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bigbeardedbookseller's review against another edition
4.0
When I first started this book I found the description of the racial assault and bereavement of a close friend so heartbreaking and being in a very sensitive personal space at the time I had to put it down to digest and flow through me.
I remember Anita tweeting what was happening on the Transpennine train at the time and was horrified but also heartened by the support that was shown on social media and was so pleased when I heard that this journey and exploration was going to be made.
I Belong Here traces not just the exploration of the North of Britain, but the exploration of the meaning of belonging. Belonging in both space and time, how we coexist with others and nature and the importance of this coexistence. How people have come to different places through time, exploitation, migration, and colonialism.
The meaning of trauma was also explored and Anita looked at how a reconnection with nature is becoming a recognised way of healing different mental health conditions, of bolstering resilience and of relieving anxiety.
The mix of the personal and the historical, the meandering prose often following the meandering of water, the comparisons of words used in the description of the body and the description of landscape gives the book a tone different from the usual travel/nature books but that tone is important. That tone is one of self-discovery, self-knowledge, and a return to self in the face of othering.
A wonderful read and I’m really looking forward to the next two of the series
I remember Anita tweeting what was happening on the Transpennine train at the time and was horrified but also heartened by the support that was shown on social media and was so pleased when I heard that this journey and exploration was going to be made.
I Belong Here traces not just the exploration of the North of Britain, but the exploration of the meaning of belonging. Belonging in both space and time, how we coexist with others and nature and the importance of this coexistence. How people have come to different places through time, exploitation, migration, and colonialism.
The meaning of trauma was also explored and Anita looked at how a reconnection with nature is becoming a recognised way of healing different mental health conditions, of bolstering resilience and of relieving anxiety.
The mix of the personal and the historical, the meandering prose often following the meandering of water, the comparisons of words used in the description of the body and the description of landscape gives the book a tone different from the usual travel/nature books but that tone is important. That tone is one of self-discovery, self-knowledge, and a return to self in the face of othering.
A wonderful read and I’m really looking forward to the next two of the series
beebless's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this book - its themes of belonging, identity, racism, and going for long walks in the UK are right up my street - but sadly I just didn't enjoy Sethi's writing.
agniesta's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
2.0
I expected better from this book. The premise is beautiful, but so poorly executed.
teigancollins's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Grief and Cultural appropriation
emrosch's review against another edition
I just couldn't get into it. The writing was very repetitive and the constant use of dictionary definitions kinda took all the air out of it for me. I liked what she had so say, just not the way she put it into words. DNF.
hozza's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
2.75
Interesting themes and challenging context about race, identity and our relationship with nature. However the writing is a little clunky and cliche in places and it feels like thoughts aren’t fully developed
katherineknitsandreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0