A Room of One’s Own, Madison, WI
July 8th, 2006 | Uncategorized
Yesterday Ann and I drove from Minneapolis to Madison. Here I am driving her Saturn crossing the hot, flat expanse of Wisconsin.
In Madison, I did a radio interview with Matt Rothschild, the editor of The Progressive. Then I raced over to A Room of One’s Own, the excellent feminist bookstore here, where a hot, throbbing crowd was waiting.
That woman front and center is Rachel, who wore her Mo shirt for the occasion. Someone counted about 130 people. It was an utterly delightful audience. One woman, likely an English professor, compared my writing style to Melville. And being the radical Madisonians that they are, there was some discussion about the ethics of doing readings in the bookstore chains–Bounders, and Bunns and Noodle.
Here are the intrepid booksellers who brought me here. Nancy on the left, (me), Sandi, Hilary, and Sashe.
After the reading I went over to Ann’s house, the woman who’s been driving me around on this junket. We had Chinese food with her girlfriend Michele and their exceedingly charming, talented, and rather adorable neighbors. Here’s Gwen, Anna, and Michele.
Here’s Rachel and Ann.
Gwen showed us photos of a crazy taxidermized rodent museum that she recently went to. I think you can see them too on her myspace page. Lemme tell you, Wisconsin is a happening place.
5 Responses to “A Room of One’s Own, Madison, WI”
With regard to the crowd photo, I am so sure. Those two gals snogging, and right in the middle of the reading. Heaven forfend!
We are snoggin’ kind of women in Madison. I’m surprised the picture only shows one couple at it.
Loved your reading yesterday. After it, I bought the book (the first one you signed) and finished it this afternoon. It brought up soooo many memories of my own childhood and adolescence. Our fathers were almost identical. My mother wouldn’t divorce him because she was a devote catholic. Me, a little butch forced into heels and dresses.
Thanks for sharing your story. I have a feeling you’re going to find lots of women (and men) who’ve shared a similar path.
I love the term “snoggin” and I just came back from the Oregon Country Faire….the largest hippy faire in the country where I could and did snog my partner most of the day between vaudville shows. Also, it was mentioned at one of the info boothes that Alison’s book was out and it was a smash in Oregon! Several women were there at the presentation in Portland and said Alison was fantastic! Sounds like snoggin’ is a good thing all over! 🙂 Never been to Madison…sounds like a good place to go!
Rachel looks very young in her Mo T shirt. As for the couple snogging..reminds me of a UK TV show where they would send out a teenage age couple (Male/Female) to snog in inappropriate places..e.g. behind film stars being interviewed on the red carpet..lol.
It all ended somewhat tragically when one half of the couple fell in love with the other….crossed the prof.line…art imitating life…life imitating art!!!!!
hello everyone,
guilty as charged, we are the couple caught snogging in the background. sorry to offend, but please rest assured that we were not kissing for political or sensational reasons – we’re just two womyn madly in love, planning to be for a long time.
wishing all of you inspiration to snog unabashedly,
2 dykes to watch out for.