Book By Its Cover » Living On the Earth

1.28.09

Living On the Earth

Alicia Bay Laurel

review by Mom and Dad

This post is by Mom.

Living On The Earth by Alicia Bay Laurel was published in 1970 as a result of all the communes and hippie living styles that sprung up in the sixties. Completely handwritten, in script, it has matching single line drawn illustrations that are very charming. Some illustrations are for instructions on how to make things, but others, the ones I like more, show people enjoying her suggestions. The author infuses her spirit for peace and serenity throughout. She speaks to her readers and admits that her name is not her birth name, but one she chose because bay and laurel are her favorite trees. Everything you would need to know about how to survive on your own or with other people is in here. From how to construct a house, to giving birth at home, itâ€™s all inclusive, a bible. Thirty or more years ago, I used the patterns to sew peasant blouses and shirts. And I once tried to make dandelion wine. As we return to a â€œgreenerâ€ existence, this book will come in very handy, again. Iâ€™m dusting it off and putting it on my night table.
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8 Comments

01/28/09 8:47am

kellyr wrote

Wow. I am so happy to learn about this book! What lovely line drawings. Thank you for sharing Mom.

01/28/09 1:43pm

Jane wrote

I looked up the author’s website, and she is still doing what she does. She is also a musician and has illustrated several other books. Her website is http://www.aliciabaylaurel.com if anyone wants to look further.

01/28/09 3:59pm

Caitlin wrote

I LOVE books like this. I have a set of tarot cards that were my mom’s from the 70s that are a similar style- but a different artist. I’m going to look at her site now…

01/28/09 8:09pm

Lynn wrote

Alicia Bay Laurel! After so many years. Thanks, Jane and Jack and Julia too.
xoxoLynn

01/28/09 9:01pm

Sally wrote

Hello mum … my mum had this … I remember when I was really young that I thought it was a bit rude to have a naked lady on the front … but now it looks like the kind of book I would buy!
hurrah for the neverending cycle of life

01/29/09 12:11am

THE ARGYLE ACADEMY // mike lowery wrote

I wish my parents were cool. Just kidding they are. But they don’t have cool books.

01/30/09 6:26am

anna wrote

that’s so lovely. great week of posts julia’s mom and dad!

02/1/09 12:35pm

Laurel wrote

As a teenager (in the early seventies) this was my favorite book. The author’s name being the same was a treat! The hopes for a peaceful future, a communal philosophy, natural beauty, and simple pleasures were all involved in shaping who I became. The copy I treasured belonged to my cousin and best friend Amanda….I water coloured all my favorite pages for her and eventually had to return it. I bought a used copy just a few years ago because I missed it!

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