Radical Hope is a collection of letters–to ancestors, to children five generations from now, to strangers in grocery lines, to any and all who feel weary and discouraged–written by award-winning novelists, poets, political thinkers, and activists. Provocative and inspiring, Radical Hope offers readers a kaleidoscopic view of the love and courage needed to navigate this time of upheaval, uncertainty, and fear, in view of the recent US presidential election. (via Goodreads)

I received an eARC from Edelweiss and the publisher, Vintage, in exchange for an honest review.

The first section of the Radical Hope anthology, “Roots,” is love: it is support, it is reassurances, it is peace. It is meant to be a balm for the soul of the reader, formed in words and pages instead of a salve.

The second section, “Seeds,” sows the seeds of revolution in its letters: how to be part of this movement through your art, through your words, through your friendships, and most of all, through your actions.

We have to keep fighting, because otherwise there will be no future – all will be consumed. – Junot Diaz

There was only one essay in the whole anthology that I really didn’t like, which is pretty awesome. Usually I dislike 3 or 4 essays in a collection of 20. My favorite was Mona Eltahawy’s.

I loved this anthology for its diversity. No two authors had even similar experiences to write about, and that’s what made it so spectacular to me. Even that essay that I didn’t like will probably be the one that someone else connects to, and that’s amazing.

This anthology recognizes the weaknesses of President Obama, of Hillary Clinton, and of Bernie Sanders, while also recognizing that there is more to this election than any of them, and talking about the consequences that each of them brought to the table.

Commit. Be a witness. Take what you learn, prick your finger, and write a new story to be read in the days to come. Then listen: Listen to the stories others have written and that are read aloud like a song. – Achy Obejas

This was absolutely a five star read for me. I know at least four people that desperately need this book, and I’m sure you do, too. I highly recommend you pick up this anthology, because I think it has something for everyone. I hope that it can help soothe some of the wounds that we all woke up with on November 9.

You can pick up a copy through Amazon, Indiebound or your other favorite bookseller!

 

Disclaimer: All links to Indiebound and Amazon are affiliate links, which means that if you buy through those links, I will make a small amount of money off of it.