tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70694842023-05-05T07:45:30.649+01:00things mean a lota reading journalAna S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16092495983972185943noreply@blogger.comBlogger159716tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7069484.post-42088119747323613942017-08-27T10:05:00.002+01:002017-08-27T10:28:26.350+01:00The Last Bookstore in LA<center><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lC8meQkNEF0/WZlnKFYVHDI/AAAAAAAARt4/g_eZYdAjCfwP1C4BezX2WfXTOcsPqjW4QCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF6200.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lC8meQkNEF0/WZlnKFYVHDI/AAAAAAAARt4/g_eZYdAjCfwP1C4BezX2WfXTOcsPqjW4QCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF6200.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a></center><div style="text-align: justify;">The Southern California stretch of my trip lasted barely more than 24 hours, which left me with some regrets about places I didn’t get to see and things I didn’t get to do (first and foremost, meeting <a href="http://www.myfriendamysblog.com/">Amy</a>). My friends and I drove from San Francisco to LA on the day of the UK General Election. At the time exit polls were due to be released, we were in Santa Cruz for a lunchtime stop. We went to Marianne’s Icecream for what we believed would be a more or less futile attempt to keep despair at bay, and that’s where we were when the unexpected happened. We spent the rest of the road trip streaming BBC radio while laughing in amazement, and made it to LA just as the initial projections were being confirmed.<br />
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Two months down the line the UK is still in a mess, and my own situation as an immigrant is just as uncertain as ever. It isn’t that I expected any different that day, when I embraced the hope and exhilaration that overtook us all — it’s just that I thought they were worth leaning into regardless. The result of the general election was a much needed reminder than I don’t know what’s going to happen, for better or worse. This has been my battle all through this year: to inhabit uncertainty, to embrace possibility, to avoid a paralysing sense of inevitability without crossing the line into facile hope. This goes for small and larger scale matters alike. Some days I manage better than others. <br />
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I saw two things on my one morning in LA: the Central Library (of course) and The Last Bookstore in LA. Here’s the gorgeous library building:<br />
<a href="http://www.thingsmeanalot.com/2017/08/the-last-bookstore-in-la.html">Read More</a><a name='more'></a><br />
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Post-it mural in the teen library (oh, my heart):<br />
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<center><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dNualBGBL2E/WZloCvlZeoI/AAAAAAAARuE/npRekmW08SocbkuILrLTlWCqX-5ejQaBACKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF6179.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dNualBGBL2E/WZloCvlZeoI/AAAAAAAARuE/npRekmW08SocbkuILrLTlWCqX-5ejQaBACKgBGAs/s400/DSCF6179.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="601" /></a></center>The fact that I visited during lgbtq history month meant I got to see great displays everywhere.<br />
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My second stop was The Last Bookstore in LA, which I really liked. It might be a matter of style over substance — unlike, say, at the Strand or Powell’s, I wasn’t taken with the stock selection, but I enjoyed visiting the book tunnel and other assorted bookish décor way too much not to rate the experience highly. A few pictures: <br />
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The few hours I spent in the city were enough to see what people mean about Southern California’s light. I was sad to miss the Getty Centre, the Republish of Pie, sunset at the beach, and the chance encounter with a coyote my friends were treated to after I left. I hope there will be a next time. I’ll finished with a few pictures of Downtown LA and of the road trip that got me there:<br />
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A quick visit to the Bradbury Building.<br />
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The aforementioned election ice cream.<br />
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Golden Californian hills.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-quw1R_pIzkw/WZlpKGJcaKI/AAAAAAAARuU/WBKE83Dc2a4kZ7yfzXQyd2DBmhXL7XQNACKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF6123.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-quw1R_pIzkw/WZlpKGJcaKI/AAAAAAAARuU/WBKE83Dc2a4kZ7yfzXQyd2DBmhXL7XQNACKgBGAs/s400/DSCF6123.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a></center>Thank you for following along. I want to tell you about my July trip to Paris sometime in the near future, and after that I’ll hopefully have no excuse not to write actual words.</div>Ana S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16092495983972185943noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7069484.post-45954523964084425722017-08-14T20:40:00.000+01:002017-08-14T20:41:47.899+01:00San Francisco<center><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wGUU49KpUnw/WZHyb1m_ARI/AAAAAAAARnw/6xsBzuO2H1cDrZSUo63fYZvWMfmZlKLUQCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5838.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wGUU49KpUnw/WZHyb1m_ARI/AAAAAAAARnw/6xsBzuO2H1cDrZSUo63fYZvWMfmZlKLUQCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5838.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="601" alt="Pride flag"/></a></center><div style="text-align: justify;">I didn’t mean for over a month to go by before I carried on telling you about my trip. I came back from the West Coast full of joy and energy and hope, and then proceeded to have a very busy month. There was more travelling (home to see my family, and then to Paris for a long weekend, which I’d love to eventually post about), plus the start of summer reading at my library, plus some overtime and shift swaps resulting in ten-day long work marathons. When I finally got the chance to stop for a deep breath, I found that I was anxious and despondent again — that the world seemed scarier than ever, that I didn’t necessarily have any more answers than I did before, that many of the things that have always brought me joy seemed pointless and hollow.<br />
<br />
But then I came back to my <a href="http://www.thingsmeanalot.com/2017/01/sunday-links-succession-of-brief.html">favourite lines</a> from Adrienne Rich’s “From a Survivor”, which remain among the most powerful I have read this year: “…which I live now / not as a leap / but a succession of brief, amazing movements / each one making possible the next”. These few lines alone have done so much to sustain me. They get at something I need reminding of; that I need to come back to from time to time. I don’t need a once and for all solution regarding how to be alive in this world, how to be okay, how to make things better or at the very least not worst. I just need to get through the morning, the afternoon, the day, always doing my best to live by my values. Change is always incremental, and all those brief movements of surviving will add up to a lifetime. <br />
<br />
This isn’t much of an answer, but it’s made me feel more grounded. And if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that the process of unfucking my life will have to involve coming back here, to this place of communion with writing, to the self-discovery and expression and community that putting my words out into the world has allowed me to enjoy for the past decade. I need to write regularly again; I feel out of kilter otherwise. The good news is that I’ve been reading, which strikes me as step one even if I never go back to reviewing in the way I used to: I’m currently in the middle of Audre Lorde’s <em>The Cancer Journals</em>, I finally read <em>The Heart is a Lonely Hunter</em>, and I finished <em>No is Not Enough</em> the other day. Even just telling you this makes me feel a little more like myself.<br />
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This brings me to San Francisco in a very roundabout sort of way: whatever my strategy will be, I know it will also involve dwelling on joy. The few days I spent in the city were full of joy and community, and I’m so glad I got to have this experience this year of all years:<br />
<a href="http://www.thingsmeanalot.com/2017/08/san-francisco.html">Read More</a><a name='more'></a><br />
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<center><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-elejwcJ17xA/WZHy0t-u9RI/AAAAAAAARn0/iGjGWUKwYj0OWw6F-MP1zxcWB-1A41BRwCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5861.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-elejwcJ17xA/WZHy0t-u9RI/AAAAAAAARn0/iGjGWUKwYj0OWw6F-MP1zxcWB-1A41BRwCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5861.jpg" width="301" height="400" data-original-width="602" data-original-height="800" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3O9rvnAQl5g/WZHy0i8YsJI/AAAAAAAARn0/p6adyCmJdk8Ot9_oyfKTFKYIzZ6uU8QmACKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5856.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3O9rvnAQl5g/WZHy0i8YsJI/AAAAAAAARn0/p6adyCmJdk8Ot9_oyfKTFKYIzZ6uU8QmACKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5856.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a></center>The Castro was beautiful and full of queer elders I wanted to randomly start conversations with and say “thank you” to. I don’t want to romanticise San Francisco too much — one of my regrets is not having bought Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore’s <em>The End of San Francisco</em> when I saw it at City Lights — but walking those streets surrounded by friends who truly see me was immensely meaningful to me.<br />
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<center><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qg_Qt39UWfw/WZH0J2QRIVI/AAAAAAAARoA/qRUcArUBawEqOupmiEqO-IeHRD8Vs35kQCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5866.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qg_Qt39UWfw/WZH0J2QRIVI/AAAAAAAARoA/qRUcArUBawEqOupmiEqO-IeHRD8Vs35kQCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5866.jpg" width="301" height="400" data-original-width="602" data-original-height="800" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t794Cj9N-8c/WZH0J3ITPNI/AAAAAAAARoA/L9C8wv_jEcoKXKSVmVzJubDtRJPo5ZUegCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5868.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t794Cj9N-8c/WZH0J3ITPNI/AAAAAAAARoA/L9C8wv_jEcoKXKSVmVzJubDtRJPo5ZUegCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5868.jpg" width="301" height="400" data-original-width="601" data-original-height="800" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lbp2oyLu2Bk/WZH0J_-qCVI/AAAAAAAARoA/uDcruDMiXaAEOtDtbb2VppQZbOU0BsengCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5871.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lbp2oyLu2Bk/WZH0J_-qCVI/AAAAAAAARoA/uDcruDMiXaAEOtDtbb2VppQZbOU0BsengCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5871.jpg" width="301" height="400" data-original-width="602" data-original-height="800" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U9MNPe6enWY/WZH0J_2QxYI/AAAAAAAARoA/Cbh9dVS9jKUQoY0DN1UhO6BJ9PGn-wEtgCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5873.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U9MNPe6enWY/WZH0J_2QxYI/AAAAAAAARoA/Cbh9dVS9jKUQoY0DN1UhO6BJ9PGn-wEtgCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5873.jpg" width="301" height="400" data-original-width="601" data-original-height="800" /></a><br />
Dog Eared Books in the Castro.</center><br />
<center><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aCrsFauS8P0/WZH0rtynd2I/AAAAAAAARoI/MZCtATP_pVA9BkXndBLGvDm7KtrvmHOnACKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5879.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aCrsFauS8P0/WZH0rtynd2I/AAAAAAAARoI/MZCtATP_pVA9BkXndBLGvDm7KtrvmHOnACKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5879.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
♥</center><br />
I was lucky to have been taken on a sightseeing tour of the city on a beautiful evening, full of golden light rather than the usual mist. Here’s some of what I saw:<br />
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<center><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zkFTCE8YXow/WZH0rlObTNI/AAAAAAAARoI/mnmRt9brFHIByCqOI-n8zaTiz4fXTAcFACKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5913.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zkFTCE8YXow/WZH0rlObTNI/AAAAAAAARoI/mnmRt9brFHIByCqOI-n8zaTiz4fXTAcFACKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5913.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ITO-GlSyuS0/WZH0rnWI3FI/AAAAAAAARoI/iq-G65IVfUAD9tOcQ18iz-4Zm1HH8OAawCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5916.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ITO-GlSyuS0/WZH0rnWI3FI/AAAAAAAARoI/iq-G65IVfUAD9tOcQ18iz-4Zm1HH8OAawCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5916.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="601" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uQuH1nj_c5U/WZH0rlQTDPI/AAAAAAAARoI/AF1BB7r-gCsaWJ8vkhnjoZmQRDLHAuIlACKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5919.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uQuH1nj_c5U/WZH0rlQTDPI/AAAAAAAARoI/AF1BB7r-gCsaWJ8vkhnjoZmQRDLHAuIlACKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5919.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_K0BItV1Qo4/WZH0riYDWhI/AAAAAAAARoI/tLZ0StGdcNcfDF2FhMABA4EgRfQQZrZswCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5926.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_K0BItV1Qo4/WZH0riYDWhI/AAAAAAAARoI/tLZ0StGdcNcfDF2FhMABA4EgRfQQZrZswCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5926.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bMEjb83sKwM/WZH0ruUkOHI/AAAAAAAARoI/_Uwb23MhEdsDyBpFwT4VOmq0fzbUcIicQCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5918.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bMEjb83sKwM/WZH0ruUkOHI/AAAAAAAARoI/_Uwb23MhEdsDyBpFwT4VOmq0fzbUcIicQCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5918.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yz9Jym8SobE/WZH0rnOxvCI/AAAAAAAARoI/ChQIBcF1icUUppF5QazC6LIqGmzQMTv1wCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5929.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yz9Jym8SobE/WZH0rnOxvCI/AAAAAAAARoI/ChQIBcF1icUUppF5QazC6LIqGmzQMTv1wCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5929.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="601" /></a></center>The next day I went to City Lights, which was one of the highlights of the whole trip:<br />
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<center><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A5tHk2dsDS0/WZH3FcFc07I/AAAAAAAARoU/wm1ybZooMH83oCrRz9GMtHWQDgKqHmmigCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5935.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A5tHk2dsDS0/WZH3FcFc07I/AAAAAAAARoU/wm1ybZooMH83oCrRz9GMtHWQDgKqHmmigCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5935.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8inzSwJaDPo/WZH3FbhDHbI/AAAAAAAARoU/YUK95JKhxiQmBJPR0XCHS6F6dqfolRIPACKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5939.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8inzSwJaDPo/WZH3FbhDHbI/AAAAAAAARoU/YUK95JKhxiQmBJPR0XCHS6F6dqfolRIPACKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5939.jpg" width="301" height="400" data-original-width="602" data-original-height="800" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eD0X35OY-Fs/WZH3FTBn-II/AAAAAAAARoU/bKpo2wtGwDYyVUD0kUxnNZDf6ogTBA_dwCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5947.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eD0X35OY-Fs/WZH3FTBn-II/AAAAAAAARoU/bKpo2wtGwDYyVUD0kUxnNZDf6ogTBA_dwCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5947.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-apOqGcmzMQ4/WZH3FYS3wMI/AAAAAAAARoU/5qV3MuzLyyET9cobzP5_jt8SrD-J5MdsgCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5950.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-apOqGcmzMQ4/WZH3FYS3wMI/AAAAAAAARoU/5qV3MuzLyyET9cobzP5_jt8SrD-J5MdsgCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5950.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="601" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OHNaN3ZhsEg/WZH3FYu8bXI/AAAAAAAARoU/MYqLGIQ6DXogUNm2UStOVlaQGR2XUzGdwCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5955.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OHNaN3ZhsEg/WZH3FYu8bXI/AAAAAAAARoU/MYqLGIQ6DXogUNm2UStOVlaQGR2XUzGdwCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5955.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FmyjdpZi3fA/WZH3FVr0wGI/AAAAAAAARoU/0RGm0B1EatczgNyB3XmAcA-U_ohz6l3GwCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5958.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FmyjdpZi3fA/WZH3FVr0wGI/AAAAAAAARoU/0RGm0B1EatczgNyB3XmAcA-U_ohz6l3GwCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5958.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c9Sr4a2u84k/WZH3FbwjEaI/AAAAAAAARoU/pLKVuYOI6vwhxlyQ9i9DAP8jPq2_0UK7gCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5959.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c9Sr4a2u84k/WZH3FbwjEaI/AAAAAAAARoU/pLKVuYOI6vwhxlyQ9i9DAP8jPq2_0UK7gCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5959.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="601" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2brRtUlQR-s/WZH3Fau0WwI/AAAAAAAARoU/tzXOFZh8xZk-TZq3RpVAgCCy5FV_YI6rACKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5960.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2brRtUlQR-s/WZH3Fau0WwI/AAAAAAAARoU/tzXOFZh8xZk-TZq3RpVAgCCy5FV_YI6rACKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5960.jpg" width="301" height="400" data-original-width="602" data-original-height="800" /></a></center><br />
<center><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FKMYo6x9I-Q/WZH3_kdktBI/AAAAAAAARog/nuQACgxs_JUzC3fM7B7pW5diejPorvZEwCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5969.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FKMYo6x9I-Q/WZH3_kdktBI/AAAAAAAARog/nuQACgxs_JUzC3fM7B7pW5diejPorvZEwCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5969.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a></center>I went to the Beats Museum across the road from City Lights for the privilege of having a man ask me, as I bought my ticket, “Are you at all familiar with the Beat generation?”. This question was followed (I kid you not) by “Oh really? Who’s your favourite writer, then?”. I feel that I brought this fate upon myself. (I still love <em>On the Road</em> with all my messy, contradictory feminist heart, though.)<br />
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<center><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IyqogZOvqkM/WZH3_g-tP5I/AAAAAAAARog/3Xhby-Rg7aUbHy4Au3-aOeLg5wAXB63KgCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5972.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IyqogZOvqkM/WZH3_g-tP5I/AAAAAAAARog/3Xhby-Rg7aUbHy4Au3-aOeLg5wAXB63KgCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5972.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1x4BVwzcd40/WZH3_jEyq_I/AAAAAAAARog/VN-eongpdEgcyb6AJz7EKnZewHEhz_VUQCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5975.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1x4BVwzcd40/WZH3_jEyq_I/AAAAAAAARog/VN-eongpdEgcyb6AJz7EKnZewHEhz_VUQCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5975.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="601" /></a></center><br />
<center><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YQLIt9c93Ck/WZH4qRKrA-I/AAAAAAAARoo/wnk9SKggpH8qW1Q43Gy8lapuYIrkmW73gCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5997.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YQLIt9c93Ck/WZH4qRKrA-I/AAAAAAAARoo/wnk9SKggpH8qW1Q43Gy8lapuYIrkmW73gCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5997.jpg" width="301" height="400" data-original-width="601" data-original-height="800" /></a><br />
Sea lions!<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LzG9KOLs2oc/WZH4qTENvEI/AAAAAAAARoo/VirzRkZz8ygUy8F7iCwXRt8omJeDKK9agCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF6005.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LzG9KOLs2oc/WZH4qTENvEI/AAAAAAAARoo/VirzRkZz8ygUy8F7iCwXRt8omJeDKK9agCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF6005.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a></center><br />
<center><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PRTRy83mBTI/WZH46qCq2UI/AAAAAAAARos/IhODoipdkuIp5hwOHrBcV5FoWgnBXgaggCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF6008.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PRTRy83mBTI/WZH46qCq2UI/AAAAAAAARos/IhODoipdkuIp5hwOHrBcV5FoWgnBXgaggCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF6008.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
I like driving around a city and randomly spotting an Angela Davis poster.</center><br />
<center><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--eHQM3BBK8k/WZH5Gn66X_I/AAAAAAAARow/e7ApFub-vG4LPc_z2Mamiq2I3lc41Z-aQCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF6023.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--eHQM3BBK8k/WZH5Gn66X_I/AAAAAAAARow/e7ApFub-vG4LPc_z2Mamiq2I3lc41Z-aQCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF6023.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a></center><a href="http://biritecreamery.com/">Bisexual ice-cream</a> is the best ice-cream. (I had the Earl Grey and the Cream Cheese and Carrot Cake.)<br />
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<center><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tnUx74buEvw/WZH5n58mlKI/AAAAAAAARo4/0LVNJlyJ2hIvp-_MxTNLXPvfgrWRTWqpQCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF6033.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tnUx74buEvw/WZH5n58mlKI/AAAAAAAARo4/0LVNJlyJ2hIvp-_MxTNLXPvfgrWRTWqpQCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF6033.jpg" width="301" height="400" data-original-width="602" data-original-height="800" /></a><br />
Dolores Park.</center><br />
Next up: The Last Bookastore in LA. Thank you for reading, and thank you for sticking around through my silences.</div>Ana S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16092495983972185943noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7069484.post-86790403662956201372017-07-02T21:56:00.000+01:002017-07-02T21:56:50.225+01:00Powell’s (and Oregon)<center><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NeavKXlcFIk/WVid3RKqFII/AAAAAAAARII/q3HZWs4VRBoomh_lcAs26TTY4gtXlQitwCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NeavKXlcFIk/WVid3RKqFII/AAAAAAAARII/q3HZWs4VRBoomh_lcAs26TTY4gtXlQitwCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5390.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a></center><div style="text-align: justify;">I finally made it to Powell’s, and the city of books lived up to its description: it’s without a doubt the best bookshop I’ve ever been to. I think very fondly of my visits to, say, the <a href="http://www.thingsmeanalot.com/2016/08/new-york.html">Strand</a> or <a href="http://www.thingsmeanalot.com/2011/05/barter-books-or-does-this-place-really.html">Barter Books</a>, but nowhere is quite like Powell’s. At most bookshops I’m excited if I find one or two books by my go-to authors, but Powell’s had pretty much everything. There was a whole shelf worth of Angela Davis, and the Ursula Le Guin section in SFF was three shelves long. Most bookshops have their strong areas; at Powell’s every single section I was interested in — children’s books, comics, poetry, queer literature, feminism, you name it — was amazingly well stocked. Also, as pretty much everyone who visits Powell’s tends to say, I loved that new and used books were kept together, and that I had a choice of prices and editions for whatever I was looking for. <br />
<br />
I spent three hours there and didn’t see half of it. Let me give you a glimpse of my visit:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thingsmeanalot.com/2017/07/powells-and-oregon.html">Read More</a><a name='more'></a><br />
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<center><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bxC6stHHZ98/WViensA5T0I/AAAAAAAARIQ/RHB-svFADx4-nwtOg7y-WpDfjxiSUZZ1ACKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5484.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bxC6stHHZ98/WViensA5T0I/AAAAAAAARIQ/RHB-svFADx4-nwtOg7y-WpDfjxiSUZZ1ACKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5484.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xc1qESDcd2A/WVieni20UGI/AAAAAAAARIQ/T-0lAwnZmMsJkkBs2-DIwikidOueixrPQCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5487.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xc1qESDcd2A/WVieni20UGI/AAAAAAAARIQ/T-0lAwnZmMsJkkBs2-DIwikidOueixrPQCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5487.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="601" /></a><br />
Adrienne Rich’s <em>Collected Poems</em> were following me everywhere. One day.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mr4_lR_7AO0/WVienreYyRI/AAAAAAAARIQ/dwlvlx1tKXUzQYuEif_OwFcKD1ht4NcXgCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5489.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mr4_lR_7AO0/WVienreYyRI/AAAAAAAARIQ/dwlvlx1tKXUzQYuEif_OwFcKD1ht4NcXgCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5489.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9zBby37bi2E/WViengDHpOI/AAAAAAAARIQ/FS8b7XIwbQYD0tn1eLm_tLxgWqhIqNWOwCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5485.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9zBby37bi2E/WViengDHpOI/AAAAAAAARIQ/FS8b7XIwbQYD0tn1eLm_tLxgWqhIqNWOwCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5485.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YkDFXp0RdXU/WViennMepaI/AAAAAAAARIQ/fL8XXaZuLZsBn6NOk-9QsmSGISpEGYDWQCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5492.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YkDFXp0RdXU/WViennMepaI/AAAAAAAARIQ/fL8XXaZuLZsBn6NOk-9QsmSGISpEGYDWQCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5492.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3AhSLICzZW8/WVienrR3F3I/AAAAAAAARIQ/dR2Lr-ukHBcKupiOwcQXbFOQeuwkFSHvACKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5493.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3AhSLICzZW8/WVienrR3F3I/AAAAAAAARIQ/dR2Lr-ukHBcKupiOwcQXbFOQeuwkFSHvACKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5493.jpg" width="301" height="400" data-original-width="601" data-original-height="800" /></a><br />
I don’t think I’d ever seen so many books that are important to me in a single display not of my own making. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zkl_e2a2Wzc/WVienisQ6SI/AAAAAAAARIQ/Tl9QbYpwCYEKAg_3HFDkJEt5W6YiB8ISQCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5494.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zkl_e2a2Wzc/WVienisQ6SI/AAAAAAAARIQ/Tl9QbYpwCYEKAg_3HFDkJEt5W6YiB8ISQCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5494.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="601" /></a><br />
Angela ♥ </center><br />
<center><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-12oKVwdQv2U/WVifShm53uI/AAAAAAAARIU/VVoTPu_EwoY1LAugPx27u8s1gXq6f3s1wCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5500.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-12oKVwdQv2U/WVifShm53uI/AAAAAAAARIU/VVoTPu_EwoY1LAugPx27u8s1gXq6f3s1wCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5500.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
ALL the Ursula Le Guin!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9itope6zOEw/WVifSvtKi0I/AAAAAAAARIU/uePyG8w6IwkPhNy8aXsjZKglrZNtTKPZwCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5502.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9itope6zOEw/WVifSvtKi0I/AAAAAAAARIU/uePyG8w6IwkPhNy8aXsjZKglrZNtTKPZwCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5502.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
One day I’ll own all of <em>Strangers in Paradise</em>. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f01JN4Aaztg/WVifSlxSbJI/AAAAAAAARIU/J2iI2mmXqdwhKNiV3Tz0vsR_kwYZSmT2ACKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5505.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f01JN4Aaztg/WVifSlxSbJI/AAAAAAAARIU/J2iI2mmXqdwhKNiV3Tz0vsR_kwYZSmT2ACKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5505.jpg" width="301" height="400" data-original-width="601" data-original-height="800" /></a><br />
I loved that there was a Coretta Scott King display. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B05ECSKbz0c/WVifSvdJb-I/AAAAAAAARIU/kEkOX7WnMtgMLLy7i69DNvQDDxYbIT2RQCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5508.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B05ECSKbz0c/WVifSvdJb-I/AAAAAAAARIU/kEkOX7WnMtgMLLy7i69DNvQDDxYbIT2RQCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5508.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
♥<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CSTjAzjlqBI/WVifShnZvLI/AAAAAAAARIU/V_9GxGYwU70rM1MohEio_L6pTcxxVgT3wCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5512.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CSTjAzjlqBI/WVifShnZvLI/AAAAAAAARIU/V_9GxGYwU70rM1MohEio_L6pTcxxVgT3wCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5512.jpg" width="301" height="400" data-original-width="601" data-original-height="800" /></a></center>As much as I was happy to spend all of my time at Powell’s, I did see a few other things during my sadly brief time in Portland:<br />
<br />
<center><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_kTLeWl_pMM/WVif0P2Im4I/AAAAAAAARIY/IL8rkFszis8wPbLIX88rhyteBmlYR369QCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5380.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_kTLeWl_pMM/WVif0P2Im4I/AAAAAAAARIY/IL8rkFszis8wPbLIX88rhyteBmlYR369QCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5380.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
View of the city from Pittock Mansion.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yxt9LpD05qA/WVif0MNbpFI/AAAAAAAARIY/ECCxqjfZupEOBeIksrZfmIZyVM6T_3XqwCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5385.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yxt9LpD05qA/WVif0MNbpFI/AAAAAAAARIY/ECCxqjfZupEOBeIksrZfmIZyVM6T_3XqwCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5385.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="601" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jswH2H-fcys/WVif0CbsxfI/AAAAAAAARIY/XYuvKDK0DqA_1i2G1_FdHMT7iVBuTQiPwCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5384.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jswH2H-fcys/WVif0CbsxfI/AAAAAAAARIY/XYuvKDK0DqA_1i2G1_FdHMT7iVBuTQiPwCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5384.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yh9Tc_58Ylc/WVif0FymreI/AAAAAAAARIY/nzHQCEttd0oAOalu-IpQdyjnr8tzwXGagCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5405.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yh9Tc_58Ylc/WVif0FymreI/AAAAAAAARIY/nzHQCEttd0oAOalu-IpQdyjnr8tzwXGagCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5405.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
I loved the street art and political posters and stickers everywhere.</center><br />
<center><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QcF5CI2Fl9o/WVigeBxSiVI/AAAAAAAARIc/khkvoxarJ7cpEGvUVwrvvYcu0itt_eKPACKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5432.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QcF5CI2Fl9o/WVigeBxSiVI/AAAAAAAARIc/khkvoxarJ7cpEGvUVwrvvYcu0itt_eKPACKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5432.jpg" width="301" height="400" data-original-width="601" data-original-height="800" /></a><br />
This struck me as peak Portland, for some reason.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GOmY938-4Vg/WViiBsJBcQI/AAAAAAAARIs/2e4yjxdJqBMtrGb6jU2q9iCq9RyytJZVwCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5456.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GOmY938-4Vg/WViiBsJBcQI/AAAAAAAARIs/2e4yjxdJqBMtrGb6jU2q9iCq9RyytJZVwCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5456.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
Some of the famous food trucks. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TSt_oQiMRWo/WVigeGsFk-I/AAAAAAAARIc/6OTQM8fB9YIN5nmGwnVUbyV6I873WOt7ACKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5434.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TSt_oQiMRWo/WVigeGsFk-I/AAAAAAAARIc/6OTQM8fB9YIN5nmGwnVUbyV6I873WOt7ACKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5434.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0h5MhpnDsqU/WVigeIGI_ZI/AAAAAAAARIc/SUyWUB3kTykxHvAP4nCzqNRhA9yaMMvxwCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5420.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0h5MhpnDsqU/WVigeIGI_ZI/AAAAAAAARIc/SUyWUB3kTykxHvAP4nCzqNRhA9yaMMvxwCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5420.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="601" /></a><br />
Green Bean Books, a lovely children’s bookshop I stumbled upon. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vo9TTeLWw9I/WVigeLT2chI/AAAAAAAARIc/hCle1uVg2wgMcq5Rp4W6K5poqdzASATUQCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5419.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vo9TTeLWw9I/WVigeLT2chI/AAAAAAAARIc/hCle1uVg2wgMcq5Rp4W6K5poqdzASATUQCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5419.jpg" width="301" height="400" data-original-width="601" data-original-height="800" /></a></center><br />
<center><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C9bcx3Z4aAs/WVihKVurv2I/AAAAAAAARIg/NArinYWX99QzzA3IG6JpcFVAL8x0t32sQCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5422.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C9bcx3Z4aAs/WVihKVurv2I/AAAAAAAARIg/NArinYWX99QzzA3IG6JpcFVAL8x0t32sQCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5422.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="601" /></a><br />
And of course I had to stop at In Other Words, a feminist bookshop, library and community space. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ON1BjjRrsfE/WVihKXovNNI/AAAAAAAARIg/kc0VJzAYdZE6yJ0ordfL7jaNShwo5ZgdACKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5424.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ON1BjjRrsfE/WVihKXovNNI/AAAAAAAARIg/kc0VJzAYdZE6yJ0ordfL7jaNShwo5ZgdACKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5424.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PLaA_E4F6rE/WVihKSdtpZI/AAAAAAAARIg/U8F4koGBeQQxMLghIILQYWO7Dbi8VCQSwCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5438.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PLaA_E4F6rE/WVihKSdtpZI/AAAAAAAARIg/U8F4koGBeQQxMLghIILQYWO7Dbi8VCQSwCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5438.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="601" /></a><br />
Salt & Straw icecream, which I hear is mandatory when you visit Portland.</center><br />
<center><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rrtJqEggUOc/WVih6svDafI/AAAAAAAARIk/-mR8FXC3lagPnjUWUfV5schhdYvHvBs7ACKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5446.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rrtJqEggUOc/WVih6svDafI/AAAAAAAARIk/-mR8FXC3lagPnjUWUfV5schhdYvHvBs7ACKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5446.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
The Central Library.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kwnUEJ83N6A/WVih6uqoNFI/AAAAAAAARIk/7nTytSBUVPcSxDkGki0nC-4zce_TZ5sbwCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5448.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kwnUEJ83N6A/WVih6uqoNFI/AAAAAAAARIk/7nTytSBUVPcSxDkGki0nC-4zce_TZ5sbwCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5448.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="601" /></a><br />
And the lovely tree in the Beverly Cleary Children’s Library.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lHLCY6CzN0E/WVih6lcZ6aI/AAAAAAAARIk/DH2Vn09b970MK1P4Me1IfTPhSbfuLhgHgCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5449.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lHLCY6CzN0E/WVih6lcZ6aI/AAAAAAAARIk/DH2Vn09b970MK1P4Me1IfTPhSbfuLhgHgCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5449.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="601" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-62AsbERJeIQ/WVih6gr7uSI/AAAAAAAARIk/w_UnmcL9vbwKIs50oG0vNZX2Z1hxcBBQwCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5451.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-62AsbERJeIQ/WVih6gr7uSI/AAAAAAAARIk/w_UnmcL9vbwKIs50oG0vNZX2Z1hxcBBQwCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5451.jpg" width="301" height="400" data-original-width="601" data-original-height="800" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JjIidprzFus/WVih6ojjNFI/AAAAAAAARIk/CCosA6kfSSQJqLJRdn6SukI1on4LN0slgCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5452.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JjIidprzFus/WVih6ojjNFI/AAAAAAAARIk/CCosA6kfSSQJqLJRdn6SukI1on4LN0slgCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5452.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="601" /></a><br />
“What is White Supremacy?” display.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QCCmyKX20w4/WVih6gJQp7I/AAAAAAAARIk/zGSTh3EFLKgRXyTp-jrbFlngzvAVqRk6QCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5454.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QCCmyKX20w4/WVih6gJQp7I/AAAAAAAARIk/zGSTh3EFLKgRXyTp-jrbFlngzvAVqRk6QCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5454.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a></center>The rest of my time was spent travelling down the coast towards California — here are some pictures that show why Oregon just might be my favourite US state that I’ve visited so far:<br />
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<center><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rkf5SX4g13Y/WVijJ8egt7I/AAAAAAAARI0/_02BRd7lUowMDHmIlhbPWtLGAvDvMI1fQCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5625.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rkf5SX4g13Y/WVijJ8egt7I/AAAAAAAARI0/_02BRd7lUowMDHmIlhbPWtLGAvDvMI1fQCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5625.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="601" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2uizQLKFDW4/WVijJ5AhPEI/AAAAAAAARI0/cu1Fn2FNidIG9l0G7vMwOWTHodEIRqmNQCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5645.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2uizQLKFDW4/WVijJ5AhPEI/AAAAAAAARI0/cu1Fn2FNidIG9l0G7vMwOWTHodEIRqmNQCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5645.jpg" width="301" height="400" data-original-width="602" data-original-height="800" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gDWFWx_NNNs/WVijJ1BWS-I/AAAAAAAARI0/dxrC5bc-f34xVbkTvqgrjdJ9NGPT3HVRQCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5655.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gDWFWx_NNNs/WVijJ1BWS-I/AAAAAAAARI0/dxrC5bc-f34xVbkTvqgrjdJ9NGPT3HVRQCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5655.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lNwhVBr4GyA/WVijJy4fpRI/AAAAAAAARI0/UPDY4U8F0Esh1bPlJjN3XXsIFmBGJDTwgCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5662.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lNwhVBr4GyA/WVijJy4fpRI/AAAAAAAARI0/UPDY4U8F0Esh1bPlJjN3XXsIFmBGJDTwgCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5662.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
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Next up: San Francisco! Thank you so much for reading. </div>Ana S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16092495983972185943noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7069484.post-79854429735822124122017-06-25T21:02:00.003+01:002017-06-25T21:02:46.786+01:00Seattle in Libraries and Bookshops<center><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DSdpPqPcqdk/WU6hsXkrxRI/AAAAAAAAQ9o/f-2nX1KjX5wfct2ryNVM97WHm0YYHLoRgCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5038.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DSdpPqPcqdk/WU6hsXkrxRI/AAAAAAAAQ9o/f-2nX1KjX5wfct2ryNVM97WHm0YYHLoRgCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5038.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a></center><div style="text-align: justify;">Seattle was the first stop of my West Coast trip, and the place where I stayed the longest. I was very lucky: in a notoriously rainy city, I got blue cloudless skies for all but one day, and also the warmest Memorial Day Weekend in over forty years. I got to see and do a lot: I hiked on Mount Rainer, had amazing food, wandered around Capitol Hill and took photos of the many protest posters and stickers, visit Ballard and Freemont, climbed many hills with stunning views of the city, walked along the waterfront, spent time with people I love — and of course, visited many libraries and bookshops. <br />
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You might be unsurprised to hear that my very first stop was the Seattle Central Library. I knew it was housed in an amazing building, and it didn’t disappoint in person: <br />
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<a href="http://www.thingsmeanalot.com/2017/06/seattle-in-libraries-and-bookshops.html">Read More</a><a name='more'></a><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lsMoprHyVrY/WU6iJ1jQeRI/AAAAAAAAQ9s/0s3ss9XpnPUxa3AUx5YN_LF49qgHn3qDgCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF4980.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lsMoprHyVrY/WU6iJ1jQeRI/AAAAAAAAQ9s/0s3ss9XpnPUxa3AUx5YN_LF49qgHn3qDgCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF4980.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="601" /></a></center>The children’s library was surprisingly empty as compared to my own on a weekday morning. This was the case not only here, but also in Portland and LA. I wonder if it’s a result of these cities having a wider network of local libraries with busy children’s programmes? I did get to eavesdrop on storytime in Seattle later on, which was a lot of fun. And of course, I was in awe of the programme of adult events, which could be the subject of a whole other post. <br />
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<center><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qkjx5R1HlCg/WU6iJxrxJGI/AAAAAAAAQ9s/kti4CjNyfsYQBbYF--vrQPv4NLMfIEwtgCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF4985.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qkjx5R1HlCg/WU6iJxrxJGI/AAAAAAAAQ9s/kti4CjNyfsYQBbYF--vrQPv4NLMfIEwtgCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF4985.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MvyoYPkxbSc/WU6iJwlPBWI/AAAAAAAAQ9s/6zuyto0qg7M9KQx5iLWEN8X9uhzymUZOwCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF4986.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MvyoYPkxbSc/WU6iJwlPBWI/AAAAAAAAQ9s/6zuyto0qg7M9KQx5iLWEN8X9uhzymUZOwCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF4986.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a></center>The library is I suspect too big to ever feel crowded, but the space was definitely well used. I spent a lovely few hours there on my second day reading <em>The Mother of All Questions</em> and trying to recover from jet lag.<br />
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<center><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-85tV6PJOMr8/WU6iJ_gU7kI/AAAAAAAAQ9s/L6w5rSGA0DsgvbcYKXFsOlZeRr3F_256QCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF4996.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-85tV6PJOMr8/WU6iJ_gU7kI/AAAAAAAAQ9s/L6w5rSGA0DsgvbcYKXFsOlZeRr3F_256QCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF4996.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
I absolutely loved this: a collection of books that can be checked out without a library card.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mIw8JIk7QQ4/WU6iJ-tkCTI/AAAAAAAAQ9s/ufAIOzX2GoA4fPFfoCsGd6oLK6acq41YwCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF4997.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mIw8JIk7QQ4/WU6iJ-tkCTI/AAAAAAAAQ9s/ufAIOzX2GoA4fPFfoCsGd6oLK6acq41YwCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF4997.jpg" width="301" height="400" data-original-width="602" data-original-height="800" /></a><br />
It wouldn’t be a Pacific Northwest library without a Zine collection.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E_rztxv62wA/WU6iJ_BmyhI/AAAAAAAAQ9s/0WdHIOcNYvMm_jJyYfhumNYIDY31ItRfACKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF4998.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E_rztxv62wA/WU6iJ_BmyhI/AAAAAAAAQ9s/0WdHIOcNYvMm_jJyYfhumNYIDY31ItRfACKgBGAs/s400/DSCF4998.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a></center>Twice Sold Tales, a second-hand bookshop on Capitol Hill, had absolutely everything: adorable and friendly cats, people asking about Audre Lorde, helpful staff, great queer and comics sections, and a Happy Hour in the evening when everything was 20% off. On a side note: I think I have a better understanding now of why all my US friends go overboard in the UK. Used books are by and large a lot cheaper here than in the US. It’s hard not to buy everything when it ranges from 50p to £3.<br />
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I really wanted to take him home.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sT3NKrhxo4A/WU6jkMx7IGI/AAAAAAAAQ94/p5fDycKiI4ICaux_nRoQavxI1pqw6Ri6ACKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5049.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sT3NKrhxo4A/WU6jkMx7IGI/AAAAAAAAQ94/p5fDycKiI4ICaux_nRoQavxI1pqw6Ri6ACKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5049.jpg" width="301" height="400" data-original-width="601" data-original-height="800" /></a></center>In Fremont I went to Ophelia’s, another second-hand bookshop with a resident cat. Once upon a time it had bunnies too, but by the time I visited they had been rehomed. I loved that there was a sign explaining their fate to any concerned visitors, though.<br />
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<center><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FklFE4WVimc/WU6j4rgqJjI/AAAAAAAAQ98/9DNH0tJjWwYbSOGN-VTMn99Thw2sbXTCACKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5065.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FklFE4WVimc/WU6j4rgqJjI/AAAAAAAAQ98/9DNH0tJjWwYbSOGN-VTMn99Thw2sbXTCACKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5065.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-COBnINLvtek/WU6j4rTtMAI/AAAAAAAAQ98/12vN_AZsn4w5ndI8C8DnofhWesLDFwUugCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5064.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-COBnINLvtek/WU6j4rTtMAI/AAAAAAAAQ98/12vN_AZsn4w5ndI8C8DnofhWesLDFwUugCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5064.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a></center>I was able to resist this signed copy of <em>The Faraway Nearby</em> by Rebecca Solnit somehow (and, later on, I stayed strong when faced with a signed copy of <em>Thick as Thieves</em>).<br />
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<center><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_ENIpIml5Ec/WU6j4sWUTLI/AAAAAAAAQ98/WshsrhHgC2gd53l9-ooakYfPoqAtzDR_QCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5071.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_ENIpIml5Ec/WU6j4sWUTLI/AAAAAAAAQ98/WshsrhHgC2gd53l9-ooakYfPoqAtzDR_QCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5071.jpg" width="301" height="400" data-original-width="602" data-original-height="800" /></a><br />
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The adorable Fremont branch of the Seattle Public Library.<br />
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Some of the amazing lamppost stickers I saw.</center><br />
Open Books, a bookstore dedicated entirely to poetry, was one of my favourites. It had pretty much everything I thought to look for, and I’m annoyed that I didn’t remember to see if they had any Karen Brodine until it was too late. It took a lot of restraint to walk out with nothing but a copy of Sharon Olds’ <em>The Father</em> for a friend.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xtZs_oVt_zc/WU6kjaOGA8I/AAAAAAAAQ-M/kZRxWMkYzXUk9se2LuQJME0x4AxoCmP3QCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5078.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xtZs_oVt_zc/WU6kjaOGA8I/AAAAAAAAQ-M/kZRxWMkYzXUk9se2LuQJME0x4AxoCmP3QCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5078.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a></center>I resisted getting any more Adrienne Rich by telling myself one day I’ll just get the Collected Poems and be done with it.<br />
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Comics Dungeon decked out for Pride Month.</center><br />
Left Bank Books, a radical bookstore and publisher, was another favourite. I visited twice and would happily have spent hours there.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cgOtquwAfBA/WU6lLO4PZiI/AAAAAAAAQ-U/0XoQugN8R_Yg__puwvMLucxbGCNOM4sVwCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5140.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cgOtquwAfBA/WU6lLO4PZiI/AAAAAAAAQ-U/0XoQugN8R_Yg__puwvMLucxbGCNOM4sVwCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5140.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VohBM4r4JX0/WU6lLGZZb_I/AAAAAAAAQ-U/69_b8oMUrc40Yr5xAjif4v2UYx1fInVfgCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5149.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VohBM4r4JX0/WU6lLGZZb_I/AAAAAAAAQ-U/69_b8oMUrc40Yr5xAjif4v2UYx1fInVfgCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5149.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a></center>The Elliott Bay Book Company was beautiful and had a great stock selection. It was there that I met <a href="http://webereading.com/">Kristen</a>, <a href="https://afondnessforreading.wordpress.com/">Robin</a> and <a href="http://www.themaybeescape.com/">Lena</a>; as per usual when visiting bookshops with blogging friends, we had a great time talking excitedly about what we’ve been reading and want to read, and being terrible influences on one another. (Lena, now I desperately want <em>The Book of Joan</em> and it’s all your fault.)<br />
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<center><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-csh5EcMXrIk/WU6l1X0sXAI/AAAAAAAAQ-c/eKv_3OpW0_U_BF3fs-sieqGtjUYZ95aQgCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5021.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-csh5EcMXrIk/WU6l1X0sXAI/AAAAAAAAQ-c/eKv_3OpW0_U_BF3fs-sieqGtjUYZ95aQgCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5021.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oDFZgKL9j1Q/WU6l1bAIN-I/AAAAAAAAQ-c/eDEhA9rxqpU_JdWBS0D3Xnm3ytWStg2HwCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5173.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oDFZgKL9j1Q/WU6l1bAIN-I/AAAAAAAAQ-c/eDEhA9rxqpU_JdWBS0D3Xnm3ytWStg2HwCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5173.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="601" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--QpoP_o-uOE/WU6l1TYmKsI/AAAAAAAAQ-c/VHpxoaEA744YAtv46YhF8NYSSkxoENDaQCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5174.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--QpoP_o-uOE/WU6l1TYmKsI/AAAAAAAAQ-c/VHpxoaEA744YAtv46YhF8NYSSkxoENDaQCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5174.jpg" width="301" height="400" data-original-width="601" data-original-height="800" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uMGBxHxajMo/WU6l1fcASMI/AAAAAAAAQ-c/iqyjBVUwBakN4g03BnngaDqTx5SyYiTnACKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5175.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uMGBxHxajMo/WU6l1fcASMI/AAAAAAAAQ-c/iqyjBVUwBakN4g03BnngaDqTx5SyYiTnACKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5175.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="601" /></a></center>I also stopped briefly by Kinokuniya, a Japanese Bookshop in the International District. I wanted to buy all the comics and stationary.<br />
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<center><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qDm_ttjCLFA/WU6mFjGkf4I/AAAAAAAAQ-g/GxTLO2uSqgYXQzhu28fFtvYG9ubMWYbuACKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5281.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qDm_ttjCLFA/WU6mFjGkf4I/AAAAAAAAQ-g/GxTLO2uSqgYXQzhu28fFtvYG9ubMWYbuACKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5281.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="601" /></a></center>Lastly, I visited <a href="https://www.gaycity.org/">Gay City</a>, an LGBTQ community centre and library whose mere existence makes me happy.<br />
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<center><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GixnywjfUHw/WU6mOWDKtsI/AAAAAAAAQ-k/d-DqXTdI0gkzoHufEa7Kg6oDLkDRMetewCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5159.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GixnywjfUHw/WU6mOWDKtsI/AAAAAAAAQ-k/d-DqXTdI0gkzoHufEa7Kg6oDLkDRMetewCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5159.jpg" width="301" height="400" data-original-width="601" data-original-height="800" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-thj3xPJ_QzI/WU6mOWvOtRI/AAAAAAAAQ-k/rdr1BW3ioiYmM0hhyxYCI_3eGEsuj8NCgCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5311.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-thj3xPJ_QzI/WU6mOWvOtRI/AAAAAAAAQ-k/rdr1BW3ioiYmM0hhyxYCI_3eGEsuj8NCgCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5311.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="602" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-88gJQIKV8Fw/WU6mOQeQvQI/AAAAAAAAQ-k/avbH6CrackQxnx8CBwX8GFISYZ9BFxatwCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5312.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-88gJQIKV8Fw/WU6mOQeQvQI/AAAAAAAAQ-k/avbH6CrackQxnx8CBwX8GFISYZ9BFxatwCKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5312.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="601" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZK2jVLeUt4/WU6mOclLP3I/AAAAAAAAQ-k/VlvxDw2MJWAFrfXJSEyYIfguUTmJIR9yACKgBGAs/s1600/DSCF5313.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZK2jVLeUt4/WU6mOclLP3I/AAAAAAAAQ-k/VlvxDw2MJWAFrfXJSEyYIfguUTmJIR9yACKgBGAs/s400/DSCF5313.jpg" width="400" height="301" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="601" /></a></center>I was sad to have missed the Fantasgraphic Comics bookshop and gallery, but hopefully next time. Seattle is where one of my favourite people in the world lives, which I think is a good reason to go back as soon as possible.<br />
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Next stop: Powell’s, which lived up to all my dreams and more. I can’t wait to tell you all about it.</div>Ana S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16092495983972185943noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7069484.post-4584057968506923772017-06-18T10:47:00.000+01:002017-06-18T10:55:39.071+01:00My Bookshop and Ice Cream Tour of the Pacific Northwest<center><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o_wKkSZPawU/WUZJfuc3BxI/AAAAAAAAQxk/iGJNjwvlorQOHwMeqcy5DR2U7wXLyfwCQCLcBGAs/s1600/DSCF5678.jpg" data-original-width="491" data-original-height="369" alt="Lighthouse by the Pacific" /></center><div style="text-align: justify;">Hello, friends. Once again I went silent on here for much longer than I had intended. 2017 has been eventful to say the least, in ways I didn’t always have the right words for. I didn’t stop writing over the past few months; not exactly. But as I said <a href="http://www.thingsmeanalot.com/2017/04/ten.html">last time</a>, most of what I wrote took the form of long, meandering letters to friends, as I tried to make sense of myself and the world around me in dialogue with others. Part of what I’ve always loved about blogging is that it’s essentially an extension of that process — I’m starting to feel ready to carry on doing it in a more public fashion again. We’ll see how that goes, I guess.<br />
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I’ve recently returned from what amounted to an ice cream and bookshop tour of the West Coast of the United States, all the way from Seattle to LA. This trip did a lot to restore my sense of hope, a process no doubt greatly aided by hearing the UK election results come in as I drove down California from Santa Cruz to LA. Things are still in a pretty dire state — I have no illusions about that. But just a few days ago, on the anniversary of Jo Cox’s assassination, I was thinking that this is the most political hope I’ve had all year. Nothing is inevitable. I needed to be reminded of that, both when it comes to my life and to the world at large. <br />
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Anyway, I’m hoping to tell you more about my trip in the coming weeks, particularly about all the excellent bookshops I visited (Powell’s is real, it turns out, and even better than I was led to believe). Travel posts have always been among my favourites to put together, and I thought that might be a nice way to ease myself back into regular blogging. <span id="fullpost"> Also, I’ve missed you all. When I was in Seattle I had the chance to met my old blogging friends <a href="http://webereading.com/">Kristen</a>, <a href="https://afondnessforreading.wordpress.com/">Robin</a> and <a href="http://www.themaybeescape.com/">Lena</a>; I only wish I hadn’t missed <a href="http://www.myfriendamysblog.com/">Amy</a> and all the other West Coast friends I didn’t have the chance to get in touch with. I’ll do my very best to make sure there is a next time.<br />
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Other trip highlights include getting my first glimpse of the open Pacific during a perfectly timed but entirely accidental musical moment; Earl Grey ice cream at Bi-Rite; Land’s End in San Francisco, the highlight of a perfect sunset tour; hiking on Mount Rainer National Park; getting to see sea lions; buying a copy of Rita Williams-Garcia’s <em>One Crazy Summer</em> for a friend; finally getting to try Ethiopian food; wandering around the Castro the year I came out as a queer woman to most people in my life, surrounded by friends I feel seen by; having a picnic by the sea on my last full day; apple fritter donuts from Blue Star; all the road trip singalongs; City Lights; and of course all the books I got:<br />
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<center><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sDbx6GwDdHw/WUZKp3R41uI/AAAAAAAAQxw/Rgmo24xGKkY7EGqRys_ctG64ugRekzuxgCLcBGAs/s1600/books.jpg" data-original-width="359" data-original-height="478" /></center>In case you can’t read the titles, they are:<br />
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<li><em>Very Far Away From Anywhere Else</em> by Ursula Le Guin (because I couldn’t leave Portland without a Le Guin book)<br />
<li><em>The Girls of Peculiar</em> by Catherine Pierce (because my friend <a href="http://dolorosa-12.dreamwidth.org/">Ronni</a> sent me <a href="https://twitter.com/alyssaharad/status/854354272640696320">this tweet</a>)<br />
<li><em>The Mother of All Questions</em> by Rebecca Solnit<br />
<li><em>My Mother Was a Freedom Fighter</em> by Aja Monet (my City Lights acquisition; the Angela Davis blurb sealed the deal)<br />
<li><em>The Moon Is Always Female</em> by Marge Piercy (because <a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/57672">of course</a>)<br />
<li><em>Crush</em> by Richard Siken<br />
<li><em>The Cancer Journals</em> by Audre Lorde (finally!)<br />
<li><em>Illness as Metaphor and AIDS and its Metaphors</em> by Susan Sontag (likewise; these two have been hard to find)<br />
<li><em>Selected Poems</em> by Gwendolyn Brooks<br />
<li><em>Graceling</em>, <em>Fire</em> and <em>Bitterblue</em> by Kristin Cashore<br />
<li><em>Everfair</em> by Nisi Shawl (signed!)<br />
<li><em>Princess, Princess Ever After</em> by Katie O’Neill (also signed!)<br />
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<em>Everfair</em> and <em>Crush</em> were presents from the lovely Lena; the Cashore trilogy was long overdue (I don’t like the UK covers, so I really wanted to get the US editions); and most of the rest came from Powell’s – I was doing so well until I got there.<br />
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More soon, I hope! How have you all been doing?</span></div><br />
Ana S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16092495983972185943noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7069484.post-68961559972988149182017-04-03T07:25:00.000+01:002017-04-03T20:07:31.097+01:00Ten<center><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TsCqNd3xOBM/WOHoYQXOrGI/AAAAAAAAQP4/zGoOUEI8JhUPKGMel3yAJdAymrWe5sZjQCLcB/s400/DSCF4909.jpg" width="400" height="301" alt="London on a spring day" /></center><div style="text-align: justify;">Hello, friends. I didn’t intend to be silent on here for over two months. It’s been an eventful year — not only in the sense of reeling from current events, much like so many of you, but also in the sense of having a lot happen in my personal life. I hesitate even as I draw this distinction, and think, as I have so often lately, <a href="http://www.phys.unm.edu/~tw/fas/yits/archive/rich_inthoseyears.html">of Adrienne Rich</a>: “But the great dark birds of history screamed and plunged / into our personal weather”. <br />
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In short, there has been some space for defiant living, despite everything — I’m just sorry that I haven’t written here more. I’m still reading, even if at a slower pace. This year, so far, it was especially important to me to revisit <em>The Dream of a Common Language</em> (I can’t think of another book that I read three times in the space of eight months) and to read Sarah Schulman’s <em>The Cosmopolitans</em>, which <a href="https://casschats.blogspot.co.uk/">Cass</a> very kindly sent to me. There’s a lot more I could say about both of them, and hopefully I will.<br />
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Although I’ve been quiet on here, the past two months haven’t been a time of silence. I’ve been writing a lot of long letters, making sense of myself and of the world around me in the context of dialogue. I was thinking recently that when I was younger, I used to feel anguished if I wasn’t writing privately — journaling, I guess, which is what I did the most at the time. I felt that I was being subsumed by the self I was with others, that I would drown without that very private space where it’s just me and my words. I still care about that space, but I really don’t feel that way anymore — don’t believe in the primacy of my private self as opposed to my relational self; have become more interested in who I am and can be in collaboration, in dialogue. This interest is personal, but it has, I find, political implications. Again, the distinction feels arbitrary. <br />
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All this to say that this blog’s tenth anniversary, which came and went last week, feels like as good a time as any to dust off the cobwebs and jump back in. I like how writing here balances the personal and the conversational. This, by the wonderful Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore, expresses why I keep doing it:<br />
<blockquote style="color: black;">I write in order to stay alive. I write because it’s the way that I can understand myself and express all the contradictions, hope, tragedy. It’s how I think. I’ve been writing so long. It’s how I engage with the world. It’s how I find my place in the world. It’s one way I’m able not to feel hopeless all the time. Because, I feel hopeless a lot. I’m able to write about it, which makes me feel less hopeless. And, it’s my creative expression. People I may not know choose to connect with it. I search for connection or possibility. So, in a way, I write not to give up. Also, things that mean something to me, that do not exist generally in the world, especially in media.</blockquote>My life would be very different today if a decade ago I hadn’t started doing this, alongside all of you. Thank you so much for reading.</span> </div>Ana S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16092495983972185943noreply@blogger.com16