Living West as Feminists: Conversations about the Where of Us

One might expect the 14-page Introduction to provide the author's raison d'être for the book but that doesn't happen. Some aspects of the book are interesting and thought-provoking, but not enough to salvage the book overall. Reading this book is comparable to watching a friend's slide show of their summer vacation replete with stories and observations that challenge the most iconic insomniac.

The purpose or reason for this book is not apparent and the author doesn't clarify why readers should care about this book. It reads like a travelogue of the author's road trip through the American west reflecting the low-budget motels she and her husband stayed in (some of which were the same ones visited as a child) and a review of culinary repasts in a variety of locations. The author spent two summers interviewing friends and colleagues about their views on "feminism and the U.S. West." The question that readers may ask themselves is Why.

Readers will discover that the author's husband enjoys driving, that it was often necessary to cut short a given trip to return to Houston because personal and family matters cropped up.

The anecdotal nature of the "interviews" the author conducted with her friends and colleagues could, at times, be entertaining, but barely so. The book is tedious and boring, and those are the good parts.

There also seems to be a recurring theory that white settlors were responsible for everything bad that happened in the American West in the past. While such a position can be justified through the historical record, the author fails to provide references to those facts. And the book takes a generalized view of who and what caused many of the problems in the West.

Some statements in the book require more discussion but are throwaways; treated almost like an inside wink and nod situation. One example is a reference to a motel employee pointing out "two young African American men wearing muscle shirts walking across the parking lot," which the author refers to as "the code I am meant to receive, one white person to another." And then, as she goes to her room notes "a couple of rough-looking white guys, also wearing muscle shirts" grilling on the motel balcony and how "the white guys make us nervous" because it "feels" like they could fly a Confederate flag. It's a throwaway statement but presents an opportunity to discuss in more detail. What is the author trying to say? Why mention it?

Another involves an interview with Susan Bernardin who remarks, "Ah, Junot Díaz," she sighs, "Another author I can't teach anymore." That prompts the question, why can't she teach Díaz?

There is too much of an insider joke or commentary running through the book. The author assumes everyone is conversant with all the nuances that she seems to be referencing. It's an assumption that cannot be supported. She seems to be writing for a private audience, her own choir. Readers deserve better than to feel they are merely eavesdropping on private conversations without being given access to the topics being discussed.

Feminism is a complicated political theory that cannot be explained by blaming one aspect of that theory. The author seems to lay the blame for any deficiencies in feminist theory at the feet of "white feminists." Granted, there have been complaints over the years that the Women's Movement left out women of color and women who were not society mavens. And much of those complaints had a basis in fact.

There is little in the book that explains why the author argues that "white feminists" had either an overwhelming impact on development in the American West or were primarily responsible for any deficiencies. The author also fails to explain why feminists in the American West were or are different from those in other parts of the country. Perhaps she envisions this as the first volume in a series of books dealing with feminists in the rest of the U.S.

Writing a book is not easy. It requires dedication and reflect the proverbial "butt in the chair" admonition. However, there also needs to be a purpose, especially for a nonfiction book. The author fails to reach even the preliminary goal of making the book relevant to a general audience. As an academic tome, it may be worthwhile for students in a gender studies class to ponder and assess, but it lacks the allure or gravitas necessary to capture the imagination or interest of readers at large.

Many books can be page-turners. This is one of them, but only to figure out how many pages are left in any given chapter or section. The thought of "when will this be over" plays on repeat. Some books are meant to be read, shared, re-read, and absorbed. This book is one that can stay on the shelf.