December 7, 2023 | ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT | By Katie Rowley
December started out on a high note for many, including those who traveled to The Press at Colorado College at 5:30 p.m. last Friday to witness yours truly, CC’s sole book studies minor, present “Mother’s Daughter (excerpts):” a book that took the entire semester to make.
The night began with an improvised speech, in which I attempted to explain why and how this book came to be. I made sure to make several jokes about how being the only book studies minor fuels my raging individuality complex. And I gave an equally as individual reading immediately following.
Randomly flipping through the 32-page book and considering an audience who had already heard most of the book via other readings, I read 10 or so short excerpts. The book itself is composed of excerpts from my creative writing senior thesis, entitled “Mother’s Daughter,” which I completed in the spring semester last year.
The longer work is 159 pages of essays ruminating on my relationship with women and girlhood. Already having a substantial amount of writing, the logical decision was to source that as content for my book studies minor capstone.
The book studies minor is a thematic minor which, “explores the past, present and future of the written word in its material form from the perspective of a variety of humanistic and social scientific disciplines.” Advised by English professor Jared Richman and history Professor Carol Neel, students in the minor can focus on the more historical aspects of books or the more literary aspects.
A variety of classes count for the four required credits, including various book arts classes that work directly in The Press. For the completion of the minor, a final project of some sort is required. I chose to make my own book, but research papers and other projects are also accepted.
To make “Mother’s Daughter (excerpts),” I had to choose which essays I would want to include, opting for the shorter works. I then had to typeset, carve linoleum for images, print and bind the books together. Thanks to the minor and The Press, I was able to receive a grant that covered the cost of all the materials I needed to buy, including linoleum, paper for the pages, paper for the cover and book fabric for the spine. And, let me tell you, these materials were not cheap.
For almost three months I spent hours upon hours in The Press, learning and potentially getting lead poisoning from the metal type. I took Block 3 as an independent study, devoting my time to printing and binding. In total, I created 13 “perfect” copies, six backup copies, and 14 proofs, which include typos and misprints.
The reading and showing of “Mother’s Daughter (excerpts)” concluded with questions and praise from attendees, all who were friends, creative writing peers and advisors.
“It was the best reading in the world,” said Amalia Manning ’24, who made an appearance at The Press. As a roommate of mine, she has watched me struggle through the late nights and early mornings that came with book making.
This reading marked the end of my academic events as I prepare to graduate on Dec. 17 and getting to share the hard work I have put time, energy, tears and blood into with my loved ones was a moment I will cherish for years. And my own writing will live on my bookcase forever, which is pretty cool.