trish204's review
4.0
I had read a few of these letters in the article in The Guardian already but after seeing that they had published an actual book with these, I was too tempted not to buy it.
Brexit, like most political topics especially of the present, is almost impossible to talk about without a few people losing their shit. And depending on a family's situation, I get it. But mostly it's idiots who do the yelling. Since I’m pretty tired of all these people foaming at the mouth just because they have forgotten how to have an actual discussion / debate (with that I mean a CIVILIZED discussion / debate), let’s not get into that.
Instead, I want to talk about how this book made me feel while reading it.
The idea (how the book came to be) is explained in the foreword, that the curator wanted to commemorate having been part of Europe somehow. Because let’s face it: no matter your personal opinion of the EU, there is some historical gravitas to the membership and therefore to GB leaving. From free travel to tax-free exchanges of certain goods, contributions to health care and the educational system - despite the EU’s faults, both sides had huge benefits from the partnership.
Anyway, a number of authors, entertainers, artists and musicians have been asked to write anecdotes about Europe. What it means to them, special connections they might have to the mainland etc. Once again: it’s not about the politics but about personal opinion and feeling.
Big names such as Neil Gaiman, Sandi Toksvig and Chris Riddell are in here alongside relatively new ones. Some writers are male, others female, some are black, others white, some were born in GB, others are immigrants. All of them are affected by Brexit, of course.
There were some heartwarming tributes yesterday, one of which is this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lanvQdGnOY
It does emphasize the historical significance of the union (GB was a member for 47 years after all), the idea we shouldn’t let die. I was never one to throw in the towel, I’m more a person that pushes up her sleeves and gets to work. Nevertheless, I’m also no fear monger so of course Brexit won’t mean GB’s or the EU’s downfall. Still, it’s a shame.
Some of the anecdotes here were better than others (as was bound to happen) but they all had a very nice ring to them. Some were a more objective look at the whole affair while others were deeply personal (my favourites are from both camps).
And we got some nice art work as well:
So yes, it was a nice reading experience yesterday and I'm glad I commemorated this day of great change (whether for good or ill is not important right now) with these stories that I might even come back to at some point.
Brexit, like most political topics especially of the present, is almost impossible to talk about without a few people losing their shit. And depending on a family's situation, I get it. But mostly it's idiots who do the yelling. Since I’m pretty tired of all these people foaming at the mouth just because they have forgotten how to have an actual discussion / debate (with that I mean a CIVILIZED discussion / debate), let’s not get into that.
Instead, I want to talk about how this book made me feel while reading it.
The idea (how the book came to be) is explained in the foreword, that the curator wanted to commemorate having been part of Europe somehow. Because let’s face it: no matter your personal opinion of the EU, there is some historical gravitas to the membership and therefore to GB leaving. From free travel to tax-free exchanges of certain goods, contributions to health care and the educational system - despite the EU’s faults, both sides had huge benefits from the partnership.
Anyway, a number of authors, entertainers, artists and musicians have been asked to write anecdotes about Europe. What it means to them, special connections they might have to the mainland etc. Once again: it’s not about the politics but about personal opinion and feeling.
Big names such as Neil Gaiman, Sandi Toksvig and Chris Riddell are in here alongside relatively new ones. Some writers are male, others female, some are black, others white, some were born in GB, others are immigrants. All of them are affected by Brexit, of course.
There were some heartwarming tributes yesterday, one of which is this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lanvQdGnOY
It does emphasize the historical significance of the union (GB was a member for 47 years after all), the idea we shouldn’t let die. I was never one to throw in the towel, I’m more a person that pushes up her sleeves and gets to work. Nevertheless, I’m also no fear monger so of course Brexit won’t mean GB’s or the EU’s downfall. Still, it’s a shame.
Some of the anecdotes here were better than others (as was bound to happen) but they all had a very nice ring to them. Some were a more objective look at the whole affair while others were deeply personal (my favourites are from both camps).
And we got some nice art work as well:
So yes, it was a nice reading experience yesterday and I'm glad I commemorated this day of great change (whether for good or ill is not important right now) with these stories that I might even come back to at some point.
roseofoulesfame's review against another edition
4.0
I'm well aware that part of the reason I like this is because it's an echo chamber for me (although I didn't agree with everyone's take, it's very clearly a book for Us Traitors What Voted Remain), and there is also the fact that a lot of the stories come across as super-privileged...
BUT
The thing that really struck me while reading this was the fact that, one day, a bunch of Eton-and-Oxford-educated Tory unprintables decided that they got to be the men of the people while all artists and intellectuals were deemed to be inherently poncy liberals who were out of touch with reality and I'm left thinking...
Who keeps making it so it's so mm mm difficult to be an artist unless you have some kind of privilege?
Who keeps society structured in such a way that art is viewed as something for the middle classes upwards?
And how exactly does BrExit remove barriers to being able to study, work and travel in places that help expose us to other cultures and widen our worldview?
Anyway, four stars, would reread.
BUT
The thing that really struck me while reading this was the fact that, one day, a bunch of Eton-and-Oxford-educated Tory unprintables decided that they got to be the men of the people while all artists and intellectuals were deemed to be inherently poncy liberals who were out of touch with reality and I'm left thinking...
Who keeps making it so it's so mm mm difficult to be an artist unless you have some kind of privilege?
Who keeps society structured in such a way that art is viewed as something for the middle classes upwards?
And how exactly does BrExit remove barriers to being able to study, work and travel in places that help expose us to other cultures and widen our worldview?
Anyway, four stars, would reread.
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