I don’t know why but I started thinking about Malidoma Patrice Somé while reading this, how Kelly really needed a shaman, a spiritual guide, someone who could’ve given context or ritual to her experience as an artist/conduit. I don’t think modernity offers us much understanding or community for those that traverse in those liminal spaces. Kelly feels so lost, and it’s more a problem of culture than her own being.
The older I get the more I exponentially understand how much I don’t know and can’t judge with any accuracy. If this book is anything, it’s an homage to that ever growing gap of the unknown and unknowable. Thanks for reading and commenting Kimberly. I always learn something from you.
“I think you reach a point in a relationship where you’re too close to know the difference between whether it’s you you’re sick of or your partner.” Truth came in hot with this zinger.
A great chapter. I think there’s a new project soon in Kelly’s future and I’m excited for it!
Of course I loved this one, set as it is at my alma mater. I enjoyed the strands of mystery threading through, true to the nature of Kelly's story. So cool that she drew a portrait of the boy from the quality of his voice. When she leaves the drawing behind, "like an alcoholic discreetly disposing of an empty bottle," I felt her struggle between genius and normalcy (whatever "normal" means). (nb, the quad at UVA is always called the Lawn.)
It’s so interesting, revealing, that Kelly feels a desire to tell the college boys who she is. The story is a lesson in how one simple decision can open the door to a completely different pathway from the one one would otherwise have taken.
I don’t know why but I started thinking about Malidoma Patrice Somé while reading this, how Kelly really needed a shaman, a spiritual guide, someone who could’ve given context or ritual to her experience as an artist/conduit. I don’t think modernity offers us much understanding or community for those that traverse in those liminal spaces. Kelly feels so lost, and it’s more a problem of culture than her own being.
Yes!! Exactly this! We label conduits as mentally ill, when really it's the culture that's ill.
The older I get the more I exponentially understand how much I don’t know and can’t judge with any accuracy. If this book is anything, it’s an homage to that ever growing gap of the unknown and unknowable. Thanks for reading and commenting Kimberly. I always learn something from you.
“I think you reach a point in a relationship where you’re too close to know the difference between whether it’s you you’re sick of or your partner.” Truth came in hot with this zinger.
A great chapter. I think there’s a new project soon in Kelly’s future and I’m excited for it!
You may be onto something. What could be more dangerous than Kelly in a midlife crisis? 😉 Thanks for reading, Stephanie.
Of course I loved this one, set as it is at my alma mater. I enjoyed the strands of mystery threading through, true to the nature of Kelly's story. So cool that she drew a portrait of the boy from the quality of his voice. When she leaves the drawing behind, "like an alcoholic discreetly disposing of an empty bottle," I felt her struggle between genius and normalcy (whatever "normal" means). (nb, the quad at UVA is always called the Lawn.)
Hey Julie, glad you enjoyed this one from your alma mater. Clearly I didn’t do enough research! Of course it’s called the lawn.
I didn’t mean to be petty but we alumni are a bit tetchy. 😂
It’s so interesting, revealing, that Kelly feels a desire to tell the college boys who she is. The story is a lesson in how one simple decision can open the door to a completely different pathway from the one one would otherwise have taken.
Another brilliant chapter, my friend.