Tag Archives: Social History

The kewpie doll

Her face hasn’t fared well, and I dare not try to remove the dent. Yet, her eyes are as arresting as ever. This dainty little kewpie doll was found amoung my grandmother’s things. It’s age is unknown, unknowable. When I started digging online into the history of this toy, the spelling was unexpected. I alwaysContinue reading “The kewpie doll”

Mum’s evening purse

When we make something for ourselves, we invest ourselves in the result, and then often confront disappointment if it seems less-than-professional. Shopping brings an instant hit and, hopefully, a satisfactorily assembled item. Once upon a time, making was a necessary function of the home-maker. Shop-bought clothes were expensive and only the well-to-do could afford aContinue reading “Mum’s evening purse”

I can’t complain about this one

Only five pages to go but I’m so tired. Should I endure or finish these another day? There’s no cliffhanger; no who-done-it to reveal; no expected ah-ah moment. The trials are over; banned books released; the rating system introduced … how does an author finish this story? It’s my desire for mental clarity that encouragesContinue reading “I can’t complain about this one”

Yellowing sedatives

There is a tension between the idea of reading for change and the action of reading to prepare oneself for sleep. They share the notion that sleep is itself a changed state, but the intention underpinning my attempts at Reading For Change is much grander, requiring long-term shifts in attitude and/or actions. I think I’mContinue reading “Yellowing sedatives”