to send more books out into the world.  Unfortunately, I have to read them before they go out, and there is no time for reading between work, house hunting, pets, and general life.  In other news, I need another knee surgery soon so maybe I can get a week off!  Albeit, on pain medication and in bed, but you get what you get!

Apart from me and mine, the United States of America continues to implode in new and unexpected ways.  Maybe the power of democracy can stop it after all.  God help us.

A Vision of Fire: Book 1 of The EarthEnd Saga

 A Vision of Fire: Book 1 of The EarthEnd Saga by Gillian Anderson
2014
Weight: 1 lb
Method of Disposal: Donating

I have been mostly keeping to myself that I was able to video chat with Gillian Anderson for just a couple minutes some months ago, but I have held onto and held up the memory in my mind when I needed some extra cheering up.  It has worked.  I think, potentially, one of the best things to come of it is that, now that "meeting" Gillian has been crossed off my bucket list, surely I can do any of the other items on there.  That was the only thing on my life list that was truly unattainable and now I have obtained it.  I should be doing all sorts.  So, 2020 was not all bad and, with the way 2021 started, it was not bad at all for me as an individual (though, it was truly terrible for countless other people).

I am going to be sending my Gillian Anderson book out into the world to be stumbled upon by another fan today.  I will be sad to see it go, but I know someone else out there will enjoy it and maybe even come to be a new fan.  Also, it will be one less book we will carry with us when we find our new home in the unknowing future.

The Secret History of Food

 The Secret History of Food (The Tribute Series) by Susan Tomnay and Nadine Wickenden
1998
Weight: 14 oz
Method of Disposal: Donating

This was a small, quick and fun read about food.  It has an English focus, but it covers food all over the world.  There are interesting tidbits all throughout, such as the first English Wedding Cake.  It was broken over the bride's head to represent the ending of her maidenhood.  An unmarried woman might sleep with a slice of the wedding cake underneath her pillow in hopes it would help her get married.  For awhile in history, the French thought you could get leprosy from potatoes and would not grow them.  All sorts.

Today, I ate an egg and cheese croissant, blueberry beignets, grits, and later chili.  Surely, trying to eat away my sorrows and worries, much to my later dismay.  I would like to do the usual resolution and make a vow of good health, but 2021 is already off to such an odd start that I have not even considered making or disavowing any resolutions.

With the exception of making sure that Harriet knows how much I love her on a daily basis.  While this is something I have always strived to do, I feel it even more important now after someone intentionally and directly threatened her life with a gun on the first of January.  I was at once so grateful to still have the love of my life in my life, not injured, and safe, while also despairing the fact I knew she would suffer trauma and cringing at the fear she must have experienced.  She was flitting about, trying to do nice things for everyone that morning and, yet, just like that, she was forced into a situation where she had to make fast decisions and hope for the best.  Thank God, she found her way back to me.  I force myself to stop thinking of what could have happened the second I start thinking it, but I start thinking about it all the time.