#24: all his gracious parts
Plus geschichtsmüdigkeit, the friendship problem, flat places
You’re reading This Might Resonate, a monthly newsletter from me, Emily. Welcome to all 801 of you! A favour: if you enjoy This Might Resonate, please forward it to a friend - they can subscribe right here.
Reading
Holding Brave, Tender Space in Times of War by
. “On geschichtsmüdigkeit and multidirectional memory, refusing the weaponization of complexity, and creating spaces to hold each other’s tender humanity and pain”. One of the most helpful things I’ve read about Palestine. I really recommend reading to the end for Lee’s analysis of a moving exchange between Dr Gabor Maté and a Jewish participant (and watching the exchange yourself).Sorry I'm Late - a drunk Irishman asked me out. I love
’s writing..Circe. As stunning as everyone says.
A Flat Place. Moving back and forth between Lahore and the UK’s flat places, this is the saddest, most desolate memoir I have ever read, and one of the most beautiful.
Boudica: Dreaming the Eagle. Excellent world building, a stirring imagining of pre-Roman Britain, but I am reminded that historical fiction is not for me, unless it’s written by Hilary Mantel.
A Celtic Book of Dying: The Path of Love in the Time of Transition. Completely bonkers, I wouldn’t recommend unless you’re extremely into death and dying.
Most read from the last edition:
No one ever said to me, “this is grief". This interview with
is the most I’ve ever shared publicly about my chronic illness journeyHow to light the dark months in The Clearing by Katherine May.
Watching
Season 3 of The Morning Show. I love this unhinged programme
Season 6 of the The Crown. Truly dire and I will watch to the bitter end
A murder at the End of the World. Agatha Christie with tech bros, from the minds of Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij (of The OA, RIP)
Shakespeare: Rise of a Genius. Quality talking heads, good context-setting, and, of course, sublime poetry
Fair Play. A proper old-fashioned thriller, full of tension and menace
The 355. Like a cross between The Bourne Identity and Oceans 11, but with ladies
Joyride and Bottoms, both outrageous, filthy fun (with Bottoms the superior of the two)
Saltburn. Despite the brilliant performances and nostalgia trip of its setting in the exact time period and location of my university experience, I really disliked this juvenile film, devoid of message and depth.
Writing
Edition #3 of
, an update post-launch: what I’m noticing, learning, doing, plus feedback and what’s coming up next.People tell me their griefs. A close friend hesitantly reveals her matresence grief. A stranger DMs me about her chronic illness grief. A taxi driver speaks of his recent bereavement as we drive through Dartmoor. Once the door is prised open, all the sorrows come tumbling out. It feels precious; I am honoured every time someone shares their story with me
Talking
I talked about what we can learn from chronic illness-informed organising at the School of System Change’s Constellating Change series, Session 2: Structures and Rhythms. Read the transcript here. Tldr: Take inspiration from seasons and cycles and adopt “continuous handover” communication, underpinned by trust and radical acceptance.
I think that chronic illness informed organizing could be regenerative organising, and I believe it could be the kind of organising that we need for a life sustaining society and a life sustaining planet.
Still admiring
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If you’re interested in chronic illness and/or grief, you might like my other newsletter, GriefSick (why have one newsletter when you can have two?).