Kindling: Writings On the Body

I read two previous books written by Ms. Levins Morales and was delighted to find this new one. She is an amazing author who writes about incredibly relevant themes from trauma to racism to cultural identity and more (emphasize more). Her books are so thought provoking that I've actually found myself bringing up quotes from one of her earlier books, Medicine Stories, for years in conversations because her writing is so clear. I feel that her ability to write about her own experiences in such a direct way provides great meaning for others in their inquiry about their own life events. One significant aspect of her style of writing is that it is accessible to all. She is obviously highly educated and quite experienced, especially in multi-cultural issues, but she is careful to embody that which she clearly believes -- that we all live in this world and all have the same need to understand ourselves in our own context -- she is thankfully an academic who does not write in an academic style. This particular book will appeal greatly to all of you who have suffered from health conditions and especially those who have most unfortunately been the victims of the "health industry." Lastly, I think one other great benefit of her writing is the fact that through her varied approach of including poetry, diary entries and more general text formats, I found myself encouraged to do my own writing -- this is such an awesome benefit of the experience of reading her thought process. "Kindling," as well as her past books, are well worth the read!

Beautifully poetic, critically oriented, and deeply connective. A solid read for academics, disability justice seekers, and crip/chronically ill folks (and all of their overlaps) alike.

Excellent book for anyone suffering with chronic illness.

Here is the myth - our bodies are separate, from each other, from the land, from generations of history. There is no separation, there is only the difference between love and violence and then there is its impact.Kindling Writings on the Body, Aurora Levins Morales' recent book, builds on the legacy of Medicine Stories and Remedios to be within this difference between love and violence and its impact, in this case, the story of one body experiencing multiple levels of chronic pain. In Aurora's writing, there is only clarity - the weaving together of legacies of indigenous genocide and the institution of slavery, gender violence and violence directed towards the land, air and water into the collective impact of pain.Using poetry, personal essay and thoughtful research, Kindling asks hard questions about our shared responsibility for generations of violence and its impact on so many of those we love. In four sections, Kindling's first half looks at the broader context of healing justice and wellness and Aurora's personal experience of illness and pain while the second half offers examples of transformation. In the midst of fights over Obamacare, Aurora's section on the medical support she received in Cuba is like the stuff of fairytales. All of the tiresome cliched conversations about healthcare in the US - arguments over the cost and who should pay for it, over the impact of research, and over the value of integrative care are collapsed into one profound experience that puts the individual at the center of a community of care that only the wealthiest in the US can afford.The final chapter, selections presented as part of Sins Invalid, demonstrate the power of art and art-making to literally change the world, where suffering and pleasure are part of how we know ourselves and where illness is something we can hold together as a community.

This book is fantastic. Absolutely critical for me as a person who cares about humans, disability justice, and who also is going into healthcare. The poems are moving. The essays are critical in all the right ways & give me hope for healing. I reference this book constantly when I am talking to others about our visions of a better medical system and world. A must read.