Becky’s Purse

Becky’s Purse is a book about Mia Glanz’ childhood friend, Becky, told in Becky’s own words through a collection of handwritten notes and items.

Mia is an artist and photographer who currently lives in Mexico City with deep roots in Vancouver. Becky is a painter and Mia’s old friend who lives around the Downtown Eastside.

The friends first met in grade two during an assignment to draw a partner with a description for the class. Not long after, Becky and Mia began spending much of their time together getting five-cent candy after school. When they were 17, they tried ecstasy for the first time.

In this book review: A portrait through found objects. Becky’s notes. Layout and typography. Paper, binding, and weight. What I thought of this book. Where to buy Becky’s Purse. Support this blog & get premium features with GOLD memberships!

A portrait through found objects.

Becky and Mia continued to experiment with drugs through their young adulthood, but their paths soon diverged. Mia became a working artist and a bar manager; Becky became an addict.

You won’t see Becky’s face anywhere in this book. Her story is told through objects she keeps with her, which define who she is — free of stereotypes that would inevitably become a part of her (or anyone’s) appearance.

When I spoke to Mia about this storytelling technique, I immediately wondered if a random person’s opinion of me would be different, should they see my vacant room full of film cameras and Polaroid prints rather than if it had a face of a white man (me) in the frame. I’m sure it would be on some level.

The found objects, arranged like “evidence” items in square format (shot on Hasselblad 500 C/M), are designed to tell an intimate story of someone whose immediate possessions are particularly important. Becky may not sleep in the same spot tomorrow, but her stuff will follow her.

We only get to see Becky’s possessions and read her short notes, but that limited access is no more restrictive than a novel printed without illustrations — once read, it becomes invisioned.

Becky’s notes.

The other half of the book is scribbled notes.

Becky told her stories to Mia while she was recovering at the hospital, and it is her words that you see in the book. They can feel dark; yet for Becky, they are anecdotes of her daily life, a normal occurrence.

Again, Mia let Becky describe herself instead of defining her.

Each story features Becky’s handwriting, which Mia turned into a font that’s both unique and a little haunting.

Layout and typography.

Aside from the introduction, the spreads feature an item or a few items from Becky’s purse on one side and a short note in her recreated handwriting.

Paper, binding, and weight.

This book is printed on 7x7” (18cm²) coated paper, probably about 40lb. It’s perfect-bound in a size that can be economically shipped in an envelope without incurring additional fees at the post.

What I thought of this book.

Daren, who runs Softgrain Books, is my friend and a podcast co-host. He’s Mia’s publisher.

He sent me a review copy, which I was supposed to return. But after I finished reading this book, I immediately gave him a call and asked to purchase it (full price, of course).

I did that because I was convinced that this piece of print art belongs on my shelf and in my mind for how it was made and what it reveals about Becky and people like her; people who are deeply misunderstood.

Where to buy Becky’s Purse.

Becky’s Purse is limited to 500 copies and is currently on sale on the Softgrain Books website, with a portion of the proceeds donated to the WISH Drop-In Centre Society in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side.