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A review by justabean_reads
Rehearsals for Living by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Robyn Maynard
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.