The Recovery Letters ed James Withey and Olivia Sagan (including Elsie's letter)

Posted by Ray Schaufeld on Sun, 24 Dec 2017

A collection of letters written by people who have been through depression. We address a person 'out there' who we imagine as currently struggling with it. Each letter starts 'dear you'. About 50 letters each of us saying in our own way 'you are not alone' to a person feels they are and 'it won't last forever, that's the depression talking' to the person who feels the illness may never lift. 'From Elsie' is on pages 153-54.

A simple format and yet it has been liked enough to be one of the Uk's Books for World Book Night April 23, 2018. The Recovery Letters - Addressed to People Experiencing Depression is published by Jessica Kingsley is available from Amazon at £9.99 with free postage or in kindle for £6.99.If it is not yet in your bookshop they will be able to buy it for you. You can also get it for a lot less if you reserve it from your library and there is a free online version.

I hope none of you feel you need it and I wish you all the very best for the festive season and 2018.

Comments

Submitted by celticman on

well, a surprise hit, I guess. 

 

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

World Book Night (UK) April 23 is aimed at enouraging people who are 'hard to reach'. The book selection is quirky, about 5 fit under the 'wellbeing' umbrella, there are 3 crime fictions, 2 childrens' including 'my name is Leon' ,a poetry book, a book aimed at dog lovers...  It is run by The Reading Agency and seems an OK idea. You can apply to get 80 or 160 books to give away to 'hard to reach folks', I have filled in a form asking for 80 to distribute within the Devon Recovery Learning Community. I don't know who chooses the books. If I were on the panel I would also add a graphic novel, a travel book, and another non-fiction which explores an issue other than dealing with depression. I can live with being part of the wellbeing industry and getting a few free books to hand out to friends and family and maybe the 80 if my form ticks the right boxes - how about looking at why the well-being industry is so big, examining a few root causes....

Submitted by airyfairy on

It's a brilliant idea, Elsie, and so good to see that it has made the list for World Book Night.  Congratulations to all the contributors.  Who knows when any of us might feel the need for support - most of us do at one time or another.  

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

World Book(UK) night on April 23 Shakespeare's probable birthday, I had to Google it to get my facts straight. It was started in 2011 and yes the idea is excellent. However looking at this year's book choices they seem a bit random. Maybe this sounds sexist but a lot of men might be wowed by adventure or war yarns or a factual book about sporting heroes if these were provided. 

Also the books are given to marginalised groups but that is not always the exact same thing as people who find reading hard. I am sure many people are open to trying pretty much anything if they get it for nowt. Older people and people in prison often 'get into' philosophy. I reserved the Teachings of Buddha from the Devon Library Catalogue this year. My copy came from Exeter Prison Library and I had to wait 2 months for it to become available. A book of award-winning poetry in addition to  the 'crossover' age choice might also go down well eg the Forward Book for this year. A lot of people get switched off by poetry at school because they think poetry is posh and not for them. Good modern poems might make them think again when they are older and out of school and could inspire people to write their own. Given the option of under or over-estimating the reading choices of the 'hard to reach' I would rather 'go high'.

Anyhow I have little reason to grump as I am now in something BIG and I have blagged 2 free paperbacks to datewink

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

Congratulations on being included in this list Elsie! It's a brilliant idea. I'd heard of World book Day for children, but didn't realise that there was a night version for adults. I also wonder who does the picks. Here's a link for anyone who's also curious: http://worldbooknight.org/about

 

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

Thanks inserto for your good comment and for posting the link.