e196 alice irene whittaker (part 2) - homing, a book review

conscient podcast

• I think a lot of people right now are feeling terror or feeling deep grief - worry about climate - and might mention it in a joking way over dinner, like ‘oh, well, we'll see if we're all around in 20 years’ and there's so much truth to that, to the pain people are feeling in the worry. And so in the end, I think and hope that it's helpful to share my personal emotional experience of this, even though it's very vulnerable to do so.

As promised during our first conversation on June 10th, 2024, in e187 alice irene whittaker - caring for the planet I love, I’ve now read Homing: A Quest to Care for Myself and the Earth book that came out on Tuesday, September 3, 2024.

Here is my review of the book. Please keep in mind that this is my first try at being a literary critic. Luckily, it was easy, because I loved the book and highly recommend it to everyone.

I loved the flow of the book, like gently canoeing down a river with occasional sudden rapids but with some portaging. And I notice that you often refer to rivers in the book. We’ll come back to that.

At times the mix of practical and poetic did not work for me but then I’m not your average reader either, because my life story is actually much like yours, except that that I was a perfectionist and overachieving musician instead of a dancer - and I didn’t break my arm, not yet anyway. I think we were brought up equally enamoured with nature and worried sick about the implication of modernity and our complicity in it, though we would not have used that language back then…

So on the practical side I enjoyed learning more, for example, about eco-responsible local living : the buy nothing movement, the unbuilding movement, the permaculture movement and so on. I also loved hearing about that magical 37th degree isotherm and other stories of life on earth that warms the spirit.

Here are some my highlights:

• You talk about ‘Fashion as an ecosystem of justice, climate, soil, labour, gender, creativity, expression and culture, made up of people each with their own offerings and niche, intricate in its diversity and interconnections.’ in the context of sustainable fashion
• You remind us that ‘it’s time for a whole-of-self-transformation, one that is messy and imperfect and wholehearted’, which does not sound perfectionist but rather grounded in reality
• I love your thinking around economic issues, for example, you wrote that ‘For the circular economy, or any alternative model to be meaningful, it has to recognize Indigenous worldviews and pay reparations to the people who have been exploited, traumatized, and marginalized in the centuries-long project of the linear, patriarchal, colonial and capitalist economy.’

And this last one, more on the poetic side, made me nostalgic for winter:

• Snow is water holding its breath, a calm pause after a deep inhale, waiting for that great exhale of spring when, instead of air, water rushes forth with relief.

Beautiful, engaging writing.

And of course your Homing book made me think about my own domestic life and my own idea of home.

An excerpt from episode 185 of this podcast with indigenous artist Sandra Laronde came to mind:

• I really believe that we carry the spirit of the land wherever we go. In the Western canon, they say that once you leave home, you can never return, but in the Indigenous canon, home never leaves you.

I can see affinities between Sandra’s statement about home never leaves you and the purpose of your book which is about :

• … care, motherhood, healing, faltering, and searching for ways to live during breakdown and about finding home, when our planetary home is eroding, and questioning how - and whether - to have hope.

What then is hope? What is home? What is life? What is love? You ask a lot of questions.

One of things that caught my attention in Homing was the idea of ‘breakdown’ (some might call it ecological and societal collapse) but systemic breaking down in one way or another, which is a necessary step in nature’s regeneration process but is also necessary for us to live through as we exit the modern world and btw the word through is very important in your book. We’ll come back to that.

So, I would say that Homing is a hoot - a funny and moving book - but it’s also a sobering book that is connected to reality.

What your book shows us, Alice Irene, is how to batten down the hatches and to get ready for a storm that is already here, as you’ve experienced this week with the floodings in Chelsea, Québec and the disappearance of your gardens and some of your beloved natural spaces but it’s also about unblocking creative energies and working through that dynamic. Working through…

I like the way you put it on page 171:

• Believing in myself as beneficial rather than harmful provided a deep and unfamiliar freedom.

Overall, I would say that Homing is a valuable addition to ecological and climate crisis literature. It’s so deeply personal that we can literally feel your pains and joys but it’s also a universal story that can appeal to anyone, anywhere.

And I think that it’s a literary tour de force and I want to thank you, and your family, for sharing your story and I hope you write a sequel, when you’re ready. I’m really curious to know what happens next.

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Chapters (generated by AI and corrected by Claude Schryer)

Reconnecting and Reflecting
Alice Irene and Claude reconnect after their previous conversation, setting the stage for a deep dive into Alice Irene’s new book. They discuss the significance of the book’s launch and the events surrounding it.

A Journey Through the Book
Claude shares her heartfelt review of Alice Irene’s book, describing its flow and it’s mix of practical and poetic elements and how Alice Irene reflects on the themes of nature, personal experiences, and the book’s impact on her own understanding of home.

Exploring the Concept of Home
The conversation shifts to the idea of home, Alice Irene discussed the emotional and philosophical implications of what home means in a changing world.

The Necessity of Breakdown
Alice Irene introduces the concept of breakdown as a necessary step in nature’s regeneration process. This theme resonates throughout the book, prompting a discussion on how it relates to personal and societal challenges.

Personal Stories and Vulnerability
Alice Irene reflects on the personal nature of her writing, discussing how her experiences shaped the book with an emphasis on the importance of sharing vulnerabilities and the healing power of storytelling.

Navigating Perfectionism
The conversation delves into the struggles of perfectionism and its impact on environmentalism. Alice Irene shares her candid experiences, highlighting the complexities of living sustainably in an imperfect world.

Guilt and Accountability
Alice Irene discusses the feelings of guilt and shame that often accompany environmental choices. She advocates for a more compassionate view of our actions and the importance of community support.

The Journey Through Motherhood
Alice Irene draws parallels between childbirth and the journey of environmental stewardship, emphasizing the concept of ‘through’ as a theme in her life and writing. The discussion highlights the unique perspective of mothers in the environmental movement.

Finding Home in Erosion
The conversation returns to the theme of home, particularly in the context of environmental degradation. Alice Irene shares her recent experiences with flooding, prompting a deeper exploration of what home means when it is literally eroding.

Grief and Regeneration
Alice reflects on the emotional toll of losing parts of her home due to climate change. She discusses the grieving process and the potential for regeneration, both personally and ecologically.

Embracing Eco Grief
In this chapter, the conversation delves into the concept of eco grief and its importance in shaping how we live moving forwardf with an emphasis on the need for emotional intelligence and community support during times of loss.

Community Connections
The discussion highlights the power of community during crises, illustrating how neighbors come together to support one another in challenging times. Personal anecdotes reveal the deep bonds formed through shared experiences of vulnerability and mutual aid.

Art as a Healing Tool
Exploring the role of art during difficult periods, Claude and Alice Irene reflect on how creative expression can help individuals process grief and loss. They contemplate the importance of rituals to honor what has been lost and foster community healing.

The Dance of Life
The conversation shifts to the intersection of art and personal experience, They touch on the complexities of life, where joy and sorrow coexist, and how this duality can inform the creative practices.

Celebrating Literary Achievements
As the conversation wraps up, Claude and Alice Irene discuss the significance of book launches and the collaborative nature of writing.

The Power of Podcasting
Claude and Alice Irene exchange about the world of podcasting, discussing how it serves as a platform for sharing meaningful conversations and insights. They highlight the interconnectedness of their respective podcasts.

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END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (Ottawa). It’s my way to give back and be present.

In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and it's francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I publish a Substack newsletter called ‘a calm presence' which are 'short, practical essays about collapse acceptance, adaptation, response and art’. To subscribe (free of charge) see https://acalmpresence.substack.com. You'll also find a podcast version of each a calm presence posting on Substack or one your favorite podcast player.

Also, please note that a complete transcript of conscient podcast and balado conscient episodes from season 1 to 4 is available on the web version of this site (not available on podcast apps) here: https://conscient-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes.

Your feedback is always welcome at [e-mail] and/or on conscient podcast social media: Facebook, X, Instagram or Linkedin.

I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible.

Claude Schryer

Latest update on July 20, 2024