Each such gesture adds up. And it is worth doing things because they follow one’s own moral sense.
My ongoing “futile, stupid gesture” is to turn Trump’s actions and statements into brief vignettes about Don Q, the ruler of Plunderland. I came up with the approach two days after the Presidential Election last year and have developed the character in many texts over the past year. Here’s the most recent one:
Stupid and Futile? I am all in! I am sending this to all my friends who buy books THEY WILL NEVER HAVE TIME TO READ specifically to support an author or a cause. I honestly think NOT buying a book will also be a vote of conscience. As stupid and futile as it may be. Thank you for sharing your always hilarious and authentic POV on the topic.
Bravo! I respect and admire you for this decision, and for sharing it and speaking out. All of us, doing what we can, where we can, is the best way to show up.
You're not wrong that something weird is going on with this book. When I was reading this, I thought.....wait, I remember this from back when I was buying the fall list from Harper Collins. What startled me about it was not that they were publishing it. Every single big five publisher has a conservative imprint that publishes some truly stupid shit.
But the imprint they are publishing this book under is William Morrow. One of their prestige imprints. Not Post Hill Press, where they usually publish fawning dreck. It struck me as so strange that I annotated it. I just went back to my notes for that catalog and found it: "Why is this being published by William Morrow? We're not even hiding our complicity behind a conservative imprint anymore? FUCK ME."
It reminds me of the way the New York Times writes these mild, calm headlines in the face of some truly crazy news. It normalizes something that isn't normal.
That's really interesting because I suspect that if it had been put out by the conservative imprint I wouldn't have been on the list, but I'm pitched William Morrow books all the time. WM is even one of the few imprints that still sends me books unbidden, including a Kenny Chesney memoir that is about as far afield from my usual territory as the Jennings book, but that doesn't offend me, other than the waste of money of sending me the book.
Neither futile nor stupid, your stance on reviewing HC books is commendable. One pebble does little to stop the flow of water but a million is a different outcome
I agree with your assessment of Jennings, but your job is to review books and I count on you to do just that. By omitting a MAJOR publisher you are comitting malpractice. Can you imagine a car critic deciding not to review Ford? Review HC books honestly and if you wish include your complaints in the review. But I have used your recommendations and read you regularly and I love Ann Patchett (whose name you misspelled in your lede paragraph).
I'm sorry, but this is nonsense thinking. The idea that any individual has a responsibility to review the products of a particular company simply because they are prominent is wrong as a matter of both ethics and practicality.
It would also be a far greater ethical offense to drag my general complaints about HC into a review of an author's book that has nothing to do with Jennings.
If you love Ann Patchett's books, you don't need me to review them. (Truth be told, I very rarely review books of that level of prominence anyway since they get plenty of attention already.)
In the first paragraph I am referring to the writer Ann Packer, who is an entirely different person from Ann Patchett.
Please stop reading me if you are truly offended by individual choices of conscience. I'm not a writer for you.
I'm a firm believer in small gestures. I want my great-grandchildren to remember me as someone who will stand up for principles. Hopefully they will continue to stand up for what is right. I wasn't familiar with this book so appreciate your bringing it to our attention. Harper Collins has been added to the (long) list of companies I no longer buy from. They won't care just like Chick-fil-a has never cared that I won't eat there, but I care.
Everyone needs to have their personal stupid, futile gesture at this time! Thanks for sharing yours and encouraging (only by example) others to do the same. They will add up.
John, I agree 💯. My husband and I have had our own private boycott of Amazon for a few years now. Did Jeffy lose an hour of sleep or have to put off any purchases because of it? I doubt it. But one does what one can, and if you feel better when you look in the mirror, it was already effective. Respect, Bro.
I'm reading Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy, and really liking it so far. Next I will start on Bleak House by Charles Dickens. As for your HC boycott, the important thing is following your conscience. You can't control the rest.
Bravo!
Each such gesture adds up. And it is worth doing things because they follow one’s own moral sense.
My ongoing “futile, stupid gesture” is to turn Trump’s actions and statements into brief vignettes about Don Q, the ruler of Plunderland. I came up with the approach two days after the Presidential Election last year and have developed the character in many texts over the past year. Here’s the most recent one:
https://111-words.ghost.io/don-q-beh/
And here’s the first one:
https://111-words.ghost.io/don-q-and-clouds/
Stupid and Futile? I am all in! I am sending this to all my friends who buy books THEY WILL NEVER HAVE TIME TO READ specifically to support an author or a cause. I honestly think NOT buying a book will also be a vote of conscience. As stupid and futile as it may be. Thank you for sharing your always hilarious and authentic POV on the topic.
"We're just the guys to do it!"
Bravo! I respect and admire you for this decision, and for sharing it and speaking out. All of us, doing what we can, where we can, is the best way to show up.
You're not wrong that something weird is going on with this book. When I was reading this, I thought.....wait, I remember this from back when I was buying the fall list from Harper Collins. What startled me about it was not that they were publishing it. Every single big five publisher has a conservative imprint that publishes some truly stupid shit.
But the imprint they are publishing this book under is William Morrow. One of their prestige imprints. Not Post Hill Press, where they usually publish fawning dreck. It struck me as so strange that I annotated it. I just went back to my notes for that catalog and found it: "Why is this being published by William Morrow? We're not even hiding our complicity behind a conservative imprint anymore? FUCK ME."
It reminds me of the way the New York Times writes these mild, calm headlines in the face of some truly crazy news. It normalizes something that isn't normal.
Not Post Hill Press, sorry, the conservative Harper Collins imprint is Broadside. 🫣
That's really interesting because I suspect that if it had been put out by the conservative imprint I wouldn't have been on the list, but I'm pitched William Morrow books all the time. WM is even one of the few imprints that still sends me books unbidden, including a Kenny Chesney memoir that is about as far afield from my usual territory as the Jennings book, but that doesn't offend me, other than the waste of money of sending me the book.
thank you for your service to this country. scott jennings is vomit inducing.
Appreciate your principled stance and well thought out explanation for why you stand where you do. It all starts with us.
That they are publishing this man's book is absolutely gut-churning. Good LORD.
Thank you for writing this post and for giving HC the finger.
Neither futile nor stupid, your stance on reviewing HC books is commendable. One pebble does little to stop the flow of water but a million is a different outcome
A beautiful, powerful image, Bro.
I agree with your assessment of Jennings, but your job is to review books and I count on you to do just that. By omitting a MAJOR publisher you are comitting malpractice. Can you imagine a car critic deciding not to review Ford? Review HC books honestly and if you wish include your complaints in the review. But I have used your recommendations and read you regularly and I love Ann Patchett (whose name you misspelled in your lede paragraph).
I'm sorry, but this is nonsense thinking. The idea that any individual has a responsibility to review the products of a particular company simply because they are prominent is wrong as a matter of both ethics and practicality.
It would also be a far greater ethical offense to drag my general complaints about HC into a review of an author's book that has nothing to do with Jennings.
If you love Ann Patchett's books, you don't need me to review them. (Truth be told, I very rarely review books of that level of prominence anyway since they get plenty of attention already.)
In the first paragraph I am referring to the writer Ann Packer, who is an entirely different person from Ann Patchett.
Please stop reading me if you are truly offended by individual choices of conscience. I'm not a writer for you.
I'm a firm believer in small gestures. I want my great-grandchildren to remember me as someone who will stand up for principles. Hopefully they will continue to stand up for what is right. I wasn't familiar with this book so appreciate your bringing it to our attention. Harper Collins has been added to the (long) list of companies I no longer buy from. They won't care just like Chick-fil-a has never cared that I won't eat there, but I care.
I was just thinking of my years-long, ongoing Chick-fil-a boycott too.
I wish I could remember where I read this, just a few days ago, but someone somewhere explained his ongoing opposition to Chick-fil-a.
I'm a Chick-fil-a boycott person too, though the effects seem limited because every time I drive by the line practically spills into the street.
Everyone needs to have their personal stupid, futile gesture at this time! Thanks for sharing yours and encouraging (only by example) others to do the same. They will add up.
May all of our futile gestures be contagious.
John, I agree 💯. My husband and I have had our own private boycott of Amazon for a few years now. Did Jeffy lose an hour of sleep or have to put off any purchases because of it? I doubt it. But one does what one can, and if you feel better when you look in the mirror, it was already effective. Respect, Bro.
I'm reading Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy, and really liking it so far. Next I will start on Bleak House by Charles Dickens. As for your HC boycott, the important thing is following your conscience. You can't control the rest.