There’s nothing better than a good book on a long dreary commute. Looks like Emma Watson knows what’s up because she has scattered 100 copies of Maya Angelou’s Mom & Me & Mom in London’s Underground accompanied by a heartfelt handwritten note.
The UN Goodwill Ambassador leads a feminist book club on Goodreads called “My Shared Shelf”, and Angelou’s novel is the current book to read. She has distributed the books as part of Books On the Underground, a “community project” who regularly leave books in unexpected places for the Tube commuters to enjoy.
“This book is one I have read before and is one of my favourites,” Watson stated on her Goodreads book club page.
On her Instagram, Watson posted a video showcasing her sneaky tactics, hiding the books on the side belt while travelling down an escalator. If you’re not lucky enough to find a free copy, you’re welcome to join the conversation online at Goodreads and purchase the book yourself. It would be worth it.
Some commuters have already found copies and are sharing their discovery on social media.
And why this book? What’s so special about it? Watson’s post on “Our Shared Shelf” states:
“The story is about the special connection between mother and child; both women found a way to move on and form a profound and enduring bond of love and support…
“Vivian Baxter cuts a fiercely unapologetic figure, imperfect but admirable, and we discover not just how she had a hand in Angelou’s evolution as a black woman but also in her feminist perspective, her independence and self-awareness, all of which contributed to her unique way of looking at the world and the way she expressed herself on the page. As a result, this is perhaps the greatest window into what shaped Angelou as a writer and poet and a fitting end to a lifetime of amazing works.”
London, keep an eye out. Hopefully you’ll find a hidden book gem on your way home today.