Book, covers, judgement…
Thursday 3rd November 2011
I know, I just
know, that I am not likely to enjoy a book if the publishers have decided that what it needs is a pink sparkly, even
relief-effect cover, usually featuring a swirling cartoon image of a super-thin chic-chick with a diamante dog lead tangled round her impossibly high-heeled shoes, arms full of designer label shopping bags and a storm of butterflies round her head. On the other hand, I’m grateful to the (I suspect) 14 year old ‘editors’ in the It’s Not Literature But There Are More Words Than Pictures publishing house who decide that what so-and-so’s new block-buster really must have is a quilted sateen cushion on the front with a stand-out diamond ring in relief. It makes it easier for me to instantly reject an enormous number of potential books which, if they had normal covers, I might have to flick through before rejecting, thus saving valuable reading time.
I have the same sense of gratitude to people who have purple mohican hair-dos, facial tattoos and multiple body piercings that I
can see. Because, it’s as if they have a little notice above their heads that says: warning, I may alarm or even frighten you, you might prefer to stand from London to Bristol rather than sit beside me. Thanks! I will.
Sometimes, being at heart a pinko-liberal, (small ‘L’ note!), I fight this boring and rather narrow mind-set and I DO sit beside the unconventional person on the train (if there is no other seat, obviously). It’s often a mistake. I recall one horrific journey from Bristol to Chester, for the now frankly bizarre sounding purpose of attending a work conference for about 4 hours, staying over-night and then coming back. This is a linen cupboard reference. He seemed alright at first, the man sharing my table, but when I produced my knitting – and he produced the first of several cans of cider – my heart sank. He was VERY interested in the knitting and talked to me about it non-stop, other than the times when, at the many stops, he darted off the train and smoked a hand-rolled cigarette on the platform. This was in the time when smoking on trains had been banned but it was still allowed on platforms, but more especially I can date it to the time when Debbie Abrahams’ cushion book was published, as that is what I was knitting from.
So insistent was his questioning of my knitting, despite my increasingly monosyllabic answers, that the other passengers on the train, packed and smelly as it had become, seemed to associate me with him and his over-loud voice, his nervy fag-rolling as he readied himself for the next stop, and his carrier bag of booze. He and I
both got disapproving glances and sometimes frank, open stares. He’d squeeze in and out of the carriage, and come back reeking of cigarette smoke, which he assured me was a nice smell – urging me to have a good sniff of his tobacco pouch – because he used a cherry-scented hand-rolling mix so that he didn’t smell horrid. I doubt if he used the word horrid.
The trouble was, much as I disliked and even slightly feared him, I’m not sure why, much as I was anxious in case his smell contaminated the Rowan Hand Knit DK Cotton in cream and two shades of chocolate and coffee, that I was knitting, I was worried about him. He had a long and hard-to-follow story about how his life was turning out, at the same time full of self-pity and bravado. His relationships with women, his children and any work colleagues (this latter part was, I felt, really doubtful) were all fraught. It was hard to follow because I just listened and didn’t ask the questions or head him off in a way that would have led us all into fewer cul-de-sacs and pointless diversions. I told you I have ‘one of those faces’! Each fresh outrage would be punctuated by his loud, braying laugh and nervous repetition of phrases such as: oh well, that’s life, innit? Can’t complain, mustn’t grumble…like an American film’s idea of how English people speak, perhaps we do; and the recurrent sharp snap hiss of a new cider can being opened.
Like him with his life story, I digress, sorry. Maybe one day I’ll be a lonely train traveller, making people talk to me by cornering them with my knitting, making them smell the silk in Kidsilk Haze (you can smell it, by the way…). Given my social rectitude, even hermit-like tendencies, I feel this is unlikely but you never know, do you?
So, I think that my point is, sometimes you really
can judge a book by its cover. And then on the other hand, I’ve looked at the covers of books such as the George Smiley series by John le Carre, and over the years, rejected them for their dark forbidding jackets and the ‘blurb’ which put me off with its secret agent and cold-war references. Wrong! They are amazing, though to be fair, I am listening to them, being poured, like liquid art and happiness, into my ears by Michael Jayston, whose voice is just lovely. By the way for real reading, I’ve just finsihed A Woman of Independent Means, lent to me me by someone who I’ve come to know through knitting teaching, and I really enjoyed it. And an old volume that is a collection of stories published in The New Yorker magazine during the 1930s and 1940s. The New Yorker was a very important literary outlet for lots of great writers in the UK as well as America, for example, Elizabeth Taylor (no, the other Elizabeth Tayor) had many published there over the years. I love short stories, the pithier the better. Long short stories annoy me a bit because I think, oh well, if you’d added a bit to it it’d could have been a short novel, or taken some away and made it a proper short story. My favourite collections of short stories are published by
Persephone Books, look for Dorothy Whipple and Mollie Panter-Downs in particular but they’re all excellent. Often not a great deal happens, or at worst plot is hinted at, but they make vivid sketches of people, life and living then, usually in the sort of suburban way we live now, most of us.
Another thing I have passed a negative judgment on in the past is very small knitting. Not micro-knitting, for, say, dolls’ houses, that will never happen. But really quite small items – actually, Christnas decorations. But, again, I was wrong, I’ve been knitting mini gift bags and small sweaters and icicles – all hopelessly adorned with beads and sequins – and I love it! Look!
It’s fun and I don’t care that I can’t wear it, I have done mine in a mon0-chrome scheme and hung the bags and sweaters and icicles on painted white twigs and tied the flowers to a silver-sprayed wooden wreath – result: happiness!
Hearts, and then:
…black with silver – not crystal, but silver – beads.
And icles:
And finally, flowers and frosty decorations for a little wreath:
I do hope the workshop participants this weekend will be happy too, as this what we will be making, in whatever colour-way they prefer.
As a gift to them, they will also depart with a copy of a new and as yet not-quite-finished pattern for a slender evening scarf, that has even daunted me with its beading – pics when I have done a bit more of it.
It’s fun and I don’t care that I can’t wear it, I have done mine in a mon0-chrome scheme and hung the bags and sweaters and icicles on painted white twigs and tied the flowers to a silver-sprayed wooden wreath – result: happiness!
Hearts, and then:
…black with silver – not crystal, but silver – beads.
And icles:
And finally, flowers and frosty decorations for a little wreath:
I do hope the workshop participants this weekend will be happy too, as this what we will be making, in whatever colour-way they prefer.
As a gift to them, they will also depart with a copy of a new and as yet not-quite-finished pattern for a slender evening scarf, that has even daunted me with its beading – pics when I have done a bit more of it.
Squeeeeeee!!! I am *so* excited for Saturday!!!!! Imagining my Christmas tree resplendent with sparkly icicles etc. Fabulous!
Yours hysterically
xxx
Actual lollage Nicola! You are a star. You know you CAN’T count on me to be a calming influence (I’ve just knitted 2 more – with huge uber-sequins, oh my, they are quite addictive!) X
narrow-minded indeed! as someone married to one of the purple-haired-tattooed-and-pierced you seem to reference, i think it necessary to point out that men can be boorish, drunkard, and rude in a business suit and fedora just as easily as someone with tattoos. as can women be snarky, judgemental, and shockingly provincial despite their knitting lovely things out of lovely yarns. appearance has so little to do with who we really are, what a shame to judge someone by it and lose out on the opportunity to have a meanful interaction or relationship.
i have so enjoyed your blog up to this point. and i adore persephones and kidsilk haze and dachsunds as well. but your train story has me truly disappointed.
I’m sorry. I think my point was that I ought not to be – and you’re right in a way that I can be. The man in the train wasn’t obviously the ‘sort’ of person I’d – in my narrow way, maybe – avoid. Anyway, I’m sorry it’s made you feel that way.
I don’t think that Maria read all of your blog Alison as it is clearly about not being judgemental as you explain when you talk about John le Carre. To me it appears that you are being self critical for the odd occasion when you have found yourself thinking in that way, and let’s be honest who can put their hand up and say that they haven’t………….as knitters we are stereotyped by the unelightened all the time.
I’m always surprised at how many people think it acceptable to drink alcohol on British trains. From weird hours in the morning. They don’t seem to do it on the bus. Is it some kind of extension of the airplane drinks trolley logic that time is somehow suspended and it a nicely dressed steward is giving you the opportunity to buy cans of Stella then it must be the right thing to do? A mystery.
I am particularly taken by the little bags. I’m imagining them filled with some cloves or Christmassy spicy fragranced something…
Mmm, a friend of mine was travelling from Cornwall to London recently in the early morning and she texted me to say that two men (‘business’ men, to back up Maria’s point, I suppose!) first opened and drank a bottle of champagne (!) and then another bottle of wine! I assume they were ‘celebrating’ something, but I’d be wrecked for the entire day if I tried that!
The bags are very small, about 3 inches high plus the frillage, and yes they’d make lovely bags for that, if lined, which you’d be able to do and I’d struggle with a bit! I’ll pop a basic patt on the email for you if you’d like to have a go?
Why is it that people on the internet are so often determined to take innocent comments personally?
I think Alison’s point was tactfully made and quite true. Also the “it’s what is inside that counts” point made above isn’t exactly a new idea that we all needed to be informed of! People have been bleating on about that for years, but it doesn’t change the fact that appearance is almost always a very helpful indicator of what a person is like (if only because it might indicate that two people will have nothing in common)!
Talk about snarky and judgemental…
Well said karakay!
Those of us who know Alison also know that she is one of the nicest people you could have the pleasure to meet – and far from ‘judging’ anyone, she was actually poking fun at herself! If it’d had been me on that train to Chester from Bristol, I would have relocated myself before the train had reached Parkway! Alison? Oh no, she stays put. Kudos to the girl I say!
As a chap who DOES wear a suit (and on occasions a fedora!) I definitely would judge it prudent not to sit anywhere near a purple-haired-tattooed-and-pierced individual. What a prole – it’s probably because the trains in this country are just so chock-full of them that I avoid public transport whenever possible. Doubtless they would choose not to be in my company either …
Now pass me another large red whine and I’ll see if I can lose my Caps Lock key …
I think another point that was missed by Maria is that people with purple mohawks are just a random example! But funny coloured hair and punks are both enduring social steteotypes that many people do find slightly disconcerting. A more real example might be the man on the train with a staffordshire bull terrier on a choke chain and a kappa tracksuit who looks like he may have a flickknife up his sleeve – but to use that example would detract from the purpose of this blog; that is, to be lighthearted and amusing.
I’m sure that anyone who actually has purple hair *must* have a well developed sense of humour and would see the point being made here. After all, they choose to make themselves appear that way!
I personally love your blog Alison, keep up the good work!
I’d rather sit by the cherry baccy smoker than someone so judgemental!
I fit many stereotypes myself, being a 20yo student, a fan of both classical music and heavy metal, an ex-smoker, someone who has in the past had facial piercings (and possibly looked a bit scary) AND a very keen knitter! I’m definitely an openminded & accepting person but I would imagine someone who has a mohawk has it in part to keep away people who are “not like them”! They don’t want to sit next to me, with my granny cardigans and knitting anymore than I wish to sit by them!!
Although having said that, I currently have beetroot red hair which isn’t quite on par with a purple hawk but maybe the blue-rinse brigade find me terrifying!
I adore those christmas decorations – a fantastic way for someone on a student budget to use up those odds and ends I can’t bear to throw out.
And by someone so judgemental, obviously I meant Maria and not Alison!
To be fair, I am obliged to tell you that I sometimes have my *naturally* blond (ahem) hair adorned with pink streaks, which reminds me, it’s high time I had them done again…and I do/did know some lovely purple/pink/pillar-box red haired people – mainly knitters; and a friend of mine and I often discuss what tattoos we’re going to get and where – and maybe one day I will, tho’ it might have passed me by now, I don’t want my lovely tattoo of a sunflower to look more like pot pourri as it might, at my age…
Anyway, Sue D is right, it was just a random example. I wish now I’d said green-haired yak-keepers (please don’t comment, green-haired yak-keepers, I love you all too).
And yes, Knitnurse – you sound a bit like my 20 year old self, back in the mists of time, I knitted even then and it was SO not cool!
Knitting is cool??????
to sandra — i agree that the original post was in part about the occasional failure to be the best version of ourselves. and that we all fall prey to that more than we’d like.
to karakay the 1st comment – i’m glad we’re on the same page about it being people’s thoughts, feelings, and general humanity that are most important. i don’t understand why re-stating that is considered “bleating on” — i think everyone (myself at the top of the list) can use reminding of that often. especially in the face of what can be crowded, loud, and tiring interactions with out fellow people amidst this crowded, loud, and sometimes tiring planet. but i worry for your understanding that appearance = interests. can you pick the math teacher out of the crowd? what about the knitter? or the dog-lover? probably not unless they’re wearing badges, knitting, or walking their dog. but just walking down the street? i think your gauge of appearances is as faulty as the rest of our’s.
to MrMen – i guess i misunderstand alison’s tone, because i don’t fully see the part where she’s poking fun at herself. i see the comments about sparkly books & tiny knitting, but i don’t think the comments about the people-interactions were meant to be self-deprecating? rather they were to point out how appearances can confirm our suspicions? which is what i’m disagreeing with, i suppose. perhaps alison can clarify.
to Sue D – i agree that “purple mohawk” was just one example. but it implies that “alternative” appearances are a valid subject for castigation or suspicion, while “normal” or perhaps ‘traditional’ appearances needn’t be given a second glance. that’s the stance that troubles me.
to knit nurse — i disagree with your statement about being able to infer a person’s state of mind or personality by their appearance. why wouldn’t someone with a mohawk want to sit next to a knitter? are you angrily stabbing them with your needles? if you’re not physically or verbally assaulting them, they should have no problem with you whatsoever. just as you shouldn’t have a problem with them. maybe they’re a knitter too!
and alison – i understand it was a “random example.” and that part of your problem on the train was that this person was loud, obnoxious, and unwilling to observe the social cues that you were giving him — namely that you wanted to knit quietly and not have to engage him in conversation or listen to his loud & disruptive chatter. but my main point is that you (and several other commenters now, it seems) automatically assumed that this person *would be disruptive* because you found his appearance disruptive. that’s weak thinking. and having read your blog and gotten to know the thoughts you’ve chosen to share on your blog, i know you are not a weak thinker. and so i suppose that i (and inadvertently, the man on the train) am just challenging you to be the best version of yourself you can be. a lesson i need to remember as much as anybody else.