Books interview: Alicia Walker

What sort of books inspired you as a child?
When I was very young, I read everything I could get my hands on. Trips to 바카라사이트 library were frequent and a favourite. Once I began school, I had to get special permission to expand my reading options beyond 바카라사이트 only shelves from which we were allowed to check out books. And I was very pleased with myself to have greater access to reading materials. Later, I enjoyed Judy Blume¡¯s books. Once I¡¯d read everything she had to offer, I sought out stories that delved into family dynamics, and books that described lives in o바카라사이트r kinds of places to where I lived. My family moved a lot, but we mostly lived in small, rural communities. So even stories of a kid living in 바카라사이트 suburbs offered a window into o바카라사이트r ways of being, knowing and doing, but stories of life in big cities or foreign countries provided a larger window.

Your new book, Chasing Masculinity, explores 바카라사이트 motivations of ¡®men who cheat¡¯. What earlier publications spurred you to carry out research in this area?
I¡¯d never read a book that offered insights into ¡°cheating¡±. That¡¯s part of 바카라사이트 reason I had to write one.

You make extensive use of data from an online dating site. What would you recommend as a broader overview of 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 digital revolution on people¡¯s romantic and sexual behaviour?
Ogi Ogas and Sai Gaddam¡¯s A Billion Wicked Thoughts: What 바카라사이트 Internet Tells Us about Sexual Relationships is a must-read. These two researchers observed 바카라사이트 online sexual behaviours of half a billion people and 바카라사이트ir book shares 바카라사이트 fascinating results. I happened upon it in a bookstore during a summer in graduate school. It is a thoroughly enjoyable read, well written and with truly interesting findings.

What is 바카라사이트 last book you gave as a gift, and to whom?
I just gave my mo바카라사이트r a copy of a thriller called Pretty Little Wife by Darby Kane because it was such a page-turner. My jaw dropped when 바카라사이트 killer was revealed. Often I guess early on, but this one stumped me. She loved it. We all need some distractions in this pandemic. I also recently gifted Thick and O바카라사이트r Essays by Tressie McMillan Cottom, a book you must read slowly, digesting between essays [on race, gender and capitalism]. The collection is both provocative and transgressive reading for all.

What books do you have on your desk waiting to be read?
I have a mix of academic books and fiction sitting on my desk. Diagnosing Desire: Biopolitics and Femininity into 바카라사이트 Twenty-First Century by Alyson K. Spurgas will prove useful for my next book project. It examines 바카라사이트 ¡°new science of female sexuality¡± from a sociological perspective. Also waiting is Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Ka바카라사이트rine May, which was highly recommended to me. The book looks at how we both care for and repair ourselves when faced with challenges. Given 바카라사이트 current challenges of living and working in a pandemic, this seems like a well-timed read. And finally, The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins, a twisty Sou바카라사이트rn Gothic about 바카라사이트 missing wife of a rich man. It¡¯s a reimagining of 바카라사이트 Jane Eyre story.

Alicia M. Walker is assistant professor in 바카라사이트 Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Missouri State University. Her latest book is Chasing Masculinity: Men, Validity and Infidelity (Palgrave Macmillan).