From: Marjorie Ingall <snarly@snarly.com>
Subject: booklist
Date: June 25, 2013 1:28:16 PM EDT
To: [Principal of SorryWatch editor’s daughter’s school]
Hi, [REDACTED]
I don’t want to be one of THOSE PARENTS…but [SorryWatch editor’s daughter] just gave me her summer reading list and I just sat down to order the books. And oy. No books by women AT ALL?
I’d be DELIGHTED to recommend titles by women for future lists that work with the [name of school] curriculum for next year. (And for any grade — just tell me the themes you want discussed!) I review children’s books for the NYT Book Review and Tablet magazine, and I hope I can be helpful. Thanks for listening.
–m
Everyone knows that owls hate sexism.
I am so evolved it’s just astonishing I am not worshipped everywhere I go.
“Darling, let’s continue our bedtime read-aloud, The Feminine Mystique.”
FIFTY THREE MINUTES LATER…
From: Marjorie Ingall <snarly@snarly.com>
Subject: ok, i’m dum…
Date: June 25, 2013 2:21:10 PM EDT
To: [Principal of SorryWatch editor’s daughter’s school]
…or as [SorryWatch daughter] would say, derp.
I’m sorry, and I’m an idiot. We already had all the books by women on the list, so I didn’t have to order them for camp, so I forgot that the books I just ordered for camp are NOT ALL THE BOOKS ON THE LIST.
Again, I’m sorry! Doy. Have a great summer.
–m
She may lack retinas, but she knows what’s what.
Oh, PHEW.
At least it’s a mistake on the side of goodness.
And, the kid’s principal is going to remember your name, and tap you for book suggestions next time.
caption on that photo is especially good, too