Book Review - Naked Among Thistles, edited by Alison Wren and Katherine McMahon
First published, 2014
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Who's been on a queer nature writing retreat? This girl. And as such, I've realised just how little reading about me and mine I've actually done. As with every trip away, I've returned changed. I think, this time, for the better. Don't be concerned: I'm a queer woman in my forties, I only ever get better. There was just a lot more work to do this year.
Being around other writers always does me good, and more than that, they're an especially well-read bunch. I veer towards the classics and people I actually know─we've probably noticed a theme in my blog─I'm sure there are others who don't fall into either category, but will, I'm sure, in time.
Regardless, there's a lovely thing that happens when you're around a bunch of well-read, thoroughly educated people. They talk about books all the time. They'll ask, as a matter of course, if you've read so-and-so, or such-and-such. And for the most part, to my utter disgust, I've barely had to think about it. Nope. No. Sorry. And can you spell that for me?
And then, I happened upon this utter beauty. I can't begin to remember if someone recommended it. Big thanks if they did. Naked Among Thistles: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender & related identities, Naked Among Thistles and mental wellbeing is a collection of poetry and essays by LBGTQIA+ writers about our lived experience and the issues we, the glorious, gorgeous, alphabetted people, are subject to from a history of misunderstanding and fear.
Some of us were raised to believe that gay people were lonely, and it's only upon becoming adults that we realise that whatever loneliness is supposed of us is also imposed on us by those who choose not to accept us. But, like everybody else, we are subject to the struggle and this thoughtful collection made this writer feel a little more understood, a little more at home, than a book has in some time.
I'm going to be quite insistent now. Read this collection. It's free as a bird on Amazon and it's a stunner.
https://shorturl.at/WyPgh
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