Helen’s Comments (group member since Oct 06, 2017)

Helen’s comments from the Our Shared Shelf group.

Yup. Women's anger - perceived very differently. Often dismissed. It's a theme! Thanks for your post, ALAM.

One of our current featured authors, Rebecca Traister, makes a brilliant observation about how Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez is perceived. She apparently reads the same books we do!

https://www.thecut.com/2018/12/alexan...

Hi Florian,

Thanks for posting this. Love the conversation-starters!I think you'll find that two of our authors this month, Dr. Brittney Cooper and Rebecca Traister answer some of your questions in an upcoming interview for OSS along with some thought-provoking ones from other members! Look for it tomorrow! It's a good one.

Warmly,
Helen

One of our esteemed authors this month, Dr. Britney Cooper (aka Prof. Crunk) weighs in on how women are taught to be "won over". Fascinating stuff.

https://www.thecut.com/2018/12/cardi-...

Stay tuned for an upcoming OSS exclusive interview between Brittney Cooper and Rebecca Traister.

-Helen

Hi Magali,

Loved your comment - even though it took me a while to reply! I hear you on the anger and it is a drag that so little has changed. Was very much reminded of this when I watched the Bret Kavanaugh hearings - flashback to Anita Hill. I guess I try to focus on what has changed. I do have to look for it, though. Sometimes it's two steps forward, one step back. And other times, it's two steps forward, two steps back. But, wholeheartedly agree that Audre Lorde was so in touch with her time and ahead of her time. She remains an inspiration. Our other authors this month felt that way, too!! I guess that's the point as well of this month's theme - anger and how we can use it. Let's stay angry at injustice in a way that drives us to connect and empowers us to act!

Warmly,
Helen

Good point, Anne Elizabeth. Thanks!

As Jo mentioned, we want you to know that we hear you on the cost and number of the books for Nov/Dec. Our pick this month might easily have been Sister Outsider alone, by Audre Lorde. It’s an important and beloved feminist classic that we’ve wanted to feature for a long time. It has been translated into other languages and should be fairly available in paperback - this is something we try to check out with publishers in advance, but because we have members around the world, it’s not verifiable in every case. Despite our intention not to feature any more new releases this year, we felt that because they were healing, empowering and so timely, we added the complementary books by Brittney Cooper and Rebecca Traister. There was another new release by Soraya Chemaly called Rage Becomes Her that has similar themes that we did not include, but is also noteworthy. It said something to us, that right now, so many books are out about this important topic: anger among women, that we felt it was important to share these ideas now. We’d never presume everyone will or can read every book. Please know our selections are meant to be options - not an assignment. If your schedule and budget allow, we hope you can read one that speaks to you. We love the resourcefulness of all our members and appreciate those who have shared ways to find books for less.

The publisher of one of our new releases this year mentioned that after the OSS announcement, they saw a spike in the number of orders from libraries. She mentioned that the good thing about featuring a book for two months is that people could request books and libraries could order them in time for readers to have access. It reminded me that many libraries are open to requests even if the book is not currently on their shelves.

Our team works hard to bring you choices that are empowering, inspiring and diverse. With every selection, we strive to represent different points of view. Being intersectionally inclusive without being exclusive is an imperfect process. But our selections are always made with OSS readers in mind and with integrity, independent of any author or publisher influence.

Sometimes the introductory letter is written by an OSS team member, sometimes by Emma, and in the future, maybe by a guest editor. This time, our two living authors graciously agreed to write the letter introducing their books and the book by Audre Lorde that influenced them both. This is always a treat for me - to hear from a writer directly and we thought you’d enjoy this, too. Some of you felt this was a mistake. As a community of readers and thinkers who are passionate about books and ideas, we welcome the dialogue and look forward to more conversations with you.

After watching hours of existing interviews that the authors had done, we were excited about the intelligence and quality of dialogue these authors bring and approached them about doing an interview together for OSS. They agreed and we hope to bring you that interview soon. We request author engagements that we feel would interest members and offer us more opportunities to discuss and explore important themes or ask questions directly.

I was lucky enough to read all the books we are suggesting this month and every one of them was revelatory in their own way. But it’s also not necessary to read them all to participate in a meaningful discussion about this topic. Anger at injustice has been a big part of my life and identity and it felt like both such a relief and extremely empowering to read about it in depth. I look forward to unpacking it more with you all. And most definitely respect anyone’s right to feel angry or upset about feeling left out or overlooked. This was not our intention at all.

Thank you to all the members who have shared their initial thoughts on the books, so far.

With love,
Helen

But have you seen the interview that our OSS alumni author, Reni Eddo-Lodge did with Angie Thomas? It's so good!

Emma has not had that opportunity, yet. I wish!

Dear OSS Members:

“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.”

It’s one of the most famous first lines of any book and we are thrilled to announce that the winner of the Sept/Oct Members’ Choice Poll - Women Authors: The Horror, is Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier by a significant margin. This time, the classics dominated the field with Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson coming in second and third.

So many of the books on this list sounded fascinating, even for those of us who are big scaredy cats and we hope to hear more discussion on any of these books on the list from our members.

While Rebecca is more of a gothic thriller, it definitely explores feminist themes: constraints of gender and class restrictions of society and a critique of marriage. There are three important, well-drawn and central female characters. The film version of the book definitely passes the Bechdel test. Also, note the number of times that Du Maurier mentions a female character that should have been a boy, or felt like a boy. Before the word transgender was popular, Du Maurier expressed feelings of being a boy trapped in a girl’s body. From her letters, we know she had love affairs with women, yet did not view herself as a lesbian and was committed to staying married to her husband.

Thinking about horror in feminist terms and why gothic thrillers have been immensely popular with women since the eighteenth century got us thinking about how it’s more than escapism from social convention. Is horror a mirror for our shock and fear, providing a safe, screaming outlet amidst all the too-real terrors of the patriarchy?

This book pick is an all-time favorite of moderator, Katelyn, and she writes: Women authors have always been a force in the horror, thriller and gothic genres. The supernatural provides us with a way to mediate the oft-inexpressible challenges of being a woman. And reading books from these genres may give us additional opportunities to think through and understand our struggles. Not to mention, it’s always fun to read something scary in the autumn.

We can’t wait to hear what you have to say about the book. Happy, haunted reading!

Love,

Team Our Shared Shelf x

In horror news: Looks like Netflix may debut their new series, The Haunting of Hill House based on Shirley Jackson's book on Halloween this year.

I'm loving all the thoughtful lines and the creative replies.

Thank you, OSS poets and poet-lovers!

-Helen

Team Our Shared Shelf is excited to announce that we have 50 copies of Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur to give away to members. To be entered for a chance to win, send us your favorite line from a Rupi Kaur poem or if you're feeling inspired, send us a poem of your very own (5 lines max). Winners will be chosen randomly. Deadline is August 4th.

Good luck!
Helen

My Quiet Pages wrote: "Wow this is great news, I can't wait to see Kate Moore's video. She certainly did The Radium girls proud. I can't stress enough what a great book The Radium girls is, I have been talking about it t..."

Agree about Radium Girls. Both books this month are so affecting in very different ways!

Samantha wrote: "Can’t wait for the video!!!

And thanks for taking time to give us this beautiful news even if you’re on holiday!!!

I’m so grateful to be part of this amazing group!!!"

So excited that all the interviews are coming together. I'm feeling the gratitude, too, Samantha! Thank you.

Ha ha, Florian. The quotes around serious were mine. We are definitely a group of passionate and committed readers. And today was sunny, mostly! Thank you!!

Dearest OSS members:

Currently on holiday, enjoying some warmish June weather in the UK, and had to take a moment to share this news with you.

The lovely and gracious Kate Moore agreed to send us a video of some answers to your pressing questions! And today our brilliant OSS alumni author Reni Eddo-Lodge interviewed the amazing Angie Thomas in London and will be sending us that video soon!

And if that wasn't enough, a little birdie told me that Emma is getting ready to announce the next book for July/August.

Thank you to everyone who sent in questions for our authors. I'm ever so impressed by the passion and level of intellectual curiosity exhibited by our fantastic, intersectional feminist book club. One of my contacts at a big, fancy publishing house recently remarked that OSS is a group of "serious" readers. I knew that and you knew that, but it's sure nice to hear that others know it, too!

With love,
Helen

Hi everyone,

Our amazing authors this month, Angie Thomas and Kate Moore, have generously agreed to interviews and we'd love to hear from you.

Please submit your questions for them by June 10th.

Thank you!
Helen

Hi everyone:

I'm super excited to share a reading that Angie Thomas created specifically for Our Shared Shelf members!

Ever since I read this book, I've been wanting to hear the words in the author's voice and my wish came true today. Angie reads the part where Starr's parents give her "The Talk" x 2 and manages to make it both hilarious and heartbreaking.

Take a look and leave a comment to let Angie know what you think.

Thank you, Angie Thomas, you made my week!

With love,
Helen

https://youtu.be/E3_SOkVlrmQ

Hi Everyone::

When asking authors for a reading excerpt, I always hope for something that will resonate with OSS members. But I also know that our authors are extremely busy and I am very grateful for anything they can send. I do love hearing a book from the writer's own voice.

Today, when I opened the link below from Kate Moore, I was blown away. The passion she has for the legacy of the Radium Girls is expressed with such heartfelt purpose and intention. It was fascinating to hear how she prepared to write this book; and how she honored the stories of these brave women who are so present in our lives today. Plus, I could listen to Kate Moore’s voice all day. Feeling inspired and so grateful to Kate Moore to be able to share this with all of you. I hope you’ll share your thoughts.

Still glowing,
Helen

https://youtu.be/rE4Hp2PI47E