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wiseracher's review against another edition
5.0
had to read this for a class, but i thoroughly enjoyed it
justabean_reads's review
3.5
This was a bit of a downer. Not because it dealt frankly with environmental destruction, climate change, racism, police violence, and how completely hooped a large chunk of society is. Which, granted, was rough to listen to, and I did take lots of breaks, but felt like a necessary perspective, and is stuff that I am trying to get into my head. Some of the analysis was a little over my head/referencing stuff I didn't know, but I could follow the theory pretty well, and both writers explained their points clearly without compromising or over simplifying.
The depressing part was the format. The book is made up of letters exchanged between Black police abolitionist Maynard and Anishinaabe land defender Simpson during the first nine months of the Covid-19 pandemic in Canada. The two friends are determined to keep connection, deepen their relationship, and try to make sense of what is happening in the world. I really loved how kind and generous they were to each other, and how much of a "yes, and" approach to theory they had. I'd love to have a relationship that thoughtful (or to be that smart!). However, do you remember that first year? And how it felt like this might change everything? That it fractured and highlighted so many inequalities and injustices, but there was this hope that maybe this would be the tipping point? The anger in the streets, and potential in the air? Yeah. That.
(Though they are clear that even "failed" movements can lay groundwork for what happens next, and that trying cannot be wasted effort.)
I hope they write another book together, and if they do I'll read it, but I wonder if they'll look back on this one as a missed reality.
The depressing part was the format. The book is made up of letters exchanged between Black police abolitionist Maynard and Anishinaabe land defender Simpson during the first nine months of the Covid-19 pandemic in Canada. The two friends are determined to keep connection, deepen their relationship, and try to make sense of what is happening in the world. I really loved how kind and generous they were to each other, and how much of a "yes, and" approach to theory they had. I'd love to have a relationship that thoughtful (or to be that smart!). However, do you remember that first year? And how it felt like this might change everything? That it fractured and highlighted so many inequalities and injustices, but there was this hope that maybe this would be the tipping point? The anger in the streets, and potential in the air? Yeah. That.
(Though they are clear that even "failed" movements can lay groundwork for what happens next, and that trying cannot be wasted effort.)
I hope they write another book together, and if they do I'll read it, but I wonder if they'll look back on this one as a missed reality.
han_reardonsmith's review against another edition
5.0
The extraordinary generosity of this book!! These letters explore the realities of this moment we are living through, and the possibilities of making a world otherwise anew. What a privilege to read and learn from these exchanges. I highlighted whole pages.
jastastiic's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
tom84629's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
jaiii's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
catisbookish's review against another edition
3.75
So many deeply interesting and important conversations and discussions in this book. Reading this now, in the state the world is in, was particularly relevant. Seeing activism and the movements against racism, sexism, capitalism, and so many more as world-building or creating a new world to live in was such a beautiful way of putting it. “There are some world endings that I am comfortable with” will stick with me for a long time.
However, the way this was written was simply not for me. At times, I found the writing deeply insightful and quite beautiful, but most times I found the language overly complex and repetitive. The words “futurities” and “relationalities” were used so often and in cases were I felt it would be better to use “the futures of” or “relations/in relation to/relationships” simply because it sounds more natural. Probably a dumb critique on my part but the use of language in this book really took me out of the narrative a lot and began to get on my nerves.
Also, I listened to the audiobook and I really wish I had just read a physical copy. The audiobook is not well narrated, which is really unfortunate because I loved the idea of Robyn and Leanne having this conversation with each other and I thought the audiobook would add to that experience. Unfortunately, the narration felt extremely stilted and unnatural, especially when Leanne was narrating. So with that said, I might revisit this book in the future and read the physical copy.
But overall, if you’re Canadian and want to have a better understanding of our society, how the COVID-19 pandemic was (and still is) disproportionately affecting racialized folks, if you want to better understand the interconnectedness of the Black Lives Matter and the Indigenous Land Back movement throughout history and in the modern day, and how, most importantly, Canada as a governmental body and system needs to be torn down in order to be rebuilt into a more inclusive, compassionate, anti-capitalist, anti-racist society in which we could all thrive, then I think this book is well worth the read.
However, the way this was written was simply not for me. At times, I found the writing deeply insightful and quite beautiful, but most times I found the language overly complex and repetitive. The words “futurities” and “relationalities” were used so often and in cases were I felt it would be better to use “the futures of” or “relations/in relation to/relationships” simply because it sounds more natural. Probably a dumb critique on my part but the use of language in this book really took me out of the narrative a lot and began to get on my nerves.
Also, I listened to the audiobook and I really wish I had just read a physical copy. The audiobook is not well narrated, which is really unfortunate because I loved the idea of Robyn and Leanne having this conversation with each other and I thought the audiobook would add to that experience. Unfortunately, the narration felt extremely stilted and unnatural, especially when Leanne was narrating. So with that said, I might revisit this book in the future and read the physical copy.
But overall, if you’re Canadian and want to have a better understanding of our society, how the COVID-19 pandemic was (and still is) disproportionately affecting racialized folks, if you want to better understand the interconnectedness of the Black Lives Matter and the Indigenous Land Back movement throughout history and in the modern day, and how, most importantly, Canada as a governmental body and system needs to be torn down in order to be rebuilt into a more inclusive, compassionate, anti-capitalist, anti-racist society in which we could all thrive, then I think this book is well worth the read.
campbelle177's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Rehearsals for Living is a beautiful correspondence between two friends and activists exploring what abolition look like in their daily lives. Their correspondence unfolds over the first year of the p@ndemic and their insight into the interconnections of social issues, both historically and in the present, is unmatched.
Maynard writes “The future feels daunting. Maybe writing together, walking together, witnessing these times together in this way will help us forge ahead differently.” That sums it up well. It was a privilege to get to read this book and feel as though I was walking alongside these two women. This book is a thought provoking must-read for anyone exploring those topics in their own lives.
Maynard writes “The future feels daunting. Maybe writing together, walking together, witnessing these times together in this way will help us forge ahead differently.” That sums it up well. It was a privilege to get to read this book and feel as though I was walking alongside these two women. This book is a thought provoking must-read for anyone exploring those topics in their own lives.