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LIZA BAKEWELL -- MADRE: Perilous Journeys with a Spanish Noun

While studying in Mexico in the late 80s and 90s, linguistic anthropologist Liza Bakewell became obsessed with Mexicans use of the word madre in all its forms -- un desmadre, a major disaster; de poca madre, great; vale madre, worthless; dar en la madre, give it in the mother (the weak spot). Her madre list growing by the day, edited and updated during cab rides, weddings, dinner parties, art studio visits, trips for tamales, and in conversation with friends and colleagues, Bakewell began asking: Why cant a bien educada lady in Mexico say the word madre without raising eyebrows? How could madre mean whore as much as virgin? What happens to the ninety-nine madres when one father enters the room and they become a group of padres? How is it that parto (childbirth) is masculine, not to mention el love, el marriage, el sex, el pregnancy?

In thematically organized chapters titled Love, Mixed Messages, Food Fight, Lost in Los, Sounding it Out, Explaining What Happened, and Looking Back, Bakewell merges memoir with linguistics as she chronicles the evolving meanings of the word madre -- heavily influenced by the Churchs often fraught relationship with the Mexican State, she argues. In wildly lively prose rich in wordplay and attitude, Bakewell celebrates language and the role of the creative female in a sexist culture. (Its one swell holiday gift for the language enthusiast!)

Liza Bakewell is a linguistic anthropologist at Brown University. Her writing has appeared in Words without Borders, Humanistic Quarterly, Frontiers, American Anthropologist, the Encyclopedia of Mexico, www.mesolore.net and other publications.

Madre: Perilous Journeys with a Spanish Noun (Hardcover)

Introducing our Winter Catalog 2010/11.
A hand-culled mix of the Booksmith's favorite new titles this season with thoughts for everyone on your holiday list.
Peruse it online and pick up your printed copy in the store.

Love is everywhere in literature, but it is never simple. Love can be between people or for a thing, it can be for a hobby, a place, a game, an idea; love can be doomed, twisted, transcendent, unrequited, comedy, tragedy...or destiny. One thing is certain, love is never boring.

For February's Bookswap, bring a book that contains love. We don't necessarily mean a love story in the traditional sense (though it could be), we're curious about strange, unexpected and interesting forms of love. Use your imagination;have fun.

As always, we'll have loads of delicious food and free flowing wine.
You'll also receive a 20% off discount card!

The Examiner notes, "The Bookswap embodies the spirit both of innovation and community and is proof that there is a strong desire for "and much to be learned from" independent bookstores in the 21st century."

Space is very limited -- these events sell out, so we urge you to get your tickets well in advance! As always, tickets must be purchased in advance, in the store, or at Brown Paper Tickets (or phone 800-838-3006).

Authors, Discussions, and Bookish Events @ The Booksmith

STORYTIME with Lauren O: LOVE!(2 days)
FOUND IN TRANSLATION BOOK GROUP / Robert Walser's The Tanners(5 days)
LIZA BAKEWELL -- MADRE: Perilous Journeys with a Spanish Noun(7 days)
STORYTIME with Lauren O: PENGUINS!(9 days)

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