Happy Trails: Elna Baker

I meant to review lots of books on this blog, and I haven't done that. But I simply had to review a recent book titled The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance by Elna Baker (I had to check that title three times to make sure I got all the words in the right order). I felt compelled to review it not just because I really liked it, but also because it spoke to me as a Mormon woman who was single until the advanced age of 25. (That may sound young to some of you, but census data from 2000 says that Utah women marry for the first time at 21.9.)

Elna Baker is a 27-year-old Mormon comedian living in New York. She's single. She's lived in New York since she was 18 and a freshman in college. Her book is the most honest account of Mormon singlehood that I've ever read. She's honest about the problems of celibacy, of dating outside the faith, and of gendered expectations for women within the Mormon church. She's very funny, a bit self-absorbed (it's a memoir, so of course she is), and a good writer.

One of my favorite stories from the book is related to the title and involves a fantastic fortune-cookie costume. You can see Elna herself tell the story here:


I highly recommend the book. But if you have preconceived notions about what Mormon women are like (or if you're offended by cursing and talk about sex), prepare to be shocked.

Feeling grateful

I'm extra glad right now to have chosen library science over a PhD in literature. A New York Times article last week said: “Students thinking of going to graduate school in English should understand that right now their chance of landing a job that provides them a livable wage is 50-60 percent,” said Rosemary Feal, executive director of the M.L.A. Who knew it was that bleak???

Thanksgiving in Cache Valley

It's been awhile since we posted here, and this will be brief. We spent a lovely Thanksgiving weekend in Cache Valley. For the first time since June 2007 all the Bowles kids were together! (In intervening years Justin was in San Jose, CA for two years, Nick was in Alaska during the summers, and M&M lived in Illinois and made twice-yearly visits home.) Here we are at the old homestead:
The whole fam

Just the kids (we were in some random order, then someone insisted that we get in order of our age)

And finally, Nicholas has had enough.