I heard the name of Victoria Woodhull in a specialized course, History of American Women, in college. My college years are considered pre-historic, and as such, you would have thought by now everyone would be not only aware of women who were movers and shakers in our past, but they’d be required study–or–like white males, just plain studied. No, of course not. 40 years more or less didn’t bring both sexes and various ethnic people into the discourse. History still belongs to those who write it and apparently those who write it are white males–or, and I have nothing to back this up except ignorance displayed by the younger among us, current history books and courses aren’t current in the sense of inclusion, but in edition number. When I was in grade and high school, the only women that had anything to do with our country’s beginnings consisted of one who mythically sewed a flag, and another who served water on the battlefield–oh, and one president’s wife saved some portraits when the White House burned. Betsy Ross’s house is nearby in Philly, and although the story is discredited time and again, the fantasy lives on. Molly Pitcher is immortalized in a touching way–one of the New Jersey Turnpike’s rest stops bears her name. And Dolly Madison churns out ice cream. That’s it, they are the sum total of women who existed with a contribution to our country’s emergence. And if you notice–their notoriety is contained within the domestic arena.
Miscellaneous
Soul Food: Books That Feed The Spirit
by Jas Faulkner Last week’s list was full of books to feed the body, so it makes sense that this week I would feature some gems that might feed the soul. To be perfectly clear, I have no intention of trying to convert anyone. This list should certainly bear that out. There are a number … Read more
Gifts of the Earth: Vegan and Vegetarian Cookbooks
by Jas Faulkner
A quick note here, since I have received some questions about this: It’s no accident that many of the books on these lists are older. My purpose is twofold. I want to point readers to books they might have missed and booksellers, especially resellers, to books that might move off the display table . The genres I’ve chosen are those I read, enjoy and refer to fairly frequently.
Before we take a look at this week’s list, let’s consider the supposed audience for vegan and vegetarian cookbooks. People who choose to live exclusively on plant-based nutrition have gotten a bad rap over the last half-century. They are the target of ridicule by celebrity chefs like Anthony Bourdain and Gordon Ramsey and in day to day life they have to dodge and weave around the stereotypes.
The stereotypes. Do we even want to go there? Alas, they do exist, those mental images of underfed, pasty, testy, self-righteous types who glare the plates containing a cut of something that once mooed, baahed, oinked, or clucked. Those Birkenstock and hemp sock wearing culinary pharisees are enough to scare anyone away from the vegetarian shelves in the cookbook section. This is a pity, especially when so many otherwise good general cookbooks tend to go light on the sides and veggie main courses unless they’re heavy on the starch, fat, and salt.
Random Musings of A Mad Bookseller
It must have been in 9th grade or so when I first read the poem in my high school English class. The imagery of the poem entranced me ! It became one of my favorite poems. Like a piece of clothing washed too many times , life and time washed away the vibrant memory … Read more
Sticks and Bones: Some of the Best Anthropology Books for Non-Anthropologists
by Jas Faulkner
Many brick and mortar stores ceased to have anthropology sections some time in the mid to late 90s’ . One of the best anth sections in Nashville outside of the book store at Vanderbilt was at Davis-Kidd. D-K was an indie that stubbornly provided good books for graduates of programs at Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee State, Vanderbilt and UTK years after the anth sections at the remaining big box stores were relegated to “social science’ shelves or co-opted by the rather academically anemic travel sections.
This is a pity, because most people either took a single course as an undergraduate elective or had some form of anthropology class on their wish lists and never managed to find the time or an open section. Those of us who majored in the subject often hear similar responses of regret about missed opportunities during university, especially when it came to working archaeological digs. I’ll cut to the chase about most teaching digs: Lying on the ground with a dental pick or a tooth brush while every bit of your body heat leeches into the soil or your backside bakes is not as glamorous as it sounds. Is it exciting to find you’ve been sitting on top of a habitation site or the rock you’ve been patiently digging around is actually a diagnostic projectile point? Oh, yes it is! I’m
All Tied Up In A Bow
by Jas Faulkner
writer’s note: Abject apologies to Diane. This is late and I am sorry.
The email -the second this month asking me about hockey books- came from Sam and Tab. Someone brought in copies of “Saving Face: The Art and History of the Goalie Mask” and “Shooting Stars: Photographs of the Portnoy Collection at the Hockey Hall of Fame” and wanted to know if I thought they had a chance of selling them. In “God, Flag, and Football” country that Mississippi can be, I told them to get them for their own enjoyment while they’re at work and hope someone from Southaven, current home of the River Kings, might take an interest and buy them. Neither of the girls are particularly interested in hockey, but both love sports photography and these books have some shots that would be assessed as gorgeous by anyone who loves looking at beautifully composed pictures.
Even though the two books Sam asked about are thoroughly researched and well written, it brings to mind the fact that , as we get closer to the biggest gift buying and giving time of the year in North America, a whole section of books that are meant to be seen and not heard- er- read will make an appearance on sales tables at brick and mortar stores all over the continent.
Bookish Halloween Costumes
Once again, it is time for Halloweenie, and last minute costumes are being assembled. Why not dress up as your favorite literary character? I’d love to say this idea came to me out of the clear orange and black sky, but again, ABE led the way with their take on literary costumes. Some of their suggestions left me cold–as in, I have no idea what the book in question is about, let alone want to create a costume from a character. They suggest some of the usual suspects–Wizard of Oz types, Tom Sawyer, Ahab (must carry long harpoon) but most are original and offbeat. I’d never think of being a character from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to The Universe,
specifically because I’ve never bothered exploring the outer limits of the book. They suggest wearing a bathrobe and look confused. Hmm. I do like the idea of going as a giant ham, like Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird, even if she was in a school pageant, with nothing to do with All Hallow’s Eve. Consider dressing as the psycho ‘nurse’ in Misery with some torture device in your hands, says ABE. I’d go one better–why not the nurse from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest? Uh, what did she wear, again? Besides sadism on her sleeve? They have another Stephen King novel– It. Gee, how original, a sociopathic clown–never see them on Halloween, duh. Hey–I have the perfect Cujo–my dog Louie–and he doesn’t need a special costume, his teeth says it all. I’m really into the futuristic fireman from Fahrenheit 451. The ABE article suggested lugging a stack of books around. Better yet–go as a bookseller, you could attach either a ladder to your body with books at the top or be covered in store and book dust with a huge cardboard box attached at the hip. And that stack of books.
A Guide To Books For Practicing The Crafts
by Jas Faulkner
Oh, you thought I meant the crafts as in The Craft.
No.
It’s October and frankly, writing about the Craft would be a bit too precious and disrespectful to Wiccans and Pagans, don’t you think?
I’m talking about crafts and crafters. It’s a subject near and dear to my heart. Given that the days of triple-digit killer heat seem to be over for a while and gift-giving season is upon us, maybe it’s time to give it some thought. Those of you who sell books might want to think about crafts, too.
Inclement weather, snow days, and holidays are not too far off, which means potential buyers are going to scour the internet for craft ideas. I understand the argument that many people will stop at the hand full of ideas they can find online. In fact, I agree with it, to an extent. That person is more than likely a casual crafter who may have a few finished projects, a half-dozen unfinished masterpieces, and a box of never opened craft supplies. Odds are pretty good they’re not going to be buying craft books from your store any time soon. They’re the grazers you’ll rarely if ever meet. Let’s move on.