Sunday Stories #6

Hello friends, what a week it’s been. In the world, on social media, in our own heads. This week’s Sunday Stories is reflective of the work I have been doing yet this is not intended as a pat on the back.

This tiny pocket of the internet that I have is a platform for talking about books and it’s through them that over the course of my life I have learned about different lived experiences. I have recognised that I have much work to do and I want to use this space to actively champion BAME authors. This is a step forward in my personal journey and I hope that you’re coming along too.

Reading

This week I read The Vegetarian by Han Kang, which I wrote a little bit about in an Instagram post. It’s a short book but the writing was so hypnotic that I savored it. It’s the sort of book that I think I’ll struggle to get my thoughts into words about, but I want to try and get a review up about it soon. I also started The Nakano Thrift Shop by Hiromi Kawakami which I am enjoying for its subtle humour and gentleness.

Aside from books I have been spending time reading information in relation to the Black Lives Matter movement. I wanted to share some resources that I have found enlightening and helpful, which I urge you to look at too.

• The Black Lives Matter website
• This Actions and Resources document is full of links to ways that you can make a change. This is a great place to start as it’s full of crucial information.
• For fellow Welsh friends, I think it’s key that we learn about our local history too. The Wales Arts Review are republishing articles from their archives around the BAME history in Wales.
• Why You Need to Stop Saying “All Lives Matter” by Rachel Elizabeth Cargle.
• There are a plethora of anti-racist reading lists circulating at the moment which you can easily Google. 10 Books About Race To Read Instead Of Asking A Person Of Color To Explain Things To You is a starting point though.
• Following from that I also found What Is an Anti-Racist Reading List For? a vital article, as it reinforces that these books are to be read. Action must be taken. Let’s not recommend for recommendation’s sake.

Watching

This week I finished watching Hollywood on Netflix. I wanted to love it, I loved the premise, but I was left confused. I’m no TV critic but this article on Vulture sums it up for me!

Keeping up with my normal watching habits, I’ve also been watching re-runs of Louis Theroux. God he’s good.  

Listening

I saw the Conversations with Nova Reid podcast recommended on a blog last week and I’ve been listening to it on my lunchtime walks. It’s the first time I’ve come across Nova and I think she’s utterly brilliant. Warm, inviting yet to the point, these conversations left me feeling unsettled (as they should) and inspired.

I’ve actually discovered this morning the Our Shared Podcast playlist that Emma Watson has curated on Spotify. It contains podcasts from various sources that talk about race and I will be delving into it today.

Thank you for reading my Sunday Stories this week.

Speak soon x