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Date: 11/20/2023
NORTHAMPTON — After three decades, 89-year old author and Northampton resident Judith Bruder released her latest book, “From My Button Box: Collected Essays in a Pandemic Time,” based on her coronavirus pandemic podcast series, “Buttons.” Her first book, “Going to Jerusalem” was was published by Simon & Schuster in 1979 and her second, “Convergence,” was published by Doubleday in 1993.
“From My Button Box” is a collection of thoughts, memories and musings pulled from years of stories and conversations. From its introduction, “On St. Patrick’s Day,” that recounts the early days of the COVID-19 shutdown, to the final reflections on “Waiting for Morning” and finding joy again, the book covers much of the coronavirus pandemic.
“This is my most important work yet because it’s really about hope and going forward into the future,” Bruder said.
Bruder is a writer, lecturer and scholar; a graduate of Wellesley College who has been a campus minister at Fordham University in Manhattan. Her interests range from English Literature and addictions counseling to cooking techniques, French conversation, mystery novels and the movies.
She’s always kept herself busy doing a lot of other things besides writing, but when COVID-19 hit, as a widow living alone, Bruder was in a bubble of one.
“My mother always claimed I was born talking, so conversation has always been very important for me. My friends have always been very important for me and suddenly I was cut off from all of that. I didn’t know how I was going to manage not only with the physical details, but with keeping my spirit alive,” she said.
Bruder explained the idea for a podcast came from a friend.
“I was complaining to a friend on what I can do and he suggested that I do a podcast. I had never heard of a podcast and I didn’t know what they were. I looked up what podcasts were. I wrote a short little piece, recorded it on my cell phone, sent it out and people liked it,” she said.
Bruder has 100 recordings and decided to see if they could become a book. For her, these podcasts were like playing in a button box. The button box are her thoughts and ideas.
She explained, “The essays in this book are as colorful and varied as treasures in a button box, reflecting our tumultuous times while looking forward to a brighter future.”
Currently, Bruder lives in a retirement community in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts receiving visits from friends old and new.
Bruder said that she may turn to writing fiction.
“There’s always a future, no matter how old you are. It’s assumed that old people don’t have anything to say anymore and have nothing to look forward to. I stand here as proof that’s simply not true.” Bruder said “Everybody has a button box of their own. Not necessarily a literal one, but a button box of their own thoughts and memories and dreams. The older you are, the more buttons you have in your button box.”
“From My Button Box: Collected Essays in a Pandemic Time” is available at Broadside Books 247 Main St, Northampton, and from the Three Chairs website, www.3chairspublishing.com. As a bonus, each essay is accompanied by a QR code allowing readers to listen to the original podcasts.
For more information, contact Bruder at tsarinaxyz@yahoo.com.