A Curious Way to Review a Book: No 2.

Halfway through reading this stunning book I realised I have to give it away. I am sending it to Theresa May, along with this letter.

Dear Theresa May,

I am sending this book to you as a gift. I realise that you must be extraordinarily busy, but I also know that President Obama found time to read while in office, and I hope you will too.

I believe that books can change the way we think, help us to see and understand the lives of others.

I also believe that in order to wield power with integrity one requires wisdom, empathy and imagination.

We stand, as a species, in a precarious place. Party politics does not serve democracy well. We need, now, if we are to survive on our planet, new ways of thinking, imaginative solutions as politics fails us.

You speak of ‘ordinary people’ as if in some way politicians are a species apart, extraordinary. The world we ‘ordinary people’ live in is one very different from the games of democracy that those of you in positions of power play.

My hope is that if you can find time to read this extraordinary book, a modern fairy tale, it will open doors of perception and understanding in your mind. I cannot imagine living through the circumstances so many migrant people have endured, continue to endure, but this book has helped me to. I have only read half way through. I will get another copy as i need to know the end of it. I hope you can make time in your busy day to read it also.

You have the chance to make a real change- not to continue the bitter infighting and the game that masquerades as democracy, where people are played against each other.

Yours sincerely

Jackie Morris.

Wisdom. Imagination. Empathy.

As ever I feel that in the letter I have failed to say what I really wanted to, but I hope the gift finds its way to her. The book is such a savage beauty. Spare of language, sometimes the words demand to be read aloud but to do so cracks the heart. Not sentimental, not voyeuristic or gratuitous in its casual violence, it follows two lovers as the city in which they live is torn apart.

As I say, half way through, and I will miss it so. And maybe it will fall on deaf ears. But I feel that we do ourselves no favours in the ways that we respond to those who need our help.

So, I may be naive, and this is a curious way to review a book. If you only read one book this year, can I suggest that this be it. But can I also suggest that you read as many as time will allow, and more if you can sneak them in.

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