The Book Of Essie

The Book Of Essie

Adult fiction
"On the day I turn seventeen, there is a meeting to decide
whether I should have the baby or if sneaking me to a clinic is worth
the PR risk. I am not invited, which is just as well since my being
there might imply that I have some choice in the matter and I know
that I have none. I listen in, though, the way Lissa and I used to
before she went away..."
I think anyone reading the first paragraph of Meghen Maclean
Weir's The Book Of Essie can figure out that Essie isn't your run-of-
the-mill teenage girl. Underage pregnancies tend to confront families
with challenges to face and decisions to make. The PR risk, however,
usually doesn't enter into their calculations. Esther has grown up on
camera as a member of Six for Hicks, an evengelical tv show. For her
family, especially her mother, image is everything. Neither an
abortion nor an out-of-wedlock pregnancy would fit in with their
carefully curated image.
"Mom looks up, startled. She's actually holding that woman's
hands. Their hands are intertwined across the table and I can tell
that Mom's been crying. Not Pastor Hicks's wife, though. I'll bet
she never sheds a tear without capturing the moment to milk it for all
it's worth."
Roarke goes to school with Essie. His family attends the Hicks'
church. They're peripheral, back row members. But Roarke may be the
means of Essie and her family's image salvation. His parents are
deeply in debt and in danger or losing their business. If Roarke will
marry Essie (on camera, of course) his family will attain financial
solvency and more and he will be able to attend the expensive college
of his dreams.
"When I see that Essie has finished talking I shift forward in
my seat and ask the only sort of hard hitting question I am allowed:
'But as a teenager, as a normal teenage girl, you must sometimes wish
you could get away from the cameras even just once in awhile and let
loose, maybe go a little wild.'
Essie's upbeat expression fades and suddenly she looks pale and
older than her seventeen years.
'It doesn't do any good to wish for things you'll never have.'"
Liberty is a journalist who works for a conservative television
station. She's quite accustomed to covering the Hicks family's
perfectly scripted media events. But all that's about to change.
Essie requests a cell phone her parents won't check. If Liberty can
help her covertly, Essie will repay her with a series of exclusives.
The Book Of Essie is a spellbinding narrative told in their
alternating voices. At least one of them may not be eager to
participate in the cover up. And the perfect holier-than-thou tv
family may have a major skeleton in their closet.
On a purrrsonal note, Friends of the Orono Public Library had a book
sale Saturday. They had a big room filled with tables of books all
organized by genre. I spent 4 hours walking around downtown Orono and
the farmers' market in my unicorn costume encouraging everyone to
check out the book sale. It was a delightful autumn day and the
foliage and the downtown flowers were so beautiful. Such a refreshing
study break. And I'm up to 106 1/2 volunteer hours for the year.
As we edge on up to Halloween the rain in my heart and soul match the
weather outside. Just last year Joey and I had a fine time handing
out goodies in costume. The thought of doing that without the best
little cat in the world seems unbearable. But I can't come up with an
alternate. The campus activities are beyond bus hours.
Great big shout outs go out to Friends of the Orono Public Library for
earning money for important programs and the best little cat in the
world without whom even Halloween isn't magic.
jules hathaway


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Shout

Shout

YA/adult herstory
"Finding my courage to speak up twenty-five years after I was
raped, writing Speak, and talking with countless survivors of sexual
violence made me who I am today.
This book shows how that happened...
This is the story of a girl who lost her voice and wrote herself
a new one."
When I read the introduction to Laurie Halse Anderson's memoir,
Shout, from which I have just quoted, I couldn't put it down. You may
be familiar with her books. Her voice in them is emotionally
authentic and powerful. Now she gives us a picture of the person
behind the voice and the world that allowed her much younger self to
be assaulted and silenced.
In Shout Anderson shares with readers the dysfunctionalities of
her childhood household presided over by a father scarred by memories
of the concentration camps he had helped liberate and the buddy who
was killed in front of him when he was only 18, the lack of
information that caused her to not know what was happening when she
got her first period, the boy who forcibly raped her 13-year-old self
and lit a cigarette and walked away, his violent, alcohol fueled
death, and the lingering aftermath of it all. She also shows the
forces that didn't allow her to entirely give up.
If you're anything like me, Shout will anger you, inspire you,
and help you cope with whatever hardships life has thrown your way.
On a purrrsonal note, Tuesday night when Christina and I led a 45
minute class exercise it went super well. We started with drag. I
performed to Only The Good Die Young (which is excellent for drag.
I'll probs do it for the spring semester drag show.) I talked a little
about how my first drag performance helped me feel good about my
gender fluidity before I even knew the term. Everyone was all rowdy
and cheering. Then we split the class into three groups and gave each
a question. Then there was a discussion. It was so much fun. And
how often does one get a chance to perform drag as part of a class
assignment?
Adam came by last night and Eugene and I really enjoyed his visit.
Today, where I have no classes or work, I'm taking myself a little
field trip in the opposite direction of campus. Goodwill is giving
Club Goodwill members 25% off donated goods. :-)
Great big shouts go out to my classmates (especially Christina) and
our professor and Adam.
jules hathaway


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Fly Girls

Fly Girls

YA/adult herstory
"It had been just nine years since American women had won the
right to vote, and a lot of men were struggling to understand these
new women. They complained about their short skirts and their short
hair, their divorces (too many) and their marriage vows (all wrong).
At weddings, brides were no longer required to promise to "obey" their
husbands. That bothered some men. It threatened them too. But
nothing was more threatening than a woman who could fly an airplane--a
machine that had been invented by men, for men."
In 1926, mere decades after the Wright brothers had proved
motorized flight possible, most people were afraid to fly. The
fledgling aviation industry, in order to survive and possibly even
grow, had to capture the public's attention and make the prospect of
flight alluring. Air races gave regular people a chance to share in
exciting events and see planes with their own eyes.
Of course the races were quite dangerous. Pilots often died. A
lot of people believed women shouldn't be allowed to participate or
even to fly. This prejudice didn't deter a cadre of women determined
to prove their competence. Keith O'Brien's Fly Girls introduces
readers to five of these daring women and follows their exploits over
the course of a tumultuous and intense ten years. It also portrays
how the world adapted very slowly to their achievements, more often
than not throwing formidable obstacles in their way.
"In the decades to follow only one of these five women--Amelia
Earhart--would be remembered. But for a few years, before each of the
women went missing in her own way, these female pilots captivated a
nation, hoping to beat one another and longing to beat the men. At
times, a hundred thousand people swarmed dusty air fields to watch
them compete, darting through the sky in their colorful planes--
robin's egg blue and pale orchid, scarlet red and gleaming white--and
racing, an impossible tale played out in a deadly sky."
If you're anything like me, it's a tale you won't want to miss
out on.
On a purrrsonal note, last Thursday the part of Maine I live in lucked
out. We did get the torrential downpours that werevpredicted. But
the wind didn't live up to the hype. It did in other parts of the
state, blowing down trees and knocking out power to well over 100,000
homes.
My weekend was the Saturday brunch shift and studying and writing a
paper. I'm really looking forward to class tonight. Christina and I
have our turn to lead a 45 minute activity. We'll be graded on
whether our classmates are engaged. They will be. If drag doesn't
engage them I don't know what I will.
A great big shout out goes out to Christina whom I really enjoy
working with and to the best little cat in the world.
jules hathaway



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Grumpy Cat: A Grumpy Book

Grumpy Cat: A Grumpy Book

Cat lovers
You probably have heard of Grumpy Cat, the Internet sensation
who left the world much too soon this past summer. In case you
haven't, Grumpy Cat was born with curmudgeonly (but still really cute)
features and a cantankerous expression and acquired by a human
companion with a knack for online promotion.
When I heard of a print volume on this cyber star I just had to
seek it out by inter library loan. It's a guidebook for people why
haven't fully embraced their inner grouches.
"You see true grumpiness comes from inside--you have to feel it
down to your core. Even if you weren't born with it like me, however,
you can still acquire a grumpy mindset. This book will help you
achieve that."
Ummm, I'm not so sure about that. I found myself smiling and
laughing. Why don't you see what the book does for you while I seek
out other volumes featuring this fabulous feline?
On a purrrsonal note, I am SOOOO missing my far from grumpy Joey cat,
especially with Halloween, which was one of our big holidays, coming
up. I'm hoping Old Town Animal Orphanage will be able to find me a
cuddle cat by Thanksgiving or at least Christmas break. I don't want
to dread Christmas break but weeks of being alone during the darkest
part of the year. I can't even get excited about decorating a year.
A new cat will never replace Joey in my heart. But he or she will
save my sanity. And I have a loving home to offer. Sadly most
shelter cats don't get any kind of home. The new cat will have an
Internet presence, not to beguile thousands of strangers, but to share
with my many friends on and off campus.
A great big shout out goes out to the best little cat in the world who
made not just holidays, but every day something special.
jules hathaway



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For Lesbian parents

For Lesbian parents

Parenting
I distinctly remember the birth of my first child. It was
rather dramatic. Labor started in the wee hours of the morning. What
I thought was my water breaking was blood. The bathroom looked like a
set from a Stephen King horror flick. The obstitrician told me to get
to the hospital right away. My partner and I drove there and waited
and waited. When I'd been in labor 16 hours a nurse took a look,
called the doctor who had left the room, and told him to get the Hell
back; the baby wasn't going anywhere. This was not exactly reassuring
to the mother-to-be in labor. I had myself a middle of the night
emergency c section.
Now I'd read every new mother book I could get my hands on. So
you'd think I'd have felt somewhat confident when I finally met Amber
the next day. Wrong. My exhausted, hormone saturated emotions went
on a roller coaster ride. I was head over heels in love. Never
before had such a beautiful, enchanting, perfect infant arrived in the
world. And I was terrified. I was going to somehow destroy this
amazing little being. It took the nurses about 20 minutes to persuade
me to hold her while lying safely in bed.
So I totally agree with Suzanne Johnson and Elizabeth O'Connor
(both Ph.D.s) when they write in the introduction to their For Lesbian
Parents:
"...the fact is, no training, education, or fantasizing can
truly prepare you for parenthood. It is something that you make
happen and happens to you at the same time. It is overwhelming,
exhausting, terrifying, thrilling, and joyous all at once. It
requires more stamina than a marathon. It demands more energy and
attention than you knew you had."
Johnson and O'Connor had to hurdle an obstacle that Eugene and I
never had to give a moment's thought to. Society has made things
awfully hard for families headed by lesbians. We have a lot of bias
going on. Even some people who respect lesbian couples believe
vehemently that they should not raise children. And there are a lot
of legalities.
In addition to their own experiences, the authors have included
the narratives of a number of other lesbian parents. For Lesbian
Parents is a candid, comprehensive volume that I believe will be a
useful reference book for its target audience.
On a purrrsonal note, Penobscot County, Maine is in the midst of a
torrential downpour with gale force winds. There are warnings of
power outages. From what I can hear it's wild out there. Outside my
studio window it's as black as the inside of a coal mine. I suspect
that getting to UMaine to work my lunch shift is going to be an
adventure.
A great big shout out goes out to all the folks who will do their work
outside in this mess like garbage truck and bus drivers and the first
responders who hopefully won't encounter too many storm (and lack of
bad weather caution) related accidents.
jules hathaway



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Act Natural

Act Natural

Adult nonfiction
"Much of what we [21st century parents] do, in fact, other
parents would never consider. The things we take for granted as
normal and natural strike parents in other parts of the world as
absurd and dangerous, as wrong as letting your toddler play with a
machete, which by the way, some Congolese parents do. And as
horrified as we are by their methods, they are by ours. Playing with
knives is one thing, but putting your child asleep alone? That's
child abuse."
As exhausted parent of two very young children, Jennifer Traig,
quoted above, found herself learning that many contemporary American
childraising practices range from inane to bizarre. A lot of us have
had that epiphany. Traig, however, did something with it. She
conducted extensive research on parenting practices through time and
around the world. The fruit of her labor is the amazing Act Natural:
A Cultural History of Misadventures in Parenting. Don't let the word
"parenting" in the title deter you. There are plenty of people with
no interest whatsoever in procreating to whom I'd recommend this
excellent book.
You see, I've read many scholarly books. I've read many
bitingly humorous books. Before Act Natural I'd never seen the two
genres combined so seamlessly. Except for sleeping (which makes
reading impossible) and showering (which makes it not such a good
idea) I read the book cover to cover without putting it down. I
startled quite a few fellow bus passengers by repeatedly laughing my
head off.
Anyway, if you've been a child, brought children into the world
or plan on doing so, or just wondered why our parents and other
ancestors followed what may seem like really bizarre practices, I
think you'll find Act Natural to be a must read.
On a purrrsonal note, this is the last day of October break for me.
Well technically tomorrow is. But I have two meetings in regard to
separate academic class projects. Anyway I was going to have a
fabulous thrift shop expedition with a friend. Only first thing I saw
this morning was a email from my friend that she couldn't make it. I
thought, oh, well, more time for studying. For maybe five minutes. I
could make a Goodwill run myself and stop at Hannaford to get the
ingredients to make Eugene a surprise molasses cake. He did give me a
really special day yesterday. It was a good thing I did. I got all
kinds of cat and unicorn and Halloween stuff really cheap. Also
splurged a little on sweets at Hannaford. When I got home I could not
find the cookbook with my mother-in-law's molasses cake recipe.
Internet to the rescue. I found a recipe with what looked like
similar ingredients.
A great big shout out goes out to bangor Goodwill workers who keep the
store so fabulous and Eugene who I hope will enjoy his molasses cake.
jules hathaway



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Blended

Blended

Juvenile fiction
"It's Sunday. I hate Sundays. I hate, hate, hate them. Even
when I'm a wrinkled old lady, Sunday will always remind me of a worn,
gray, fake-leather sofa at the mall. It's where Dad sits to wait for
me when it's his turn for custody for the week. Mom waits on the same
couch on the opposite week. The stupid sofa never changes--just the
faces of the grown-ups who come to claim me. I'm pretty sure my
parents hate Sundays too."
I'm sure any of us who are parents with shared custody or were
children mandated to split loyalties between two very different
households can relate to the thoughts [quoted above] of Isabella,
protagonist of Sharon Draper's Blended. Her parents have grown apart
and split up. For awhile her father lived hundreds of miles away.
Visits were few and far between.
Now Isabella's dad and his new family have moved to her home
town. Visitation rules have been renegotiated in court. She has a
separate room, wardrobe, backpack, nickname, and persona in each
household. And often at the drop off point or when they have to
interact by phone her parents behave very badly.
Family isn't the only complexity in Isabella's life. Her father
is black; her mother is white. People describe her as blended. She
is very unsure of what that makes her.
And then a black friend finds a noose in her gym locker.
Once again Draper has hit it out of the ball park with a story
that younger readers will find captivating and thought provoking.
On a purrrsonal note, yesterday [Saturday] I was going to study all
day. But then I went to the hospital to see my mother-in-law. So
today I was going to study all day. You know what they say about the
best laid plans. When I woke up my partner wanted to know if I wanted
to go to Dennys for breakfast and then for a ride. School is a
priority but so is family. We had an awesome breakfast. I had
pancakes with banana cream and warm salted caramel sauce. Heavenly.
We drove around Maine enjoying the fabulous fall foliage. At
Greenville I bought a card with a jeweled butterfly pin that says my
wings already exist; all I have to do is fly for my studio. That
describes my life apart from missing Joey cat. We saw a bunch of cute
young turkeys. We saw some amazing classic cars from the 50s. I
talked to the drivers. We got sandwiches and chips for lunch. Closer
to home we got ice creams at a place that was about to close for the
season. It was a very good day.
Tomorrow? No promises.
Great big shout outs go out to Eugene and to the best little cat in
the world who I wish I could have come home to.
jules hathaway


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