NEWYORKTIMESBESTSELLER-Inherstunningdebut,thecreatorofBlackLiturgiesweavesstoriesfromthreegenerationsofherfamilyalongsidecontemplativereflectionstodiscoverthe“necessaryrituals“thatconnectuswithourbelonging,dignity,andliberation.“Thisisthekindofbookthatmakesyoudifferentwhenyou’redone.“--AshleyC.Ford,NewYorkTimesbestsellingauthorofSomebody’sDaughter“Reachesdeepbeneaththesurfaceofwordsunspoken,woundsunhealed,andsecretsuntemperedtobreakthemopeninorderforfreshlighttobreakthrough.“--MorganJerkins,NewYorkTimesbestsellingauthorofThisWillBeMyUndoingandCaulBabyONEOFTHEBESTBOOKSOFTHEYEAR:TheRoot,LibraryJournal“Fromthewomb,wemustrepeatwithregularitythattoloveourselvesistosurvive.IbelievethatiswhatmyfatherwantedformeandknewIwouldsodesperatelyneed:atoolforsurvival,thetruthofmydignitynamedlikeamercyneweachmorning.“SowritesColeArthurRileyinherunforgettablebookofstoriesandreflectionsondiscoveringthesacredinherskin.Inthesedeeplytransportingpages,ArthurRileyreflectsonthestoriesofhergrandmotherandfather,andhowtheyrevealedtoheranembodied,dignity-affirmingspirituality,notonlyinwhattheybelievedbutintheactoflivingitself.Writingmemorablyofherownchildhoodandcomingtoself,ArthurRileyboldlyexploressomeofthemosturgentquestionsoflifeandfaith:Howcanspiritualitynotsilencethebody,butinsteadallowittocomealive?Howdowehonor,lament,andhealfromthestoriesweinherit?Howcanwefindpeaceinaworldovertakenwithdislocation,noise,andunrest?Inthisindelibleworkofcontemplativestorytelling,ArthurRileyinvitesustodescendintoourownstories,examineourcapacitytorest,wonder,joy,rage,andrepair,andfindthatourhumanityisnotanenemytofaithbutevidenceofit.Atonceacompellingspiritualmeditation,apowerfulintergenerationalaccount,andatendercoming-of-agenarrative,ThisHereFleshspeakspotentlytoanyonewhosuspectsthatourstoriesmighthavesomethingtosaytous.
