Naomi Alderman

the reason that this, and all the Epstein stuff, does not lie down or go away is: for anyone who survived childhood sexual abuse, it is never really over.

and it is precisely as common on the left and the right, in wealthy families and in poor ones.

it is an unseen community demanding justice.

like The Convergence of The Twain

out there, some young maverick is halfway through her/his History A-Level, looking at all of this and wondering how a sober well-trained historian would find out the entire truth and how they could become such a person

www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47266/...

I think those are questions that need to be gone into very thoroughly and openly. We are all aware now that some terribly bad things have happened and the boil won't be lanced until we understand exactly how.

yes there will be a big book, at some point. someone's reputation is there for the making from a sober, thorough, unimpeachably accurate book.

how quickly or slowly it happens will be largely dependent on whether AMW is tried, and if so whether he is found guilty.

not to mention, in my view, her decisions around Harry and Meghan. and Diana.

at some point. and it may not be in my lifetime. there will be a reassessment of the Late Queen and her decisions around AMW.

Photo shows a hardback copy of 'Don't burn anyone at the stake today' by Naomi Alderman. It has a dramatic cartoon-like explosion style graphic on the cover, in red, yellow and orange.

Can confirm this is a barnstorming read.
Thank you so much @naomialderman.bsky.social and @biggreenbooks.bsky.social

Readers, be prepared to post-it and annotate the life out of it.

this is SUCH a fun book

yes I don't. there's not really pressure, no one minds if you don't.

also one of my favourite things about Purim is that in the story there's a drunken incompetent King who sends out a proclamation that "husbands rule over their wives".

and then his very next proclamation is "also kill all the Jews".

so we know how much value to place on the first idea also.

it can be quite difficult to be a Jew, but at least we're fucking funny

...you're supposed to “get so drunk you can’t tell the difference between ‘bless <Mordechai the hero>’ and ‘curse <Haman the villain>’.

obviously the context is also: the world right now. The world.

the context is: Purim - today - is a JOYOUS festival of spring celebration where for one day things are overturned, people dress up in costume, do silly skits, kids can make a lot of noise in synagogue, everyone gives money to charities that send food to those who are hungry. and...

On a cheery pink background, the line: "this Purim I'm going to get so drunk that I can't tell the right-wing antisemites from the left-wing antisemites".

a (Jewish) friend just sent this to me and it has made me laugh and laugh and laugh. Happy Purim everyone!

do you listen to the France Culture ones? eg Une Histoire Particuliere and Le Cours d'Histoire?

<3. I *constantly* have the thought "surely I can just write this perfect the first time BY NOW FFS"

yeah. I know it feels like you should just be able to write the perfect words first time. if you go slow enough, you should be able to just find each next perfect word.

but it's not like that. it's like a bicycle. too slow & you fall. it has to be in motion even awkwardly to get where you're going.

Psychology says people who constantly apologize for things that aren't their fault aren't being polite. They grew up in an environment where someone else's bad mood was always their responsibility to ... That reflexive 'sorry' you can't stop saying was never about politeness — it was a survival strategy you learned before you had the language to name what was happening in your home.

"Psychology says people who constantly apologize for things that aren't their fault aren't being polite. They grew up in an environment where someone else's bad mood was always their responsibility to fix." share.google/LxDa6ftaoJmN...

I mean surely not as bad as Truss? Surely.

oh I am DELIGHTED to hear that!

at least you didn't read it 30 years from now! <3

yes I think in many relationships this is the much better alternative to cutting ties. just to accept what the other person is and isn't.

(in some relationships you do have to cut ties, and if that's true for you, you know it. I'm not arguing with you about your family/ex-friends.)

This is a good overview of a thought process I find very useful: identify what people in your life are good at & appreciate that, instead of trying to get them to fill roles that they neither suit nor want. Accept who they are rather than pinning hopes on who you want them to be.

yes, I think you can only really stop wanting it when you have totally filled up your cupboards from other shops.

I think you have to say out loud "I'm so sorry but I'm not selling shoes anymore"

yes it was incredibly fortunate. that, actually, is love. love isn't giving your kids everything they need but helping and supporting them to find what they need elsewhere, if you don't have it

I must say this for both my parents - neither of them have ever been anything but delighted when I found other people who could give me things in relationship that they don't have. My mum was so supportive of my finding extra mentors/motherly figures. And she had needed the same re: her own mum.

a person who tries to stop you going to another shop is not a person you should keep around.

if you keep going to the shoe shop for cheese that will get frustrating for everyone, and there will be anger.

if you don't ask them for cheese, but they try to stop you getting cheese anyway: run away

love this, brilliant

I know I sound a bit evangelical but: when you properly let this into your head, it really does change everything