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.