I just wanted to say, I'm really sorry about your mum. My mother also has bipolar disorder. She has probably had it for most of my life, but was only diagnosed 5 years ago. It was really hard for me as she was a bully and unpredictable but I've tried to be understanding. I completely understand what you mean about losing your mother mentally vs physically. Also, yes, I completely agree that reading is political. Books are political. They always have been. Books were how Charles Dickens encouraged the middle and upper classes to show some sympathy for the poor. Women were discouraged from reading for centuries. If books didn't influence, that would not have been the case. People don't realise that political goes much deeper than party politics and governments.
I just wanted to say, I'm really sorry about your mum. My mother also has bipolar disorder. She has probably had it for most of my life, but was only diagnosed 5 years ago. It was really hard for me as she was a bully and unpredictable but I've tried to be understanding. I completely understand what you mean about losing your mother mentally vs physically. Also, yes, I completely agree that reading is political. Books are political. They always have been. Books were how Charles Dickens encouraged the middle and upper classes to show some sympathy for the poor. Women were discouraged from reading for centuries. If books didn't influence, that would not have been the case. People don't realise that political goes much deeper than party politics and governments.