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June 03, 2006
Printer's Row Book Fair: Read the Fine Print
The fine print is: don't plan on spending an entire day around books for sale without proper transportation. What I mean is, if like me you are compelled to buy more books than you could actually read, then unlike me take a rolling bag with you to a book fair. Silly me, I chose fashion over practicality. I was thinking of taking my backpack, but since my new shirt (from Nordstrom's Rack) was basically backless, I wanted to flaunt that instead of covering it up with a bag. Little did I know that a backpack wouldn't have been enough for the weight of the books I chose. Or did they choose me?
Jane Addams
Here's where it all started. Two very heavy hardcover books on Ms. Jane, co-founder of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. Damn woman cost me more than the rest of my books combined. But it was worth it. The author discussion was great and inspiring: nothing has been written about Jane's activism through WILPF and "the definitive history of WILPF has not been written." So, apparently one possible way out of the dilemma of making a living while pursuing my passion for WILPF is to write about our dead history. Well, obviously it's not dead but the part about dead people captures a lot more people's imaginations than the living part. It's late and I should've written this earlier when my inner cynic wasn't trying to get me to go to sleep; but such is life.
Louise K. Knight wrote Citizen: Jane Addams and the Struggle for Democracy. I haven't read it yet, but her style is engaging, accessible, and full of depth. Plus, she's a sister WILPFer! So, I highly recommend her book. :)
Katherine Joslin wrote Jane Addams: A Writer's Life. Again, haven't read it but her style seems to be more grounded in university-ese. Indeed, her purpose is to show Jane's importance as an intellectual author, so it makes sense that she writes in a more refined way than Knight, whose purpose was to examine and re-tell the first 40 years of Jane's life.
Since my eyes are drooping, I must go to sleep without telling you about the rest of the fair or the 3 movies I haven't written about yet. manana es una otra dia.
Posted by cj at June 3, 2006 11:44 PM
Comments
I used to buy a lot of books, especially in the bargain bin. I've gotten better about it lately, but I still get really giddy whenever I hear about a bookfair.
I know. I'm pathetic.
Posted by: Michelle at June 10, 2006 09:34 PM