Elizabeth MeLampy's book "Forget the Camel" is unforgettable. It's a look at a world most of us know very little about: the world of animal festivals. I've come to learn animal festivals are nearly everywhere, yet most of them detailed in this book I'd never heard of. And while there are some well-known festivals like the Iditarod sled dog race and the Groundhog Day festival, even those I got a richer understanding of after reading "Forget the Camel."

I have come to know Elizabeth because she plans to work on a book about the open rescue movement. After reading her recently released debut novel, I am even more looking forward to that book. Because Elizabeth brought an enormous amount of care and thoughtfulness to this project on animal festivals, which was simultaneously a continuation of her grandmother's unfinished work on this same topic as well as grappling with her own concerns as someone who wants a better world for animals. The book asks hard questions about festivals that are centered on animals who have not in any way consented to their use. And Elizabeth asked those questions in a way that is honest and open-minded, and leaves us with a provocative work that will keep you thinking after you've closed the book.

This interview is also available on YouTube.

Links:

The book

Elizabeth's website

Elizabeth on IG

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