Book Reviews
In the Know
LIFESTYLE
WRITTEN BY FRANCES BADGETT AND KAITY TEER
In honor of the Women’s Legacy Project of Snohomish County, our selections this month are contemporary achievements by women.
June 17, 7 p.m. On Immunity: An Inoculation By Eula Biss 205 pages Gray Wolf Press, 2014
The myth of Achilles, Dracula, Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring and Susan Sontag’s Aids and Its Metaphors — these are among the materials from which essayist Eula Biss draws upon in her thoughtful, wellresearched interrogation of American vaccination practices. She writes movingly about her desire to protect her son, the overwhelming decisions parents make as they attempt to navigate conflicting information and a plethora of urgent health and safety concerns, and ultimately, her decision to vaccinate her son.
Men Explain Things to Me By Rebecca Solnit 171 pages Haymarket Books, 2014
From the mother of the word “mansplain” comes this collection of tightly written and effective essays. Solnit describes in essay-afteressay how women are talked over, condescended to, ignored, interrupted, and mansplained by often well meaning men who pose as experts regardless of their actual expertise. A gem of a book, Men Explain Things to Me is Solnit’s 19th book of nonfiction. Throughout her career, her essays have often woven together politics, history, landscape, feminism, and art with exceptional prose and clear, piercing insight. Her most recent book is The Encyclopedia of Trouble and Spaciousness from Trinity University Press.
Rayn Roberts That is not a typo. Rayn Roberts’ poetry grapples with peace, war, and social justice with generous portions of humor and good will. Roberts has published work in Rattle, Rattapallax, The Sow’s Ear Review, and more. His most recent poetry collection is Of One and Many Worlds. The Creekside 18200 Woodinville-Snohomish Rd. NE, Woodinville pw.org/content/rayn_roberts
June 18, 7 p.m. Everett Poetry Nite This poetry night is a warm, welcoming event. Bring your work and read — sign-up is at 7 p.m. — or just sit back and enjoy the work of local poets. All ages are invited to participate. Contact Duane Kirby Jensen for more information (duanekirbyjensen@ redspud.com). Café Zippy 2811 Wetmore Ave., Everett cafezippy.com
WHO KNEW? Monroe’s First Businesswoman Jane Berry landed in Monroe in 1869. According to the Women’s Legacy Project of Snohomish County, a petition was filed to close her saloon because she “swore in the presence of women and children” and other sins. This wild woman of the West became Monroe’s first female businessowner, operating her saloon on East Main Street.
Mayoral Acclaim
Prohibition as Social Justice
Publishing Maven
In 1924, Alice Kerr was one of the first women mayors elected in Washington State. She ran a last-minute campaign on stricter law enforcement and better social conduct in Edmonds. She won 163-159 and governed effectively. She decided to serve a single term and was lauded by the ladies of Edmonds with a beautiful mirror upon the completion of her final year in office.
Abolitionists get a bad rap, but the truth is they were the first organizers to stand up for women and children in abusive situations. Vernal Gay Love was one such social justice warrior and early feminist. She was a leader in the Temperance Union on behalf of prohibition, and believed in women’s suffrage, an 8-hour work day, and the abolition of child labor.
IIn 1904, Missouri Hanna bought The Edmonds Review, the local paper of record, and published it for five years. In 1907, the weekly Tribune started up as well. Hanna sold her paper in 1910 and the two papers merged into the Tribune-Review. She founded two journals dedicated to suffrage, and continued publishing and working in journalism until her death in 1926.
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