North Georgia has had some snow and ice (UGH) since last night and it’s looking like we are about to get hit with some more storms here shortly. We’re lucky to have a generator and lots of snacks to keep us warm and fueled. And books. Lots of books to keep us entertained. Right now we’re using power to blog and work on zines for the upcoming FLUKE show (me) and to watch as much of the extended Lord of the Rings trilogy as possible (my partner) and zonk on the electric blankets (cats and dogs). But once the lights flicker we’ll be reading by candlelight!
Here’s some of the things I’ve either just finished up, just started or are somewhere in-between the two…
For someone who has lived in Athens for over 15 years I know very little about UGA campus but I’m trying to learn. This book above is a little dated (2013) but I really appreciate the backstories and lore of buildings, spaces and gardens. Covering 140 spots spanning 225 years seems like a daunting task but the author really gives us an excellent tour.
I just started Scream With Me but I can’t wait to fully dive in! Synopsis: how classics like Rosemary’s Baby, The Exorcist, and The Shining expose and critique issues of reproductive control, domestic violence, and patriarchal oppression. Scream with Me weaves these iconic films into the fabric of American feminism, revealing that true horror often lies not in the supernatural, but in the familiar confines of the home, exposing the deep-seated fears and realities of women’s lives.
Vintage postcards? Always, yes.
Oh, the Funeral and Mourning Traditions of the Old South is a keeper! It’s a short read but much like the tour book, it packs a punch with the material. While I haven’t seen many of these rites in action (SIN EATERS) they are soooo interesting to learn about. These stories encompass Appalachia traditions as well as deep rural south. Grab you a copy if you find one.
I recently wrote about St Andrews Cemetery in Darien, Georgia and its tie to Sapelo Island and Gullah Geechee culture, so it was a given that I’d pick this one up from the library. Oh my gosh. The photos remind me of my Nana’s serving plates and her home cooking, and the recipe for Chicken Perloo is enough to bring tears to my eyes. Go buy some Crisco and get ready for some good eats.
Oh, and support your local library.
Holy shit. HOLY SHIT. I finally got it. This book has been an obsession of mine for the last year and I got a copy in great shape that was in my budget and it’s signed and everything. Doesn’t matter to me that it is inscribed to someone else! I GOT IT!
Also, the Geechee in Gullah Geechee comes from the name of the Ogeechee River. Always a connection if you look close enough…
Another Kingfisher book almost done (this one taps into both my love and fear of Kudzu), an old sci-fi find from our trip to Blue Ridge (10/10 Blue Ridge Booksellers), a book on Old Georgia Privies (cause why not?), a book on country churches that has some surprisingly unique new rebuilt structures and a peek at a Chattanooga Cemetery.
Oh, and if you look at the Strange Happenings photo you’ll see, well, some strange happenings in the background. My work has a number of old mannequins and lots of masks for various photoshoots including an upcoming one featuring the wrestling scene. I love that I can decorate however I want in my part of the office because it’ll never be too much in comparison. Too much ain’t a thing at my job!
Speaking of work, I carry a huge bag there every single day because I’ll sometimes skip lunch and work on personal projects or I’ll go to my baking job in the evening at the local co-op and I like to have a ton of books on hand just in case. I pulled my bookmarks from my currently collection and thought I’d share them with you.
Let’s seeeee. The Smokey the Bear one is a favorite for my cat to nibble on. That’s an old polaroid of me get my bathing suit fit for a boat ride. Baba Yaga if one of my favorite folk tales. A Cabbage Patch Kid postcard from BabyLand General Hospital in Cleveland, Georgia and then a mockery of CPK with Garbage Pail Kids (deadstock from Bizarro Wuxtry here in Athens). Photo from the Crawford Long Museum and tiny rug bookmark. The local library has a field day when they call me to tell me I’ve left yet another weird thing in one of their books…
Not a book or bookmark or movie/film but I had to share these earrings my Mom bought me for my birthday. Aren’t they cute as heck?!
Visit my Goodreads to see more what I’m reading. Fair warning: I’m a little loosey-goosey with my updating but I would still love to be reading friends on there if you’d like to add me. And always down with suggestions for new or new-to-me books…
