The Scribbling Women blog tour is being presented by Tundra Books. I am so excited to be part of the tour. I’ve been following along for the first three days of the tour. If you’ve missed any of the stops, I would recommend heading over to Tundra’s Blog and checking them out. There are some great blogs who have featured both reviews and interviews with Marthe Jocelyn.
Synopsis from Goodreads: In 1855, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote to his publisher, complaining about the irritating fad of “scribbling women.” Whether they were written by professionals, by women who simply wanted to connect with others, or by those who wanted to leave a record of their lives, those “scribbles” are fascinating, informative, and instructive.
Margaret Catchpole was a transported prisoner whose eleven letters provide the earliest record of white settlement in Australia. Writing hundreds of years later, Aboriginal writer Doris Pilkey wrote a novel about another kind of exile in Australia. Young Isabella Beeton, one of twenty-one children and herself the mother of four, managed to write a groundbreaking cookbook before she died at the age of twenty-eight. World traveler and journalist Nelly Bly used her writing to expose terrible injustices. Sei Shonagan has left us poetry and journal entries that provide a vivid look at the pampered life and intrigues in Japan’s imperial court. Ada Blackjack, sole survivor of a disastrous scientific expedition in the Arctic, fought isolation and fear with her precious Eversharp pencil. Dr. Dang Thuy Tram’s diary, written in a field hospital in the steaming North Vietnamese jungle while American bombs fell, is a heartbreaking record of fear and hope.
Many of the women in “Scribbling Women” had eventful lives. They became friends with cannibals, delivered babies, stole horses, and sailed on whaling ships. Others lived quietly, close to home. But each of them has illuminated the world through her words.
My thoughts: I know that there are no shortage of spectacular women not only in History, but in the world today. How often do we take a moment to recognize them? I know I’m not the best at recognizing the extraordinary things that people do. Marthe Jocelyn has managed to get me to really think about that. The women that she highlights in this fantastic book didn’t seem to be thinking about what they were doing, they were just doing what was right for them.
In Scribbling Women we take a peek into the lives of eleven different women. These “Scribbling Women” weren’t always writing for the public. Some of them were just writing for themselves or their loved ones. Scribbling Women is not an all-encompassing historical account, but a mere introduction into these lives. I can see this book being used as a teaching tool or as a springboard for research projects as the book is geared toward young adults.
One of the things that I found special about this book was the fact that the author knew her intended audience and spoke to them in a language they can understand. The first section (and one of my favorites) introduced us to Sei Shonagon. In this section the author relates the poetry being exchanged between friends in this time period to the text messages that would be exchanged today.
Sei Shonagon was an avid list maker. I know many of you will probably relate to this, as I certainly did! A sampling of Sei Shonagon’s lists are included in the text and many of them include things that I could easily see myself saying.
Things that make me happy
I know I shouldn’t think this way, and I know I’ll be punished for it, but I just love it when bad things happen to people I can’t stand.
I read this and I had to laugh out loud! How many of us have felt this way at one time or another?
One of the often asked questions throughout the tour so far is regarding current “scribbles”. What are we leaving behind for others to discover? Unfortunately the reality is that the art of “scribbling” is being lost with each generation. As we rely further and further on electronics, we are moving away from some of the most fascinating parts of history. The parts that weren’t left with the intent that future generations study them.
As I was looking through some of my cookbooks not too long ago I came across one that my grandmother purchased for me through her church. Its one of those ones that contain simple recipes submitted by the church ladies. Then Grandma went through and wrote little notes for me about some of the ladies or whether or not she’d tried a particular recipe. I will treasure that recipe book for the rest of my life. Its things like this that I hope that future generations don’t miss out on.
The bottom line, if you like reading about strong women you should pick up Scribbling Women. It’s one of those books that will peak your curiosity and leave you wanting to know more.
“Scribbling Women”
True Tales from Astonishing Lives
Written by Marthe Jocelyn
Hardcover | 208 Pages
Trim Size: 6 x 9 | Ages: 14 +
ISBN: 978-0-88776-952-8
eBook: 978-1-77049-230-1
As part of the blog tour, Tundra is running a HUGE giveaway. The prize is a collection of books by Marthe Jocelyn including Scribbling Women. Since its their contest, I think they tell it best. Here are the rules:
What do you have to do to enter? Follow the blog tour and leave a comment on any of the participating blogs, but it must be on their “Scribbling Women” blog tour posts. So, don’t leave a comment here, go visit their posts! We will be updating the links daily to make it easier for you to follow the blog tour and enter the giveaway.Details: Here’s the best part, you can leave a comment on ALL of the blogs and that will count as 31 entries! Spamming doesn’t count, so one thoughtful comment per blog please.
Dates: Contest starts on Monday, March 28, 2011 and closes on Sunday, April 10, 2011 at 11:49pm EST. One winner will be randomly selected and announced on Monday, April 11, 2011 to receive the prize.
© 2011, Teresa. All rights reserved.
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Isn’t it great that an author has noticed these women? It makes me want to go out and research for more of these spectacular women.
Laura
laura.leahj@gmail dot com
Today’s hectic world hardly allows for recognition….but you’re right; it’s sorely needed. It’s funny how the most random scribbles can end up being something that is cherished by others….just goes to show you the power of the written (or scribbled) word. Sounds like an interesting work, will have to make a point of checking out the rest of the tour. Thanks for hosting…and giving us something to think about. Happy reading!
Sounds like a informative cool read
Recently, I reread Pilgrim at Tinker Creek and was astounded my my own notes written in the margins (I always write in my own books). It’s amazing to reread your younger self. It’s also a reminder of how much we forget and how much we need to write in order to remember.
Hi! I am also popping by from
The blog tour. Love your thorough review.I am a new follower and love to read and discuss books also. Cheers.
Oh and by the way I would like to enter the contest to win. I think I can, right? If I won the collection I would donate it to my daughter’s school. Their library is too small and far too seldom open.
Paula
Inkscrblr@Rogers.com
Thank you for following! You will absolutely be entered to win. Make sure to stop by the other blogs and comment on their posts to increase your chances.
This sounds great! I’m adding it to my TBR list…thanks for the review!
I do love reading about strong women in history so I think I need to check out this book!
I love the idea of your grandmother’s cookbook being a piece of history. It sounds like a version of the ‘family Bible’ that would have notations added for important events like weddings, christenings and funerals. There is a connection made in the kitchens of the world – both through the agony of cooking with someone who drives you crazy and the utter joy of a convivial family gathering. As small as it may seem, how great to extend the connection by knowing that someone 50 years ago used half the amount of butter, or substituted raisins for apricots, or made this particular pudding when her son was teething…
there could be an entire book of notes that people have left in cookbooks! ‘substitute lemon’, ‘use half as much sugar’, ‘omit peas’ are just a few of the hundreds of notations i have found in my mother’s cookbooks and they always make her seem so present to me.
That is wonderful how your grandmother personalized your cookbook. wow. I have started making notes in cookbooks of when I cooked a particular meal. Serves to bring back memories of happy gatherings. Visit me on the tour today and see what I have been doing to keep scribbling.
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful experience re: your grandmother’s cookbook. When I moved away from home, I used to write letters to my grandmother and I think I’ve kept most of them. It’s hilarious to see what older people talk about sometimes (like visiting the casino and asking me not to tell my parents). Throughout the years, her arthritis worsened and I could see how her handwriting changed. Still, she carried on and always tried to send me a letter every now and then.