There must be so many people who follow you who never feel , like me, they have anything worthwhile to contribute, so on their behalf I just want to say, we are all behind you, cheering you on and wishing you strength and determination for 2024.
Saw the article in the BBC where you are quoted as losing your sense of humour since last years fall on your head. Well, I must wholeheartedly disagree as your last chronicle, The Curious Incident etc, had me in stitches and was delighted to hear such. I found the comment that Isabelle does not want to be a carer full of authenticity and many women would be reticent to speak their truth. For that I thank you Hanif.
This was great radio, and great hanif kureishi: you laid yourself bare, as you do here, and with your family supporting you, while acknowledging the ongoing pain you're all feeling. In this binary culture it's good to be reminded that life can be difficult yet still precious and with many small joys (and some big ones) to celebrate.
I hope you can enjoy music again, now or in the not too distant future.
Hanif Kureishi, since my marriage of 22 years ended when my husband died of Covid in 2020, I've found solace and wisdom and inspiration everywhere ,and your writing on Substack has been a real comfort in desolation.
Your movie My Beautiful Launderette is memorable - I have bits of the dialogue still in memory- and your writing now is also so meaningful to so many, and creates hopefulness.
Just listened to this. You have invited us into your world/s over the past year. It’s been a generous, generous gift, affording us the opportunity to not only feel your rage and pain, but to also imagine ourselves into such a random calamity. You have - opened up worlds of wonder, fear, the beauty of words and feelings, and above all, love. Thank you Hanif ( and family/friends). So much.
Hanif, caught bits of your guest edit and loved it - especially the garden one. Your humour as said before is all there - but your voice! You have such a distinctive voice - you will be pleased to know this it might even make you smile who knows - it is not an annoying voice it has the right pitch and all. I think you should have your own spot. are you listening bbc Radio 4?? We are now on Boxing Day and soon the New Year - got a few things going on and think you might have too. With love Maddi in that small North Yorkshire Village xx
We can all relate to your situation. I found myself caught up in helplessness when I had a major DVT. I was lucky. Like you, my wife was on hand, she did CPR, the air ambulance of Kent arrived. And I am now able to write something every day, poetry mainly, some essays. It is another world, the Word lives! Thank you for another inspiration. A literal breath in. Tony.
It's pretty remarkable how you were able to change almost instantly (and in the most stressful of circumstances) to a whole new method of communicating - turning a mental first-draft into a coherent, structured narrative, without losing the spontaneity - almost as if you were made for the task. And, in the process, articulate the experience of thousands of people without that facility at a time when it is very much needed (in light of current attitudes towards 'the disabled', the burden 'they' place on the rest of 'us', and the resurgence of support for 'assisted dying', in lieu of assisted living).
A wonderful and inspiring programme. Thank you so much Hanif for this, for sharing so much with us. You are an inspiration and I admire you for using your voice to such effect.
Thank you! So glad to hear you're home. You are an inspiration, I realize a reluctant but still truly courageous one. I got a chronic illness 12 years ago and it completely derailed my life... but you demonstrate the power of carrying on, using your mind and seeing with heart and humour, despite, around and along with the barriers - unwelcome and awful as they are. Your quirky sensibility and sometimes oddball but prescient work has accompanied my creative and political work since my twenties. You were and are, in spite of everything, a strength and solace to this doubly diasporic, now becoming a little dowdy, desi dyke. Sending you much affection and appreciation. Punam
You echo my feelings, our shared flows of life- and that inner ‘thing’ that just seems to kick in when we all can’t imagine things can go lower- something - a message - a few words- a glance - a knocking/knowing glance that stimulates the senses -that’s why we are here for one another in a shared community. Loved your Today programme- today- nothing better than the present as a gift of presence.
Been listening to you on Today, Radio 4, in very upstate NY. Very moving, it’s wet my eyes a bit. Your courage, clarity, yes, grace and kindness. Your family’s love. You’ve meant a lot to me since Launderette, and The Buddha of Suburbia I read 30 years ago when I moved to Syracuse,NY from near Stanmore, the thrill it gave me, reading about ‘my life’ , The Black Album when it came out, prescient, and reread 3 years ago, still so. Your essays, the Granta one in ‘86, and the collection, you signed, my brother in Stanmore sent me, much prized for me. You and I go back a long way, you’ve kept me in touch with England these decades. Your thoughts, ideas, have meant more than you know. And there’s been a few laughs too, in fact more than a few. The courage you’ve shown in supporting Salman, then 89 and again now, is exemplary.
Mostly, though, it is todays Today edition.
I listen with humility, while I’m on call at the local hospital, mental health, tonight.
I wish you and your family the best as you return home.
I’m going back to the radio to hear what Alan Yentob has to say about you…
Dear Hanif
There must be so many people who follow you who never feel , like me, they have anything worthwhile to contribute, so on their behalf I just want to say, we are all behind you, cheering you on and wishing you strength and determination for 2024.
Much love Jo S
Saw the article in the BBC where you are quoted as losing your sense of humour since last years fall on your head. Well, I must wholeheartedly disagree as your last chronicle, The Curious Incident etc, had me in stitches and was delighted to hear such. I found the comment that Isabelle does not want to be a carer full of authenticity and many women would be reticent to speak their truth. For that I thank you Hanif.
This was great radio, and great hanif kureishi: you laid yourself bare, as you do here, and with your family supporting you, while acknowledging the ongoing pain you're all feeling. In this binary culture it's good to be reminded that life can be difficult yet still precious and with many small joys (and some big ones) to celebrate.
I hope you can enjoy music again, now or in the not too distant future.
Hanif Kureishi, since my marriage of 22 years ended when my husband died of Covid in 2020, I've found solace and wisdom and inspiration everywhere ,and your writing on Substack has been a real comfort in desolation.
Your movie My Beautiful Launderette is memorable - I have bits of the dialogue still in memory- and your writing now is also so meaningful to so many, and creates hopefulness.
Just listened to this. You have invited us into your world/s over the past year. It’s been a generous, generous gift, affording us the opportunity to not only feel your rage and pain, but to also imagine ourselves into such a random calamity. You have - opened up worlds of wonder, fear, the beauty of words and feelings, and above all, love. Thank you Hanif ( and family/friends). So much.
Hanif, caught bits of your guest edit and loved it - especially the garden one. Your humour as said before is all there - but your voice! You have such a distinctive voice - you will be pleased to know this it might even make you smile who knows - it is not an annoying voice it has the right pitch and all. I think you should have your own spot. are you listening bbc Radio 4?? We are now on Boxing Day and soon the New Year - got a few things going on and think you might have too. With love Maddi in that small North Yorkshire Village xx
Heard this live, a great listen. Fascinating insight into how the blog was written. Looking forward to reading Shattered in 2024. All the best, mate!
So glad you’re home. Incredible determination on your part to get there. So inspiring. Congratulations.
Great radio show today too.
May 2024 bring you even more recovery, joy and peacefulness xx
Dear Hanif,
We can all relate to your situation. I found myself caught up in helplessness when I had a major DVT. I was lucky. Like you, my wife was on hand, she did CPR, the air ambulance of Kent arrived. And I am now able to write something every day, poetry mainly, some essays. It is another world, the Word lives! Thank you for another inspiration. A literal breath in. Tony.
It's pretty remarkable how you were able to change almost instantly (and in the most stressful of circumstances) to a whole new method of communicating - turning a mental first-draft into a coherent, structured narrative, without losing the spontaneity - almost as if you were made for the task. And, in the process, articulate the experience of thousands of people without that facility at a time when it is very much needed (in light of current attitudes towards 'the disabled', the burden 'they' place on the rest of 'us', and the resurgence of support for 'assisted dying', in lieu of assisted living).
Looking forward to the book. 👍
A wonderful and inspiring programme. Thank you so much Hanif for this, for sharing so much with us. You are an inspiration and I admire you for using your voice to such effect.
Abrazos
Thank you! So glad to hear you're home. You are an inspiration, I realize a reluctant but still truly courageous one. I got a chronic illness 12 years ago and it completely derailed my life... but you demonstrate the power of carrying on, using your mind and seeing with heart and humour, despite, around and along with the barriers - unwelcome and awful as they are. Your quirky sensibility and sometimes oddball but prescient work has accompanied my creative and political work since my twenties. You were and are, in spite of everything, a strength and solace to this doubly diasporic, now becoming a little dowdy, desi dyke. Sending you much affection and appreciation. Punam
Dear Hanif - and dear Jo
You echo my feelings, our shared flows of life- and that inner ‘thing’ that just seems to kick in when we all can’t imagine things can go lower- something - a message - a few words- a glance - a knocking/knowing glance that stimulates the senses -that’s why we are here for one another in a shared community. Loved your Today programme- today- nothing better than the present as a gift of presence.
Thank you, Jo, Hanif
Chewby
Today thing was v good...personal and poignant.
Glad you are home.
Been listening to you on Today, Radio 4, in very upstate NY. Very moving, it’s wet my eyes a bit. Your courage, clarity, yes, grace and kindness. Your family’s love. You’ve meant a lot to me since Launderette, and The Buddha of Suburbia I read 30 years ago when I moved to Syracuse,NY from near Stanmore, the thrill it gave me, reading about ‘my life’ , The Black Album when it came out, prescient, and reread 3 years ago, still so. Your essays, the Granta one in ‘86, and the collection, you signed, my brother in Stanmore sent me, much prized for me. You and I go back a long way, you’ve kept me in touch with England these decades. Your thoughts, ideas, have meant more than you know. And there’s been a few laughs too, in fact more than a few. The courage you’ve shown in supporting Salman, then 89 and again now, is exemplary.
Mostly, though, it is todays Today edition.
I listen with humility, while I’m on call at the local hospital, mental health, tonight.
I wish you and your family the best as you return home.
I’m going back to the radio to hear what Alan Yentob has to say about you…
Dear Hanif, thank you so much, it was a pleasure to listen to your voice. Thank you for inviting us to your life and for sharing your thoughts.
Wish you all the best in 2024🎆
Please keep on writing!