WeatherGirl’s Station

Written by Phyllis Chesler. While I found this book relied a little too much on personal anecdotes and could have done with a serious edit to tighten it up, it addresses a very important topic not much discussed in relation to why misogyny continues.

The situations discussed in the book were valuable examinations of relationships that are important to women, but I think it would have greatly improved the case if the author had found a way to explore multiple points of view on a given example.

Well worth a read, just skim when you’ve got the point.

Current temperature 61F/16C

Lori and I taught a bookmaking class at the PRCA. Both of us have a lot of experience in making books but we’ve never tried to teach anyone else how to do this.

We chose to make a simple accordion book because it’s a very versatile format and a project we could work through in one three hour session. We met for a full three hour session before the class so we could practice constructing the book we were going to teach. That way we would know we could do it, we would know what to say and we would say the same thing.

On the big day we had 6 students, all at different levels of ability and experience in handling materials. By the end of the day we had 7 completed books (Lori and I made one as we demonstrated each technique) and 6 pretty tired but happy students.

It was a great experience for me and I hope for all who participated. Lori and I hope to teach more classes. There are many book types that can be taught in a single session but the more intricate and interesting book challenges need multiple sessions and consequently need more of a time investment from the students and cost more.

Current temperature 16F/-9C (windchill 1F/-17C)

The Price of Motherhood and I highly recomend it. See here for my previous comments.

The only negative comment I’d make is that a couple of the references were listed as personal communications which is fine when you’re reporting the opinions of others but when your using them as references for facts I don’t think that’s appropriate.

Read this book!

Current temperature 25F/-4C (It’s still snowing!)

Dared and Done. The Marriage of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning by Julia Markus. I bought this book several years ago (part of a growing collection of books about successful and interesting women) and it disappeared on to a shelf somewhere in the house. I rediscovered it today and read the first chapter. A relationship that has become more myth than reality. I look forward to learning more about the reality.

Current temperature 34F/1C (windchill 20F/-6C) Positively balmy!

I’m about a third of the way through The Price of Motherhood and it is very interesting reading. It should be on the must read list of every economics professor, student and researcher. It challenges the received wisdom of the field but also speaks to the essential problem of achieving gender equality. That is, as a society, we still expect women to bear the full load of raising the next generation, to take on that job based on a perceived nature and to do it all for no renumeration, whether that be minimal financial support, access to decent health care or support in retirement.