BRIGHT SHINING: HOW GRACE CHANGES EVERYTHING by Julia Baird
A beautiful book from the author of Phospherence and Victoria.
Writer and journalist Julia Baird, whose previous books Victoria and Phospheresence have been firm favourites of mine, has released a beautiful new book called Bright Shining: How Grace Changes Everything. Baird’s work is such that I will purchase without hesitation to read, because she has some really beautiful insights into topics not touched upon often (and even then, well). No one likes to be preached to, which is why Baird’s work always feels thoughtful and refreshing.
There are five parts to this book (with incredible cover art by Hazel Lam, whose work on Phospeheresence must be responsible for thousands of sales alone):
Our Souls, Our Selves
Our Circles
Our Strangers
Our Sins
Our Senses
There were several chapters which spoke to me innately, particularly Chapters 5 and 12. But it was Chapter 10 - “Restlaufzeit: In the Time We Have Left, We Must Dance” that really got under my skin. It is a chapter where, inter alia, Baird talks about the realities of dying with some who work with the dying, some experiencing dying (themselves or someone close) and those of us - Baird and I included - who live with chronic illness that threatens our lives far too regularly.
I must say, I think if Baird is able to live her words truly, she has far more grace than I do about some of these things, like the toxic positivity people expect (or demand!) from those closer to death than themselves. Having lived with a rare form of cancer since I was 12, I get mightily sick of the expectations of my “positive attitude” and the reminders that “there is always someone worse off than you”. I acknowledge that, even if she doesn’t always maintain her grace in those situations, Julia Baird probably runs laps around me in the department of grace anyway! I particularly loved the place where the chapter leaves the reader, in contemplating whether or not they have danced enough in life.
I have danced a lot in my life, both socially, at school, in classes and on stages. And I know the answer: there is never enough dancing.
Baird’s incredible research skills (she has a PhD in history) always shine through in her books, and Bright Shining is no different. She speaks to experts in their areas, as well as people whose lived experiences provide humanity and shape to the concepts she explores - all in a manner that is easily understood and gives the reader much pause for thought. Bright Shining is not a book you will read in a day, not if you are really reading it, thinking and feeling the ideas and concepts offered. It is a book that demands to be considered.
I was very excited to attend an even through the wonderful Avid Reader Bookshop in Brisbane recently, listening to Julia Baird be interviewed. I was lucky enough that she generously signed all three of my books for me and (as I was last in line….waiting for my Uber husband to pick me up!) a chat about our shared experiences with health challenges and a mutual friend whom we both think the world of. That was very special for me, as meeting people whose experiences (particularly with cancer) that follow such a similar path as my own is really unusual - it is a lonely trajectory some times. Thankyou, Julia, for signing my books and your candour and generosity with your readers.
Bright Shining is a wonderful read - I imagine it will be gifted widely this Christmas. Make sure you take the time to immerse yourself in it.