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February 23, 2006
Books, Notebooks and the Latest Carnival Fun
Today I'm offering you a trio of links.
First, a link to a really cool story sent to me by my friend Spike about a program in Argetina designed to promote literacy among young children AND provide a meaningful activity for "educated women over 50,who are excluded from the labour market by fierce competition." Called "Storytelling Grandmothers," the program has been very effective and claims its "secret formula" of "affection, plus high-quality literature, equals children who read."
Second, an entry I came across at woman in comfy shoes about a notebook kept by her grandmother, and filled with old clippings of "quaint" shoes and hats. T. Comfyshoes explains that
Living where she did in the 1930s, Grandma and her friends and sisters didn't have a lot of access to shopping, so if they wanted anything nice they had to order it from a catalogue. To make sure they got everything they ordered, and nothing that they didn't, Grandma would cut out the pictures from the catalogue and glue them into a notebook. She kept notes of what they paid and what they bought them for.
As T. Comfyshoes examines the notebook, she finds stories emerging. It's a really charming, interesting entry, and it supports my argument that journals should be kept, not burned.
Finally, a link to the Ninth Carnival of Feminists, which is up at Mind the Gap! I always enjoy seeing what is included in the feminist Carnival, and this one is really good. It's particularly easy to follow. As I'm scheduled to host the 15th Carnival in May, I will be remembering how well the feminists at Mind the Gap! presented the posts they chose to highlight.
Enjoy!
Posted by holly at February 23, 2006 1:01 AM
If you don't mind, I'd like to put in a plug generally for Inter Press Service -- it's a good source for news that goes ignored in other fora. The "Storytelling Grandmothers" picks up on what is now almost a tradition in Argentine politics running from the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, who marched during the military government in the 1970s and 80s demanding to know what happened to their missing children to the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, who researched what happened to the children born under military custody of disappeared people -- children who were usually placed in the homes of military officers. Very courageous women facing both obvious (donde estan?) and complicated political questions.
And since you did not self-promote, I was delighted to see your posting on the sorry-I-date-raped-you card on the Carnival. Congratulations! I look forward to seeing the Carnival of Feminists in your space in May.
Thanks for the tip, Spike...but don't you think you should post something about it on YOUR blog? (Hint, hint)
Thanks for the compliments. We tried to organise it so people could find what they were looking for as easily as possible - being aware that not everyone wants to read the whole thing!