Our daily lives have to be a satisfaction in themselves

by Emily Larned (Publisher), Selma Miriam, Noel Furie

Our daily lives have to be a satisfaction in themselves is a handmade book documenting 40 years of Bloodroot, the feminist vegetarian restaurant, bookstore, & radical lesbian work collective in Bridgeport, CT. Comprising personal-political essays by Selma Miriam & Noel Furie & many previously unpublished photographs by Noel.

Genres: Essays, Lesbian

144 pages, Risograph printed with handsewn binding

Published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, well, isnt it amazing how cringe 2nd wave feminism is now? I’m so lucky that I grew up gay and was influenced so early by (in so many ways equally cringe) riot grrl feminism and that intersectional abolitionist anticapitalist spirits have grown so beautifully strong and popular with people i know….which i say because, esp in the first few sections of this book, there are some straight up old school white lady earth mother anti-BDSM feminist points made which made me go ummmm… excuse me? and of course second wavers famously dont like trans people, but maybe thru graceful editing to spare the contemporary reader that pain, or mayb bc the collective rly didnt write abt trans ppl at all (hard to believe) this book doesn’t have any transphobia in it, though it doesn’t specifically have love for trans people either. idk, it works for me and it does rly seem like the collective members were changing n growing with the times in a good way. anyway i still love love love this little book for what it is, for the rhythm of photos and writings, for the beautiful personal essays at the end, and for the way it illustrates an actual real example of lesbian separatism working….an actual small business by lesbians who nourish each other and care deeply about their local community and have their small business specifically so they can be on the outside of patriarchy, and especially for how much reading, talking about books, work-as-leisure, healing thru working, death and grieving, working together, interdependence AND independence matter to their work….so special! LETS GO LESBIANS!!!

[Taylor Zartman]

An absolutely gorgeous work of archiving and curating. This text is a collection of writings and images from the archive of Bloodroot, the iconic feminist restaurant in Connecticut. Showcasing writings from the restaurant's founding up to the last decade, the book is a time capsule of how the restaurant, its stewards, and Feminism itself have grown. And more importantly, it is a beacon of hope. Seeing a queer, feminist collective with such a strong, community and care-oriented ethos thrive for decades is healing and motivating. I was lucky enough to eat at Bloodroot last December. Noel herself greeted me at the door and took the time to get to know me. She seemed to already know every other visitor by name. The food was unique and delicious. There was a gorgeous cat named Gloria Steinem. And Noel sent me off with a hug. One of those rare places and experiences where you see what the world could be if we worked to dismantle the horrors of what it currently is.

[Keight · Rating 5 out of 5]

You may remember how it was in the early ’70s. Feminists were really angry. We thought that we'd suddenly discovered something that we'd explain to men and everything would change. —Selma Miriam

This beautiful book is handmade by Emily Larned, put together with archival writing from the feminist vegetarian restaurant Bloodroot, which began as a weekly feminist cooperative in 1975 and two years later evolved into the restaurant and bookstore in Bridgeport, CT. Comprised of essays and photographs from founding members Selma Miriam and Noel Furie, Our daily lives... encapsulates the history and philosophies of the group with topics like ethical vegetarianism, cooperative work, and of course feminism as a whole, which for Bloodroot is very earthy and even witchy in form. Essays discuss express the importance of maintaining hope during the ’80s and the trials of the Reagan administration and how they fully live their ideals, rather than work in an oppressive system to earn small amounts of leisure time.

We want to lead our lives so that what we make of what we find on earth is magic. The way to find it is in the ritual of patiently doing, over and over, what is required of the work. Frequently a knitter is asked, "How long does it take to do that?" though the question never arises in regard to jogging, movie-going, or mall shopping. If we choose not to join the patriarchy, what are our other choices? There is no set of procedures to follow to become a conscious rebelling radical feminist. But a hunger exists which some try to feed by means of new-age spirituality, sensing that what is missing is what is holy. Some study Native Americans and try to imitate a past not their own, recognizing the integrity of that culture, an integrity which still exists amongst traditional people in pockets around the world. The question is how to find traditional women's work, healing, magic, and spirit when one is not a traditional woman.

There's a lot here that informs today's wave of feminism and very little that feels outright passé. A second printing is currently available.

(Link to this review on my booklog)

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard the title of this book long before I read it, and have carried it around like a mantra. I was so pleased to finally get my hands on a copy- among other things, it is a mode for how to live one’s values, and stake a claim for tor oneself in a world inhospitable to them.

But I also want to mention that the beauty and sensitivity of the book’s design is an exemplar of its subject’s philosophies: that it is possible to fill our time and work with a kind of care that elevates our labors, not to mention our selves.

[Emilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

”we are passionate about our lives, we want to be engaged, on our journey, proceeding sometimes naively and always opinionated”