Read Women discussion

"A transformative collection of intimate and lyrical love letters [that take the form of poems, prayers, spells, etc] that offer a path toward compassion, forgiveness, and self-acceptance." Written by the author during a crisis of faith in everything she was doing.

A Chinese Canadian transgender girl, she is an activist, psychotherapist, conflict mediator, and spiritual healer, with mission in life to embrace the "revolutionary belief that every human being, no matter how hateful or horrible, is intrinsically sacred."

I think, I hope, we get some lively discussion on this one. I'm going to try doing both audio and paper (a friend suggested this might be beneficial).

I read the library ebook sample a while ago and remember I really liked the few "letters" I was able to read. I remember one about the Asian massage parlor women killed in Atlanta had me quite emotional like it really took me back to that day. And I liked the lyrical quality of her writing and how she talked about the way both Christianity and Buddhism have inspired her spirituality. I'm on the waitlist for it and looking forward to returning to this read. I'm happy about reading more from Canada too :)

I've started; I've read the introduction and first letter. It immediately packs a very powerful punch. A book to savour and read through slowly I think. I am feeling extremely jaded by humanity at the minute so it's going to be interesting!

FYI: Kai Cheng Thom is the subject of the thumbnail photo on our home page.

I am a third of the way through the book. It is mesmerizing, it is a series of gut punches, and it is beautifully written. I know that, as who I am, I'm likely not comprehending more than an inch of the depth of pain. But the words, oh the words...

(view spoiler)[ "I'll be in the woods after midnight, searching for fireflies ... hoping to catch one by standing still and holding out my open hands." (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[ " this poem is not here to force you to live... this poem is a promise to never stop believing in the inherent worthiness of everything you were and are and could choose to be (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[ once, for a whole year, this poem wore a silver pendant wtih poison pills inside, just to know that it had the option to leave." (hide spoiler)]

I have finished. I have not rated it. I don't feel qualified to rate it. Those of you who finish - you may or may not understand what I mean. But it has definitely been impactful on my (still) limited knowledge of the life she has led.

Lovely q&a with the author for one of her other books, that provided me with more background into some of her thought processes: https://ricepapermagazine.ca/2017/05/...

Is anyone else reading it?

Reading it soon!

I'm one third through and it started strong for me, but it's beginning to wane :( ... Often when that happens, I start searching reviews here by folks who gave it 3 or less stars to see if anyone is verbalizing some criticism that speaks to my experience... Found some validating thoughts but planning to continue reading as it's easy and short reading.
Many reviewers referred to this as a poetry collection so going forward I will try to see it through that lens. I think it could help me loosen my rigid complaint that these letters don't seem helpful in the way the title had me expect...

I'm not planning to join this read because I'm overcommitted - but am very interested in Thom and the subject matter. So doing what aligns with how I approach the world, I found some interview and author-developed content that might inspire or shed light on the book or Thom's experience.

Kai Cheng Thom's site https://kaichengthom.com/

An Oct 2023 interview with Kai Cheng Thom posted by the California Institute of Integral Studies
https://www.ciis.edu/podcast/kai-chen...

A Dec 2023 episode of NPR's Code Switch featuring Thom (34 minutes) https://www.npr.org/2023/12/06/119795...

and not related to the book, Thom does a lot of work as an activist on talking across political and social divides and advises on how to do so successfully. The material at this A Braver Way episode link is well-worth hearing, reading and applying in real life, generally, but I also am pasting the excerpt commenting on JK Rowling's TERF-dom (from the "key topics and quotes at the bottom of the landing page) because it's an astounding example of grace and the practice of her advice to a specific human.

Kai reflects on J.K. Rowling’s controversial stance on gender issues and shares a “love letter” in response.

Kai: “When I look at JK Rowling, I see somebody who has survived unthinkable things. Somebody whose lived experience has taught her something about injustice and that has given her a particular view on what it means to bring justice into the world. I also see somebody whose vision of justice for women and for girls has truth in it, but not all of the truth. And I think I see somebody who has become hardened and entrenched in her particular vision and resistant to the truths of others in part because the way that those others have tried to impart or enforce their truths upon her has been at the very least disrespectful and at the most violent.”

https://braverangels.org/a-braver-way... (the ep is 1:20:06)

I'm afraid that I tried but gave up. Like Jen I thought it started strong but quickly became... I don't know, just not for me perhaps. I'm trying to figure out why that is... I don't want to just start criticising because I'm mindful of what the author was trying to achieve and I'm very respectful of that and it is obviously a piece close to her heart. I think, probably, I'm not in the right place to hear her message right now

Hannah wrote: "I'm afraid that I tried but gave up. Like Jen I thought it started strong but quickly became... I don't know, just not for me perhaps. I'm trying to figure out why that is... I don't want to just s..."

Ahh... Well... There's a comfort when one is not alone in their experience I guess... Based on the GR rating, it clearly speaks to lots of people, but yea... sometimes we feel otherwise, and often things I love and rate 5 stars are not even a 4 star average here...

I wonder if the format was restrictive in a way. Letters and all so short- a couple pages only. For me, it got repetitive and never seemed to show deep reflection on the ideas and points being raised in each letter... A positive takeaway for me though was the reflections on the rights and respect of sex work/ers. That is a social justice issue I've wanted to understand and learn more about. But that being enriching for me here I think has to do with my lack of understanding and engagement in the issue, not that she seemed to get particularly deeper in that area compared to other issues she addressed...

Jen wrote: "I wonder if the format was restrictive in a way. Letters and all so short- a couple pages only. For me, it got repetitive and never seemed to show deep reflection on the ideas and points being raised in each letter.."

I agree.

Also, I recommend Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi for understanding the rights/pov of sex workers (and much more)

Hannah wrote: "Jen wrote: "I wonder if the format was restrictive in a way. Letters and all so short- a couple pages only. For me, it got repetitive and never seemed to show deep reflection on the ideas and point..."

Oh that's on my TBR, thanks for reminding me