I have chosen to begin the year reading two phenomenal books. How We Heal by Alex Elle and Bone Black: Memories of Girlhood, by Bell Hooks.
“Healing is community care.”
- Alex Elle
How We Heal came to me by way of an instagram post Alex Elle made detailing her tour to promote the new book. I have followed her work since the release of her first collection of writings Words From a Wanderer. I was overjoyed to see she had a tour date in LA and I needed to be in the building! Upon arriving to the El Ray Theatre, I was handed my signed copy of How We Heal. I could not wait to begin this journey. I curiously skimmed through the introductory pages before Elle came out on stage for her interview with Gia Peppers.
I immediately noted the colors of the pages; a shade of blue that felt both calming and deep. On them, Elle pens a dedication to her readers and her daughters. She reminds her readers, “When we heal ourselves, we heal our lineage”. Then lovingly says to her daughters, “You are the reason I heal”.
The book is comprised of 4 sections each broken down into 4 or 5 subsections. The sections are “Starting from Scratch”, “Befriending Your Fear”, “Reclaiming Your Power” and “Healing Your Heart”, respectively. I read her “note to the reader” in its entirety then turned the page. In bold black letters was a journaling prompt titled “Ten Reasons Why I Heal”. I shut the book. At that moment, I knew I needed to be in my own space to fully experience this body of work.
During the interview, I captured Elle’s brief description of the book which increased my eagerness. I will be sharing more from this interview as I discuss my experience with How We Heal.
“In fact, if we give our children sound self-love, they will be able to deal with whatever life puts before them.”
- Bell Hooks
Bone Black: Memories of Girlhood by Bell Hooks was assigned for my sociology class during undergrad. To be quite honest, I never actually read the book. I found quotes online to complete my assignment and never returned to it. I’ve relocated three times since undergrad, yet this book stayed with me. After reading All About Love by Bell Hooks, I was ready to get to know the author behind that profound body of work.
I was immediately captivated by the photo of a young Hooks on the cover. It felt nostalgic and inspired me to reflect on my own journey as a girl. When I opened the book and saw the dedication page, what stood out to me was this quote:
“When you say “I would die for you” to those you love, the truth of those words may not be that you give your physical life but that you are willing to die to the past and be born again in the present where you can live fully and freely—where you can give us the love we need”
Wow, right? After reading that, how could I not keep reading?
In the foreword, she drops bread crumbs that lead us into her memories of girlhood. Hooks writes “I share my secret world—the various names I created, for example (calling my grandmother Saru in my imagination because it was better than her real name, Sarah).” She details the way her fantasies, dreams and experiences informed all of her work. By this point, I was prepared to keep going.
Hooks prefaces the first chapter with two quotes. One of which is by James Hillman from his book The Soul’s Code. Hillman writes “Our lives may be determined less by our childhood than by the way we have learned to imagine our childhoods.”
With this wisdom in tow, I began to travel back down memory lane with Hooks.
I am thankful for the work of both Alex Elle and Bell Hooks. I look forward to what gifts these books will bring as I keep reading.