Monthly Archives: July 2009
Which book/author blogs to do you follow?
I’m lazy when it comes to keeping up with books, so I subscribe to a number of book-related blogs through my RSS reader. Who do you find worthy of following?
Here are a few of my favorites:
- So Many Books
- Paperback Writer
- One Poet’s Notes
- Book Covers
- Kate’s Book Blog
- Kimbooktu
- Kenyon Review
- Maud Newton
- Naked without Books
- Omnivoracious
- Reading Matters
- The Book is Dead
- The Penguin Blog
- The Reader Online
I’ve trimmed this list down in the last couple of weeks, based on frequency of posts and my interests. But I’m happy to have a few more in the queue, if you care to share. 
Non-fiction Book Discussion: The Purity Myth by Jessica Valenti
The Purity Myth by Jessica Valenti
Bookstacks and Virtually Speaking are co-hosting a discussion of Jessica Valenti‘s newest book, The Purity Myth: How America’s Obsession with Virginity Is Hurting Young Women, on Saturday, July 25 at 4:00 p.m. SLT/PDT.
Valenti is an active feminist, blogger and lecturer who turns a critical eye at the double-standard that women continue to face. In The Purity Myth, she examines how right-wing virginity advocates are using the ideal of female purity to repress and devalue women. Not only do these messages target young women and girls, but the idealization of the “sexy virgin” is so pervasive in our media that older women sometimes go to extremes to remain girlishly young and therefore valued by society. Valenti examines the class and racial implications inherent in the purity agenda, as well as the gender double standard.
Kghia Gherardi of Bookstacks will lead a book discussion that focuses on the issues Valenti raises and the author’s method of delivering her message. Jimbo Hoyer of Virtually Speaking will interview Valenti a few days after the book discussion on July 30 at 6:00 pm. If you plan on attending the interview or are simply interested in the topic, please attend both this discussion.
