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lbelow 's review for:
Bless the Blood: A Cancer Memoir
by Walela Nehanda
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
Given the thickness of this book, I was afraid it would lean more toward essays with only the occasional poem. I am so happy that it is the other way around because Walela is an incredible poet. As a chronically ill person (albeit not with cancer) this is the book I needed to read. It is unflinching in showing the reality of living chronically ill before and during the pandemic, exploring not only the emotions and reality of the illness itself but also how the people around someone who is always sick tend to treat them. Ivie's failings are not due to or excused by the stress of being a caregiver, but they are exacerbated by it. Reading of the unsupportive and hurtful people around Walela made me more grateful for the people who did support them and the people who support me. This book made me feel connected to Walela like they were a trusted friend. My association with them may have ended (until the next book they write) but I still hope for only good things to come their way. Let their next book be a celebration of themself, their journey, and life itself. (I will still read it even if it's not.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Acephobia/Arophobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic