Read into it: Imposter Syndrome
This school year is possibly the weirdest one to date for all of us: parents, kids, therapists, humans in this world. With it might come the sense of “imposter syndrome,” that insidious and uncomfortable feeling that you’re getting it wrong despite the world around you thinking you’re getting it right. You’re not alone and you’re not an imposter. You are doing great. One of the best ways I know how to cope and believe me, all of us are just trying to cope, is to escape into books. Hence, this blog post. When we read stories and gather knowledge it is one space we are guaranteed to be free from the niggling and anxiety provoking sense that we are getting it wrong. So let’s dive in, I hope you find something below that helps you pause, gain confidence, and remember that we are all just doing our best.
My Absolute Darling is written by Gabriel Tallent, this book is not for the faint of heart and might be emotionally triggering for folks with a history of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse. It is a coming of age story about a young woman self-named Turtle. She is a survivor and often sees herself as an imposter--a symptom of her extreme trauma and abuse. If you read, Where the Crawdads Sing this is up your much darker alley. Why should you read this one? It’s fast paced, engaging, and thought provoking about what makes us stay in relationships that harm us. Spoiler alert: we sometimes stay because no one is one dimensional.
American Fire by Monica Hesse a true crime story written by a journalist. It covers the story of a series of arsons along the Eastern Shore of Virginia and Maryland. It takes place where that other famous book, Misty of Chincoteague also takes place. If you’ve not read Misty or visited this area of the country both are worth your time. The story details arson after arson as you come to learn more about the arsonists and what drove them to light fires. The book is beautifully sad. Seeking connection in our relationships and in our community sometimes comes out sideways. Why should you read it? It’s a totally different book--narrative yet peppered with details and facts. It demonstrates the cultural shift in a rural community and the desperation we can all feel when change unwantedly comes. Spoiler alert: our arsonists also feel like imposters.
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi is an incredible intergenerational novel about relatives descended from two sisters who were separated in early childhood. Each chapter is written from a different person but the story line comes together like watching water pour out of a pitcher. It’s perfectly fluid. The story begins at the near start of slave trade in now Ghana and ends in the 2000s. Why should you read it? It’s a narrative and emotional appeal to the current light being shed on the injustices in our country and the history of the US slave trade. It illustrates and comments on how Black lives in this country are treated; it’s gripping because spoiler alert: not much has realistically changed for Black people in the United States. You should also read it because it’s beautifully written, and it shows us how we can be more human in our love for each other.
From one imposter to another, let’s take care of each other this month and go gently knowing we are all making the best decisions we can--even when they feel something wild. I hope you can find some space to read a book and find a little piece of meaning and connection across all those pages.
Claire A-
To understand a few of the ‘types’ of imposters… see the infographic below:
