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Falling Back in Love with Being Human: Letters to Lost Souls by Kai Cheng Thom
8 reviews
nella_allen's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and Transphobia
jayisreading's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
A collection of letters wrapped in compassion, Kai Cheng Thom—a trans Asian Canadian woman—writes from the heart to embrace every human as sacred beings. In spite of the pain she has dealt with in her life, in spite of all the hateful people in this world, she writes with hope and sincerity. She writes to trans women, sex workers and their patrons, herself, among others to remind them (and the readers) of the love and beauty that exist in this world. Especially in a world that’s weighed down by hurt and grief, Thom’s words are more needed than ever for us to take a moment to reflect.
I also appreciated that, between each letter, she invited the reader to practice an act of self-love and self-reflection. For example: “Write a letter of forgiveness to someone. That someone can be yourself.”
I read this collection and listened to the audiobook simultaneously, and I found that hearing Thom reading each letter herself left a greater impression on me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Gun violence, Self harm, Sexual assault, Death, Suicide attempt, Rape, and Racism
arakwordmaven's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
When I despair at the ignorance, intolerance, self-righteousness and suffering in the world, this book helps me remember that freedom, beauty, kindness, and love are also here.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Stalking, Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Grief
kimapede's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Minor: Transphobia, Murder, Death, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Rape, and Stalking
eicart_reads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
5.0
This hit me right in the feelings. The writing is so emotionally vulnerable. The letters are direct, open, painful, bold, sometimes funny. And they are full of love and compassion, even for people and situations seemingly unworthy of such consideration.
I listened to this on audio, narrated by the author. Her voice grabbed me and wouldn't let go. I loved it and will listen again and again, I'm sure.
Each essay was followed by a short action item or thought experiment suggestion that tied in to its theme. Things like "Design and perform a ritual to release something from your life that you love, but that is no longer serving you." Or simply "think of a lie you've told yourself." I loved these ideas and look forward to spending some time with them.
I highly recommend this. It's short but speaks volumes.
I listened to this on audio, narrated by the author. Her voice grabbed me and wouldn't let go. I loved it and will listen again and again, I'm sure.
Each essay was followed by a short action item or thought experiment suggestion that tied in to its theme. Things like "Design and perform a ritual to release something from your life that you love, but that is no longer serving you." Or simply "think of a lie you've told yourself." I loved these ideas and look forward to spending some time with them.
I highly recommend this. It's short but speaks volumes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Rape and Suicide attempt
olivia_piepmeier's review
challenging
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
It's a fairly small book of...poetry-like essays/letters, but Thom manages to pack in an immense amount of their life without it being a memoir thanks to their genuinely loving spirit and skill with words. Those that feel a desire for a world that's open and compassionate will find a friend here.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexual violence, Bullying, and Rape
annajoyreed93's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
“the secret of resilience is the art of surrender.”
from to a lost sister
“a child who keeps secrets to survive becomes a solider in their soul.”
from to the Animorphs
“i was seven years old when I told my first lie, and i still remember how it tasted: salty, savory, delicious, dirty, divine, dangerous, powerful, like freedom. how it came from nowhere, from the empty air, from a secret place inside my body that i’d never even known was there. how it felt electric, alive, like turning a key in a lock and stepping into the light. here was magic. here was escape. here was the power to twist reality with nothing but words, abracadabra alakazam, through the act of speaking, i create. here was shapeshifting, becoming someone else. with a lie you become lovable, at least for a while, until you’re discovered and everything turns to dust once again.”
from to the confabulists
from to a lost sister
“a child who keeps secrets to survive becomes a solider in their soul.”
from to the Animorphs
“i was seven years old when I told my first lie, and i still remember how it tasted: salty, savory, delicious, dirty, divine, dangerous, powerful, like freedom. how it came from nowhere, from the empty air, from a secret place inside my body that i’d never even known was there. how it felt electric, alive, like turning a key in a lock and stepping into the light. here was magic. here was escape. here was the power to twist reality with nothing but words, abracadabra alakazam, through the act of speaking, i create. here was shapeshifting, becoming someone else. with a lie you become lovable, at least for a while, until you’re discovered and everything turns to dust once again.”
from to the confabulists
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Transphobia, Murder, Sexual assault, Racism, Homophobia, Death, Suicide, and Rape
booktribe's review
challenging
hopeful
reflective
3.0
This beautifully written collection of letters explores what happens when we imagine loving the people, and the parts of ourselves, that we don’t believe are worthy of love and acceptance.
I enjoyed this novel. I loved the writing, it was very lyrical, I highlighted several quotes. Some of my favorite letters were “to the deathwalkers”, “to the johns”, “to a trans femme of color child from a trans femme of color ancestor”, and “to me, from a revolutionary trans femme of color living in the distant future”. I also really enjoyed that there were activities for reflection, self love, etc. after each letter.
I’d recommend this to anyone who loves poetry! Poetry is usually hit or miss for me, so I think I would’ve appreciated it more if I was more of poetry person.
Thank you Random House and NetGalley for this arc. All opinions are my own.
TW: suicidal ideation and attempt, homophobic slurs, rape, murder
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Rape
Minor: Suicide attempt and Murder
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