Coming Fall of 2024 from Ellen Gable! Life From the Bottom Shelf (a compilation of “short” stories)
“Even the smallest person can change the course of history.” J. R. Tolkien
Have you ever gone to a public bathroom just to find that the mirrors are so high that you can only see your forehead? Have you ever had a young child stand beside you and exclaim, “I’m as tall as you!” Have you ever been in a store and needed something on the top shelf but couldn’t reach it? If you’ve never experienced these situations, then it’s quite likely you’re well over five feet tall.
In her new book, Life From the Bottom Shelf, award-winning author Ellen Gable, along with seven other contributors, shares the ups and downs of being short-statured in a tall world. Gable, who is four feet eight inches tall (the average height of a nine- to ten-year-old girl), has always tried to keep a sense of humor about her height. This is a book about embracing one’s size and finding the joy and humor in it.
Besides, there are many advantages to being short:
You’re unique (because you’re shorter than 99% of all North American women).
You usually look younger.
You can wear kids’ clothes and shoes.
You can fit just about anywhere.
You never hit your head on the ceiling.
You’re always in the front for photos.
And, yes, also disadvantages:
Since you look younger, you’re often treated like you’re a kid.
People make jokes about your height.
You’re always asked to be an elf or fairy (even as an adult).
It’s sometimes hard to find a pair of shoes without images of Cocomelon or Bluey.
You need a stool for just about anything.
It’s easier to get lost in crowds.
