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4.49 AVERAGE
4.49 AVERAGE
“[…] and either I would love my body one-breasted now, or remain forever alien to myself.”
This is my first time reading anything of Audre Lorde’s, and I chose a very raw and intimate book to get acquainted with her. Her feelings of alienation, desperation, helplessness, anger, and, most of all, pain, have been such visceral experiences to read. Cancer in itself is so common and also so not, a foreign thing and also something always present, somehow, biding its time. How Lorde “deals” with the ordeal of having breast cancer, undergoing a mastectomy, then living in a world that isn’t capable of properly acknowledging or speaking to that specific pain really hurt. Because of cancer, she is forced to face death and its stark realities in a way not many people have—and she does so in a way that is so real and recognizable. I love the inclusion of her journal entries at the time, and how she adds a reflection about what she felt at the time, noting her reactions and turning them over in study to support her further point. Lorde is frank about how relying on her support system saves her; she is full of love for her community as well as they have love for her, and it is heartwarming to such solidarity.
Castaneda talks of living with death as your guide, that sharp awareness engendered by the full possibility of any given chance and moment. For me, that means being not ready for death-but able to get ready instantly, and always to balance the "I wants" with the "I haves." I am learning to speak my pieces, to inject into the living world my convictions of what is necessary and what I think is important without concern (of the enervating kind) for whether or not it is understood, tolerated, correct or heard before. Although of course being incorrect is always the hardest, but even that is becoming less important. The world will not stop if I make a mistake.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
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medium-paced
Beautifully written. I hope all who need this find this. No notes.
challenging
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hopeful
informative
inspiring
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medium-paced
I don’t think I’ve read - or it’s my first time reading! - a book written by someone who loves women, loving women in a way that feels so radical in a world where patriarchal, heteronormative narratives are so loud!
One of my favorite parts of the book was also toward the end, on Lorde’s thoughts of the American Cancer Society - I’m inspired to do a deep dive of their board and funding priorities rn!!
As just a quick heads up, Lorde does use the r-slur a few times in reference I think to disabled or neurodivergent folks. Though a bit of a jump scare to hear, I’m comforted by the sense that she wouldn’t use them now!
One of my favorite parts of the book was also toward the end, on Lorde’s thoughts of the American Cancer Society - I’m inspired to do a deep dive of their board and funding priorities rn!!
As just a quick heads up, Lorde does use the r-slur a few times in reference I think to disabled or neurodivergent folks. Though a bit of a jump scare to hear, I’m comforted by the sense that she wouldn’t use them now!
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
A raw account of poet Audre Lorde's breast cancer treatment. Fans of Lorde's other writings will appreciate this intimate glimpse into her feelings and life experiences. Due to the book being written nearly 40 years ago, I would caution current breast cancer patients from reading too much into data and treatments that Lorde discusses.
emotional
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really sharp all meat no fat just brilliant writing. I loved the variety in this from some research and then commentary and then a speech and journals and then poetry. her conviction in her beliefs and her ability to translate these ideas to paper are incredibly strong and every line is highlightable and for the ones I did highlight I wanted to light a cigarette after reading those ones and I don't even smoke. loved it
emotional
informative
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adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Aspects of this hit very close to home and some don't: I lost my mom -not a Black lesbian feminist- to breast cancer; I haven't had the disease but have some important things about myself and my life in common with Lorde; like Lorde (and many) I think about my mortality and how I want to live; it's not the 70s and the landscape surrounding breast cancer and medical care isn't exactly the same but much is.
Upsetting but more inspiring, Lorde shares wisdom and analyses that meant a lot to me and I'm sure I'll revisit in years to come. A must-read
Upsetting but more inspiring, Lorde shares wisdom and analyses that meant a lot to me and I'm sure I'll revisit in years to come. A must-read