Author Archives: bookdwarf

Feminine Protection

Going all girly on y’all, but I could not resist once I read this article in the NYT on a new brand of feminine hygiene products. The woman who started this company, which is called Dittie, realized that women were treated like they were sick when they got their periods.

“It’s no surprise women feel cursed. Take a look at the feminine protection aisle in your local drugstore; it looks like a hospital! Women are being treated like they’re sick when they’re not. They just have their periods,” said Barbara Carey, president and founder of Dittie, which launched today in retail outlets throughout California. “I created Dittie because I realized there was an overwhelming need for a new brand of feminine protection that did not approach a woman’s monthly cycle as an ailment. That’s why Dittie looks like something you’d find at the cosmetic counter, not in the pharmaceutical aisle.”

Huh. I am not sure what to make of this. I applaud her efforts to de-stigmatize menstruation, but I fear she is making this a little too cutesy for my taste. Check out the website. They have a flash tampon bowling game. Sigh. The other companies, Tampax (owned by Proctor & Gamble), Playtex, Johnson & Johnson sure don’t seem as exciting as this brand. Their commericials are terrible! They are embarassing. So we will see if this new upstart company survives. If their guerilla marketing tactics will work.

I always try to finish

An interesting article in the NYT Book Review this weekend where Laura Miller discusses whether one should always finish a book, no matter how much you might not be enjoying it. She says no and quotes several authors who say that they give the book anywhere from 2 pages to 20 pages. Myla Goldberg, author of Bee Season, claims she knows someone who only gives a book 2 sentences. What can turn people off is bad first sentences and long descriptive passages in the beginning. I feel that sometimes a book just doesn’t grab you. I usually try to give any book 100 pages. How much do you give a book? Is it a crime to not finish one? It’s hard for me, but its definitely gotten easier, especially since I have so much to read now. I am leaving this open to discussion. Feel free to comment.

Behind again

I am off to Maine for the weekend in a few hours. I am behind in the book reporting I realize. I promised comments on Cloud Atlas and have not delivered. I have even read a book that I didn’t mention anywhere—Recollections of My Life as a Woman by Diane Di Prima. Very intriguing book. I know less than I would like about the Beat poets, but regardless, she lived a very fascintating life. She knew LeRoi Jones, Allen Ginsberg, Frank O’Hara, Audre Lourde, etc. And she broke boundaries, which is the best part of the book. Anyway, maybe I will comment more of this some other time. If you want to read a book about someone who has done more things than you can contemplate, read this book.
As I said earlier, I am going to Ogunquit, Maine today for the weekend. I am excited as I have never really been there before. And one of the things I am most excited about, and I am embarassed to admit this, is the cool new toy I got for my iPod. Its called the iTrip and it lets you play your iPod through FM radio. Its a little white tube that you plug into the top and it transmits the music to your car stereo or what have you. Yes, I am as nerdy as you think. I am part of Team Discovery channel after all and now I think B is going to call me the nerdiest one. That’s okay.
And as for this week’s ‘revelation’ about the torture and abuse of the Iraqi prisoners, I have not chimed in because everyone sane knows that its bad to mistreat other people. You know. I know. Its one of the first things you learn as a kid. Don’t hit your the other kids. Why these idiots thought they could do this and get away with it (pictures?! C’mon people, you are not only some of the more crueler people around, but fucking dumb people as well.) I do not know. None of the explanations coming out are making me feel better. I think the only thing that would make this better is for Rumsfeld to resign, but, alas, we all know that is going to happen. The whole thing is disgusting and sheds light finally on how hypocritical our nation can be. That is my two cents for now. Off to Maine to relax.

He has a cool name at least

I am rather conflicted about Steve Almond. Some days I like him, some days I don’t. He’s quite the controversy among my co-workers but that is another story. TEV (one of my favorite daily reads these days) blogged about a negative review of Almond’s new book Candyfreak, which I have read. I thought the book good when I read it a few months ago, but now, frankly, I am sick of it. He keeps popping up with all these interviews. And he says the same thing in each one! I know you have to prepare for interviews when you are doing a great deal of publicity, but do you have to repeat yourself word for word? I really liked My Life in Heavy Metal. I thought his descriptions of relationships right on the money. I like his language and the characters. I think he is a great writer. Is he self-absorbed? Probably. But what writer isn’t these days. I just wish I didn’t have to keep hearing about the 5 candy bars that were mistakes. I like Twizzlers dammit. They make good straws! Here is a review from the local Weekly Dig that doesn’t fall for the sugar coated book.

Jeez…Cee U Next Tuesday

Bookslut points to this Telegraph article on Plum Sykes, the author of Bergdorf Blondes, a book that the title alone made me not want to read. What a bitch. I mean really. I don’t know much about her, but the sooner she gets her comeuppance, the better. Now, who’s going to give it to her? Any volunteers?

Our right to privacy

I am sure you are aware of the damage the so-called ‘Patriot’ Act has done to our rights. Pat Holt sent an email broadcast today about Section 215, which “allows FBI agents to search records in bookstores and libraries of anyone they believe may have information relevant to their investigations, including people who are not suspected of committing a crime”. The request for obtaining one of these search warrants is held in secret. Ashcroft assures us that they have not used it, but as Holt points out, then why does it exist. And how are we supposed to know if the whole thing is kept quiet. So I went and signed a petition against this bad bad policy. Really, one of the things we should be fighting for today is to rid our country of this Patriot Act. No good can come of it. I have put the button below so others can go sign it.

This book better win some prizes

I finished Cloud Atlas last night and it was wonderful. I need time to think about it, so I will try to post some thoughts on it tonight. If this book isn’t nominated for something, than there is definitely something wrong with the literary community. I am gathering links about this book too. Here is what I have found so far:
A Guardian review
A Guardian interview with David Mitchell
A review from the New Zealand Herald
Bookmunch review
A review from the Independent
A review in the LNR book diary
There is much more I think. I remember reading somewhere that one reviewer said he would not write about the book as he found it incomprehensible. That I do not get at all. The guy must have been really dumb. Anyway, more from me on this later.

Women. Sheesh.

Ed has an interesting post about the lack of coverage of the March for Women’s Lives that took place last Sunday in Washington. My friend Vicki went and has posted several things on her experience there. The news coverage was pretty lame. The NYT had a few small articles, but I did not notice much more. That is pretty sad considering at least 800,000 marched, though they report a million people as well. But I think its also indicative of the current administration. They just don’t care (I am not saying anything new here). Bush said when all the war protests were going on that they would in no way make him rethink his decision.
This whole topic has brought up two issues for me. The first is Bush’s obvious lack of respect for the country that he won’t even listen to anyone else. Yes, he has his advisors, but his vision is so singleminded. What kind of person does not reflect on their decisions and listen to other’s output? When I go say, buy a new car, I talk to people, usually my dad who has more knowlede than I do about this stuff. And maybe other people I know who have bought cars so I can learn from their experience and make my experience the best. Well, not Bush.
My second thought is about feminism in the 90s and 00s (what the hell do we call this decade?). I am just wondering who our role models are now. Who are the big feminist leaders? Hillary Clinton could be one I suppose. She is a strong independent woman and in a position of power. Condoleeze Rice? Uhm….thanks, but no thanks. She is powerful and works hard, but c’mon. She’s Bush’s second wife for christsakes. What about people my age (that’s late 20s for those who don’t know) or younger? The Olson twins? They make a buttload of money. I can think of lots of movie stars. But none of them are exactly leaders for women everywhere. I did not hear of any “stars” attending, so maybe that is why no one reported on the march? But I would be skeptical of any star that promotes a cause anyway. Its really only a few stars whose motives I trust. I trust that Martin Sheen really does want to get rid of nuclear reactors and is not out to further his career by getting arrested a bunch. But back to the topic at hand.
Which brings me to another thought: what’s the deal with women’s rights anyways? Is it just me or are we losing ground these days? And I am not even referring strictly to our reproductive rights. We know those are being chipped away. They are not making it a secret. I am talking about all the progress that we seemed to be making decade ago. Women getting corporate jobs that were not just being secretaries. Women getting equal pay. Women no longer being relegated to giving birth and baking. Yes, women are still out there working and struggling, but I do not see many women in Congress as I do not see many women CEOs or other “high” positions. I am not sure what I am really saying here. It just seems to me that our progress has sort of halted and I do not know why.
As for the March on Sunday, I am so happy it took place and amazed that so many people showed up. Its nice to know that so many people agree that a woman’s body is her own. They may not support abortion, but they support a woman’s choice. That’s what I care about. I deserve the choice. No, not deserve, it is my right.
Okay, this is me stepping off my soapbox to go eat cake for Meg’s birthday.

This is just cool

Report in the Globe today that some archaeologists have found more than 50 mummies buried in deep shafts in Cairo today. The date from the first millennium BCE apparently. The place is just full of mummies it sounds like. I cannot wait to here more. Yes, I am a dork. Remember, I did study Classics for many years….