Oneida: From Free Love Utopia to the Well-Set Table

Oneida: From Free Love Utopia to the Well-Set Table | Ellen Wayland-Smith

In Oneida, it was common practice to play #FoolishGames with the heart - it was frowned upon to get overly attached to one person. And if you did, well, that wasn‘t exactly the spirit of free love.

This was just an okay read for me - dry in parts, though it makes me want to visit Oneida and tour the big house. And, the author is a descendant of this community. #LilithJuly

KarenUK, Cinfhen

Cinfhen I recently read a book that weaves the Oneida story into the modern day utopian tale. I thought it was well done and really fascinating 👉🏾

We Went to the Woods

Librarybelle Thanks, @Cinfhen ! I missed your post on that, but found it and stacked the book. It looks interesting! 5y

KarenUK Another great historical pick! 😊👍 5y

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Clare-Dragonfly Thanks for the recommendation, @Cinfhen ! That sounds really good! 5y

Cinfhen You‘re so welcome @Clare-Dragonfly it was a pretty good read! 5y

Librarybelle Thanks, @KarenUK ! 5y

91 likes1 stack add6 comments

Librarybelle

Oneida: From Free Love Utopia to the Well-Set Table | Ellen Wayland-Smith

so-so

What does free love and silverware have in common?Most of us recognize the Oneida for its cutlery in the 20th century. What we don‘t know relates to its founding as a free love commune, among their practices. The narrative dragged in parts, but to say this was an eye opening tale is no exaggeration. The author is a descendant of the founder of the Oneida community. #nonfiction2019 for book that has been on my tbr for over a year.

Riveted_Reader_Melissa

CoverToCoverGirl Fascinating... “The more you read the more you know!” 6y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa I never knew about the back history, until I came across it in Sarah Vowell‘s Assassination Vacation of all places.

Assassination Vacation

Librarybelle @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I completely forgot she mentions this in her book! 6y

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Librarybelle You read that one too! 💙Litsy 6y

Librarybelle @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I read it when it came out - it‘s my favorite of hers! 6y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Librarybelle Again, I love Litsy... one of the only places I can mention a random book, and someone will say I read that too. 6y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Librarybelle I read that one last year, my first of her‘s was Lafayette‘s and I‘ve been slowly working my way through her back catalog since.

Lafayette in the Somewhat United States

Librarybelle @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I know what you mean! This is truly a community of book lovers! I think I‘ve read all of Vowell‘s books, though something tells me I have yet to read this one, as I don‘t remember anything about it:

Unfamiliar Fishes

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Librarybelle I think I have 3 yet, Wordy Shipmates, UnfamiliarFishes, and Take the Cannoli 6y

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Librarybelle

Oneida: From Free Love Utopia to the Well-Set Table | Ellen Wayland-Smith

I highlighted this one nearly a year ago and have yet to read it! But, quirky groups that got together in the name of #LaViaBoheme are of interest to me. Plus, this evolved into silverware production! I really, really need to read this one this year (maybe for #24in48 ??). #MusicalNewYear

Cinfhen, vivastory

Cinfhen Oh, that‘s pretty cool!!! I wonder what the connection is to the sterling company!!??? Fascinating 6y

mabell I learned a bit about their commune! Very unique! Compete with “trysting rooms” and “mutual criticism” sessions. 😳😂 6y

Librarybelle @mabell 😂 It will be an education reading this book! 6y

vivastory This sounds so interesting 6y

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Librarybelle

Oneida: From Free Love Utopia to the Well-Set Table | Ellen Wayland-Smith

I‘ve wanted to read this since it came out a couple years ago. Despite all the other books I have to read in a little timeframe, I just had to check this out today. I‘m a sucker for odd, quirky history, and a free-loving society that is today known for table utensils is right up my alley! Has anyone read this?

DivineDiana This sounds so interesting! 😀 7y

Leniverse First I've heard of it, but I'm intrigued! 7y

Librarybelle @DivineDiana @Leniverse I‘ll let everyone know how it is...hopefully I can get to it within the next couple weeks. 7y

Mdargusch Please review this if you read it. It has looked very interesting to me too. 7y

Librarybelle Will do, @Mdargusch ! 7y

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Karkar

Oneida: From Free Love Utopia to the Well-Set Table | Ellen Wayland-Smith

pick

Finished listening to this one today. It was interesting how the company started and then ended up. Some parts where a little boring but overall I enjoyed listening to it.

35 likes

Karkar

Oneida: From Free Love Utopia to the Well-Set Table | Ellen Wayland-Smith

Just started listening to this book today. This was a Liberty recommendation from the All the Books podcast.

Liberty

ReadingEnvy Amana (as in dishwashers) started out this way too... I wonder what the draw is for kitchen utensils and appliances. 8y

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rachelm

Oneida: From Free Love Utopia to the Well-Set Table | Ellen Wayland-Smith

bailed

Just couldn't finish. Despite the awesome chapter titles and some quite interesting history about the 1840s, I just couldn't get into the history of the Oneidas. It wasn't even because it was boring-- actually, it was a bit TMI for me at points. I kept thinking of the cult culture in The Girls, and modern "utopian" communities must have taken some of these ideas.

17 likes

rachelm

Oneida: From Free Love Utopia to the Well-Set Table | Ellen Wayland-Smith

bailed

rachelm

Oneida: From Free Love Utopia to the Well-Set Table | Ellen Wayland-Smith

Wishing I could do #24in48 this weekend, but I'm cheering you all on! Too much family stuff to devote myself to my TBR list. 😑 what are you most excited to get to?

Suzze One I'm am definitely going to read this weekend is George!

George

rachelm @Suzze I have been wanting to read that one so much! 8y

Suzze @rachelm Me too. And it is on my Nook where books get loaded and then forgotten. The bane of ereaders. 8y

12 likes3 comments