#innuendos

Beach Read 🏖️ ...but Make it Weird

This week’s pick, Pistolero, was created by book artist Louise Levergneux and published in Apache Junction, Arizona, in 2023 in an edition of 8 copies signed by the artist. Levergneux’s work often plays with material, structure, and language, and this one doesn’t even try to be subtle.

It begins with a West Coast road trip through Washington, Oregon, and California, collecting sand along the way. Using an accordion structure that echoes the classic travel souvenir, the book can be flipped through page by page or fully extended into one long, panoramic spread.

So far, so innocent.

But then we get to the sand-filled vials. Originally meant to neatly contain the collection, their shape suggested something a little more…expressive. Rather than pulling out, Levergneux leans all the way in, building a narrative that plays with scale, shape, and just how much meaning you can pack into a small container.

The result? A book that’s equal parts travelogue, material experiment, and visual double entendre, proving that sometimes meaning is all about perspective (and maybe a well-placed curve).

Some artists push boundaries. This one packs them in sand and puts them on full display.

-Melissa (trying very hard to keep this academic), Distinctive Collections Library Assistant

😋🤤

Y/N looked at her Royal Highness and smiled politely. "Thank you, your Highness, but I've already eaten two big foot longs after the polo match."

Upon hearing that, Henry choked on the cup of tea he was currently drinking as Alex tried not to choke on the half eaten biscuit in his mouth. Henry's face was red as he had a small coughing fit as his brother, sister, and grandfather stared at him in annoyance. Once he settled down, the young Prince blushed. "Apologies. It was hot."

"That's quite alright, Henry." His mother said. "Are you sure you're not hungry, Y/N?"

He politely declined. "I'm sure your Royal Highness. They were both big and hard—I mean juicy." He took a sip of his own tea, casting a knowing look at both Henry and Alex and their foot longs.

1. The Lestranges' Vault

"But I thought we were looking for places You-Know-Who's been, places he's done something important?" said Ron, looking baffled. "Was he ever inside the Lestranges' vault?"

Voldemort being inside inside the Lestrange's vault and doing something important there. Get it?

2. Voldemort's massive snake

Anyway,' said Mr Weasley, in a raised voice, 'this time Willy's been caught selling biting doorknobs to Muggles and I don't think he'll be able to worm his way out of it because, according to this article, two Muggles have lost fingers and are now in St Mungo's for emergency bone re-growth and memory modification. Just think of it, Muggles in St Mungo's! I wonder which ward they're in?''

And he looked eagerly around as though hoping to see a signpost.

'Didn't you say You-Know-Who's got a snake, Harry?' asked Fred, looking at his father for a reaction. 'A massive one? You saw it the night he returned, didn't you?'

'That's enough,' said Mrs Weasley crossly.

This is obviously a double entendre referencing Nagini and Voldemort's penis because when Voldemort emerged from the cauldron, he was naked until Wormtail robed him, so Harry would have seen his 'massive snake'. There are many phallic symbols in the first paragraph: Willy, worm, fingers, BONE Re-growth, which cannot be random.

Also, Fred says it out of nowhere, which is another indication that it's an innuendo. Right after this, Molly 'crossly' sends the children away, which adds to the double meaning.