Team member Mieks shares some of their favourite books, music, films, TV, LGBTQ+ moments, and fashion items for this month's 'Read The Room Recommends' feature...
BOOKS: I’ve been particularly slow with reading books this year. I started the year well by reading three books in January. Once February arrived, I had slowed down considerably, as had my book club at work. Hearing everyone say the same thing was particularly comforting - we just didn’t have the attention span. I’ve had to unlearn some things about reading; as a dyslexic AuDHD writer, reading often felt inherently luxurious and I often felt like I was “wasting” away hours reading when there was something more important I could be doing. I could have been tidying, or washing up, or even writing. But the more I read, the more my soul feels.
One book in particular really spoke to me, acting as a balm for my worries about time running out. Bitterthorn, written by Kat Dunn gripped me from start to finish. I absolutely adored this book. A signed copy was gifted to me for Christmas and I gobbled it up in a number of days in March.
The simple but hard hitting prose was absolutely joyful to read, and I really related to both Mina and the Witch. A moving, sapphic fairytale with spatterings of grief and yearning. The care in which this book has been written is evident, and it's obvious this was written in a healing way, because it felt healing to read.
I seem to be on a healing journey, one that involves my history, ancestry and my faith because the second book that really spoke to me is Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. I have lost count on how many times I’ve cried while reading this book. Robin Wall Kimmerer is a botanist, author, enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, as well as a mother and director of Centre for Native Peoples and the Environment.
As a pagan and someone who is trying to learn my paternal grandmother’s endangered native tongue Gaeilge, I knew this book would speak to me. But what I wasn’t prepared for was the sense of hope this book instills. While it deals with themes of displacement, genocide and disconnected diaspora, it encourages you to dig deep, find your programmed love of nature again and appreciate all beings in our beautiful world. It’s written from both an ethnobotany, ecological and traditional knowledge stance, and each chapter features a different aspect to life, highlighting sacred and revered plants and our relationship with them. If I could give this book ten stars out of five, I would. It has changed my life, and was the start of my journey towards reconnecting with my roots.
MUSIC: One of my spiritual anthems that I listen to in times of need is The Lost Words Blessing by Spell Songs. Based on the book The Lost Words by Robert McFarlane and Jackie Morris, The Lost Words Blessing is like a prayer, a spell and a beacon of hope for those who struggle with city life. That disconnection from nature can feel like a dark cloud. So when I feel like I need a cry, I sing, and I listen. Usually by the line “Let the fern unfurl your grieving” is when I blubber. Spell Songs is a music ensemble with Karine Polwart, featuring Julie Fowlis, Seckou Keita, Kris Drever, Rachel Newton, Beth Porter, and Jim Molyneux. Each album track from The Lost Words focuses on a different aspect of nature. A live album of the Let the Light in Tour was released in December 2023, and The Lost Words Blessing was recorded in Birmingham. I was there at that gig, and it brings back memories of spending time with my father at the gig, as well as giving me hope for the coming days.
The next track I can’t get enough of is Donoughmore by Rose Cousins. Set in Ireland, the colourful imagery of the lyrics makes me yearn for the hills of the country. I sang this at my father and sister’s joint birthday bash late February, and I haven’t been able to leave it alone. The wistful piano, rolling drums and lovesick lyrics makes me appreciate where my life is going, that my feelings are valid, and once more fills me with hope for the future.
FILM: Despite being a film studies graduate, I struggle with watching full feature length films, but one film in particular stood out and grabbed my attention from start to finish. American Fiction, written and directed by Cord Jefferson, is a bold, pointedly humorous comedy-drama about an African-American upper-class author and professor. The film delves into his wildly chaotic family and deals with themes of grief in a kind, heartbreaking way. When told his books, that have been praised academically, are not selling for not being “black enough”, Thelonius “Monk” Ellison (Jeffrey Wright) writes a new book, a satirical novel, My Pafology, as a statement about harmful stereotypes in the book industry. It’s a success, much to his chagrin, and the chaos ensues once he takes up the persona of ex-felon “Stagg R Leigh”.
This funny but thought provoking will have you hooting with laughter, but also lets the tears fall. I highly recommend it.
TV: I have a weekly tradition. I spend every Wednesday with friends on Discord watching queer TV shows. Starting in the first lockdown, I offered to host watch parties of Xena: Warrior Princess which continued until we watched the entire show twiceover. It’s been a joy sharing my favourite series with friends, and since then we’ve watched Our Flag Means Death and most recently The Owl House created by Dana Terrace. The show centres around Luz, a fourteen year old Dominican-American human who finds herself accidentally entering a magical realm who befriends the gruff witch Eda, the owl lady of The Boiling Isles. Desperate to be a real witch, Eda begrudgingly teaches the teen magic. This heartwarming, groundbreaking queer adventure showcases themes of found family, first loves and lets you fall in love with each character. Having that time each Wednesday to catch up with my own found family and watch this excellent show is invaluable and I will forever recommend it.
I’m also enjoying the Women’s Super League football season heating up, with Man City and Chelsea battling to win the title. Since the 2022 Euros, I have been obsessed with football, learning about each player and finding a love for the game once more. This summer, I’ll be eager to watch the Euro 2025 qualifiers. Fortunately I’m supporting three teams this year, Ireland, Netherlands and England. Unfortunately, Ireland are in the ‘group of death’ with England, but they’re doing me proud! It’s wonderful to see the roots of the women’s game blossom and most games I have a big cry, not because of the game itself but the support. In December 2023, I attended the Nations League game at Wembley for the England-Netherlands match. The drama, the cheering, all 71K of us supporting our teams on a weekday will always be in my mind.
LGBTQ+ MOMENT: My favourite LGBTQ+ moment this year hasn’t even happened yet. I am eagerly awaiting the sixth BiCamp UK festival at the end of May. Having founded the project back in 2018, I cannot express the immense pride I feel at the current team, busy beavering away to give us bisexuals the chance to frolic in the leafy green campsite in Kinver, South Staffordshire. While I’m no longer leading on the team, it is still a project very dear to my heart. Catered to bisexuals, their friends, family and allies (you do not have to be bi to attend), BiCamp gives city dwellers and their countryside pals a chance to relax, take part in activities like woodland walks, yoga and rock climbing (did I mention archery too?). The event is semi-catered, and there are sliding scales for payment, as well as the option to do a payment plan. They hold spaces for people of multiple marginalization, including a bis of colour space, trans bi spaces, bis on the ace spectrum and disabled bis with a chance to connect with people with similar experiences. It’s always the highlight of my year and I couldn’t be prouder that it’s still running. If you’re a camper, or a glamper, or have always wanted to try camping out there’s a space for you at BiCamp. Hopefully see you there!
Tickets for BiCamp are available on Outsavvy, BiCamp 2024 Tickets | 30 May @ Kinver Scount Camp, Kinver | £5 to £150 | OutSavvy
FASHION ITEM: This year, I did some shopping for myself. It’s rare that I do this. It’s rare for me to buy clothes, but FatFace were doing a 70% sale and my favourite hoodie fell into my online basket. I feel confident, comfy, made with long-lasting breathable cotton and as an autistic person, that’s worth every penny. I have the red version which is no longer available but now I seem to have my eye on this version too. Oops!
Words: Mieks Weijers (they/them)