Happy Labor Day! Last year, I wrote about my family’s funny Labor Day tradition. We get books from labor rights activist Samuel Gompers (like the way Santa brings presents on Christmas). This year, the tradition felt extra special. One reason is that my mom, I mean Samuel Gompers, was kind enough to bring books to my roommates as well. Another, is that on top of my very generous gift from Samuel Gompers, I received a book that my grandmother picked out for me before she passed away last month. It’s Hamilton: The Revolution, by Lin Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter. When I was paging through it this morning a note from her, just a series of numbers written on a piece of hotel stationary from Budapest, fell out from the pages. So special.
Samuel Gompers also brought me Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert – a book that totally changed my approach to writing (for the better & happier) and made my thesis semester one thousand percent more enjoyable. Samuel Gompers brought my roommates Wanderlust: A History of Walking, by Rebecca Solnit and Fates and Furies, by Lauren Groff. As an apartment we all got Another Brooklyn, by Jacqueline Woodson, which I’m so excited to read because Brown Girl Dreaming is one of my favorites.
I love that my life, and my childhood in particular, has been so filled with books. Today, I feel very lucky and am excited to stop typing this so I can get back to reading my new books.
Alison Doherty 