Some time ago, I read Virginia Woolf’s Three Guineas. I remember that upon finishing the book I felt compelled to: (1) thank the Almighty for allowing me to be born after the mid-century mark; (2) join an organization for women that supported the advancement of women in professions and equal pay for equal work; and (3) support those running for political office who profess an aversion for war.

Western countries have made a lot of progress since 1938, the year the book was originally published. No longer do women have to rely on charm to procure money from their fathers, brothers, and/or husbands. No longer is marriage the only “profession” open to women. No longer are women denied the opportunity to acquire an education. No longer are the opinions of women considered to be without value. We’ve come a long way! Bold, courageous, and visionary women were tireless in their efforts to secure human and constitutional rights, one-by-one, for us.

But as champions of capitalist systems and with income in our possession, have we lost as much as we’ve gained? Are we not like men who leave the house at dawn and return at nightfall? Have we little time to acquaint ourselves with our children? Has time for friendship, travel, and art nearly vanished? Don’t we too feel the itch of dog collars inscribed “For God and Country?” Are we leading lives and professing the same loyalties that professional men have professed for thousands of years (70)?

Are we leading lives of quiet desperation? (nod to Henry David Thoreau)

Yes, and it’s “so momentous an occasion in the history of civilization that some celebration seems called for (101)!”

Women who earn their livings posses the powerful weapon of independent opinion. With a mind of their own and a will of their own, women have the ability to influence society.

Woolf speaks of young women who passively absented themselves from church services. For years women had predominated congregations by a ratio of 75% to 25%, but the situation changed as the population of women students increased. “Among the student population the young women were, on the whole, farther away from the Church of England and the Christian faith than the young men (117-118).” By making their absence felt, these women made their presence become desirable (119).

What if all women in civilized countries absented themselves for a weekend – retreated to the wild and left society to itself? It’s fun to imagine the outcome. Could it be the catalyst that would finally move politicians, the majority whom are men, to write into law a benefit that women have been seeking for years – equal pay for equal work? Could women gain other benefits as well, such as stronger laws to protect them from abusers? What if women in backward countries, those where they are mere chattel, escaped to the wild? Would honor killings cease? Could they earn the right to uncover their heads? If we made our absence felt, would our presence become desirable?

…just sitting here wondering…

Source:
Three Guineas
Virgina Woolf
ISBN: 0-15-690177-3

Related to this post: See how the best-compensated male executives’ paychecks compare to the 25 best-paid women.

A wickedly funny author describes the wicked plants in her new book.

I really do appreciate what Stephen Fry has to say about swearing in this video, as I’m quite fond of throwing down the swear words. It can be an art actually, and often no others words will do when you’re pissed or hurt. I only wish I were as adept at vulgar verbalization as my dear brother, Vic.

Did you know that one of America’s most talented authors, Stephen Crane, was gifted when in came to cursing? His friends delighted in his competence. Crane appreciated swearing as “performance on a purely linguistic level.” He enjoyed expletitives enough to even go so far as compiling a swearing dictionary. This just proves what Stephen Fry says in the video; it isn’t the intellectually challenged who are governors of profanity, it’s the erudite who are the foremost masters.

Amazing Stuff!

I picked up this meme at MadSilence.

Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more. (No cheating!)

Beeing: Life, Motherhood, and 180,000 Honeybees by Rosanne Daryl Thomas

This is a fabulous book! I’ve kept it at my desk because I’ve wanted to mention it in a blog post. I never thought it would be this one. I’m fascinated by bees. I’d also advise you to read “Stung,” an article by Elizabeth Kolbert found in the August 6, 2007 issue of The New Yorker. Or stop by www.newyorker.com to see a video about Elizabeth’s hanging hive. Also, be sure to read a special report in the Nov-Jan 2007/08 issue of Organic Gardening titled “Bee Crisis.” Learn simple things you can do in your garden to help your native bee population. You can also go here to get a list of conservation websites and publications that will advise you on how to sustain your native bee population. Save the bees!

Find Page 123. Find the first 5 sentences, but post the next 3 sentences.

He beckoned. I followed him down a row of wheelbarrows. “Here. The cart of your dreams.”

Tag 5 people.

Really, it’s up to you if you want to participate. Let me know if you’ve posted on this meme in the comments section. I’d like to learn what you’re reading!

You’re Waiting for Godot!

by Samuel Beckett

Many people think you’re extremely dull, but you’re just trying to be patient. Really patient. Patient to the point of absurdity, quite frankly. Whatever you’re waiting for isn’t going to just come along, so you can stop waiting. I promise. Move on with your life. Change of scenery might do you good. Heck, any scenery might do you good. In the meantime, you do make for very interesting conversation.

I found this analysis amazingly accurate.

Take the Book Quiz at the Blue Pyramid.

If you like to haunt bookstores, you might want to consider visiting those on this list. You certainly should visit these houses of literature if you live near them!

One of my all time favorite books is A Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. I was so pleased to discover an article on CNN the other day about following Holden Caulfield’s footsteps through New York City. I can’t think of a greater way to see the city.

I’m currently reading Neil Gaiman’s Stardust (a novel turning movie in the next few days); consequently, I’m loving all things faerie. While satisfying my curiosity about faerie things, I found the following sites. Enjoy!

• World of Froud
• Fairyland Trust
• The Woodland Realm
• The Faerie Grove
• The Faerie Chronicles

The Book

84, Charing Cross Road is a collection of letters, the real life correspondence (1949-1969) between Helene Hanff, a scriptwriter living in New York City, and Frank Doel and his staff at Marks & Co, an antiquarian bookseller in London. Read the 90-something pages to learn how a love for books can create remarkable friendships. This book is worth the investment if you have little time to read. It can be read in 1.5-2 hours. I read it over lunch on Tuesday.

Helene’s antiquarian tastes for essays, poetry, speeches, sermons, and philosophy led her to discover Marks & Co.

Gentlemen:
Your ad in the Saturday Review of Literature says that you specialize in out-of-print books. The phrase “antiquarian booksellers” scares me somewhat, as I equate “antique” with expensive. I am a poor writer with antiquarian taste in books and all the things I want are impossible to get over here except in very expensive rare editions, or in Barnes & Noble’s grimy, marked-up schoolboy copies.
I enclose a list of my most pressing problems. If you have clean secondhand copies of any of the books on the list, for no more than $5.00 each, will you consider this a purchase order and send them to me?
Very truly yours,
Helene Hanff
(Miss) Helene Hanff

Her first letter to the bookseller gives you some idea about the types of books she preferred, but by her third letter you know more about her personality. She was brash, intelligent, and funny. At the half-way point, you also understand that she was compassionate and warm. Her sensitivity to the needs of others is what led her to send parcels of hard to acquire foodstuffs to Frank Doel and his staff. Shortages of eggs, meat, fruit, and vegetables existed for several years after the war (WWII). It was her provision of such items that induced Frank’s associates to begin their own exchange of letters with Helene.

Frank Doel was an honest, earnest, and proper man who thoroughly enjoyed the lively exchange with Helene. He looked forward to finding the books she requested, and he was always eager to meet the woman behind the letters.

*Her reading choices were influenced by what she gleaned from the documented lectures of Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, Professor of English Literature at the University of Cambridge. His On the Art of Writing inspired her to read John Donne, Plato, Chaucer, etc.

The Film

The movie was a complete and pleasant surprise. Rarely do I like the transition of book to movie. This movie – 84, Charing Cross Road – exceptional! Anne Bancroft was Helene Hanff herself! Also perfect were Anthony Hopkins as Frank Doel and Judi Dench as Mrs. Doel. This film couldn’t have been cast better. Get this! Mel Brooks was the executive producer. This makes me wonder if perhaps Bancroft and Brooks (married to each other until Bancroft’s relatively recent death) knew Helene.

I have to give a high five to the scriptwriter. Turning letters into conversation and action required some clever thinking and writing. The set designer also gets a high five. At the time the movie was made the bookshop was a record store; therefore, the bookshop had to be rebuilt at Shepperton Studios. I don’t think Frank Doel would have noticed a difference. It seemed to capture the true essence of the original.

After you read the book, add the movie to your Netflix list. Enjoy both!

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Are documentaries or documentary-like films of interest to you? Take a look at the film review for Death of a President. You may find it intriguing.