37

Or, Touching His Hem

Reader,

First off: my thanks to all the folks who came for Gatwiri’s birthday reading. It was a wonderful way to end the week and month and I hope we can do it again soon. Related: happy new month!

The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka spurred me to take walks (even on Sunday, my most indoors day) and I’m going to be thinking about what it says about ageing, illness, and gender. So much of modern living is about risk mitigation, or something approximating it, and there’s something bracing about being confronted by decline in this way. Also, this book features the second person, a form that makes me feel a way on the best of days; as happened with Tsitsi Dangarembga’s discomfiting This Mournable Body.

I’m about to say something controversial—

I listened to You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi (narrated by Bahni Turpin) and I can’t remember the last time I read a book in this fashion - thoroughly out of it but unable to look away. I knew it was messy, even the shape of its messiness, but the way it played out was thoroughly unimpressive. I read some books because of FOMO and this is definitely on that list - it should teach me to DNF (always!) but also to read because I want to.

A book I hadn’t expected to enjoy and had a lot of fun listening to? The Netanyahus: An Account of a Minor and Ultimately Even Negligible Episode in the History of a Very Famous Family by Joshua Cohen (narrated by Joshua Cohen, David Duchovny & Ethan Herschenfeld) whose sound production was a delight with humour that had me chuckling on my morning walk. This year has been my least Prize-seeking reading year in a while but this book reminded me why I enjoy reading Prize lists so much (see: my beloved The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw whose UK edition would make a perfect gift if you’re trying to get me something that isn’t a tripod).

In a week when my body seemed intent on attacking me (iykyk), I greatly appreciated the accessibility of audiobooks as I struggled to read. This was especially important as I needed to submit my ballot for the BookTube Prize (all my top 3 books are moving on to the final) and time was running out. This essay really captures the importance of multiple formats as the book I struggled with most was one that was print only; an issue that I didn’t have with the other five. As you can imagine, it reminded me how privileged a position reading can be, especially when it’s presented without a variety of options.

Seeking some healing, I walked into a Text Book Centre branch and left with everything but books (July Book Haul coming soon over on YouTube!) but I had a lovely conversation with a salesperson and picked up some painting supplies (no, I haven’t painted anything other than a wall since primary school Art & Craft classes) so here’s to new hobbies and entryways into self care. Quasi-related: that foray into town saw me go to the bank and a customer service representative said he recognised me from the Saturday Nation feature which was a lovely surprise. So, overall, books remain the gift that keeps giving.

As always, please write back to me and tell me what books you’re reading or looking forward to reading this week — it’s always a great time talking about books.

Enjoy the rest of the week and have a lovely time reading. Talk to you soon!