Where to Find More about
The Things We Don’t Say:
An Anthology of Chronic Illness Truths
The Things We Don’t Say: An Anthology of Chronic Illness Truths has been a big hit! People with chronic illnesses are finding community, understanding, and knowledge while those without chronic illnesses are gaining a new-found understanding of others’ experiences. Check out these podcasts, blogs, reviews, and other items around the web for behind-the-scenes insights, new details, and more.
Podcasts
Listen to interviews with the editor of The Things We Don’t Say: An Anthology of Chronic Illness Truths, Julie Morgenlender and learn how this book got started, how entries were chosen, and much more.
The Celiac Project Podcast
“Fellow Celiac, Julie Morgenlender, joins Mike and Cam to discuss her new nonfiction anthology, “The Things We Don’t Say: An Anthology of Chronic Illness Truths.” In the book, Julie shares her own health journey among a compilation of at times jaw-dropping stories from other sufferers. She explains why giving the medical community and the general public a better understanding of what living with chronic illness looks like is so important. Julie also talks about some of the biggest challenges people with chronic illness face on a day to day basis.”
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The Notable Woman - Episode 2
Recorded in 2016, this podcast delves into life with chronic illnesses and the early stages of the book’s development.
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The Notable Woman - back again for Episode 41
“In this episode, we talk about:
- when [I] first had the idea for the anthology,
- how [I] selected the writers,
- what the process of creating the book was like,
- how it was different due to [my] and [my] authors’ chronic illnesses, and
- how COVID-19 is shining a light on issues that people with chronic illness and disability have been dealing with for decades”
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Chronic Conversations Podcast
“Have you ever felt alone in your fight with chronic illness? Wished there was someone else who understood? Then this is the episode for you! Join me for a conversation with Julie Morgenlender, editor of The Things We Don’t Say: An Anthology of Chronic Illness Truths, a new book featuring stories by 42 authors that together raise their voices and break the silence of what life with chronic illness is really like. We start by talking about Julie’s own personal journey with chronic illness, from the difficulty of living without a diagnosis for so long to the weird sense of relief when she finally received one to how she took control of the management of her health when the medical system was failing her. She and I also bond over our shared experience of living with multiple chronic illnesses and how that changes their impact. Then we talk about her book, particularly how her personal journey with chronic illness influenced her decision to create it and why she chose to make it an anthology. We also cover several universal aspects of the chronically ill experience, including inspiration porn, chronic illness representation in the media, medical misogyny, and many, many more chronic illness truths.”
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Blogs
Check out reviews of of The Things We Don’t Say: An Anthology of Chronic Illness Truths by bloggers from around the world.
Getting Closer to Myself
“The stories contained within the book’s pages are just as heartbreaking as they are all too familiar. They speak to the losses that we all have endured when having to change our lives because of chronic illness. They speak to the relationships that survive the confines of chronic illness and the ones that do not. They speak of the guilt we feel for the things we can do and the things we cannot.”
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dSavannah Rambles
“Overall, the anthology is easy to read, short and to the point, and unashamed about the truths it reveals about chronic illness – things that many people with chronic illness feel unable to share and admit about their lives.
“The 50 essays share the whole gamut of negative emotions you feel when you have a chronic illness: grief, shame, guilt, sadness, etc. Many of the essays are so passionately written, you can almost see the sweat from the writer on the words.”
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Notebooks and Glasses
“I loved the honesty in this book. I learned so much about different chronic illnesses and how the different authors live with their daily struggles and various lifestyles. It hooked me in from the beginning and although at times it felt like a novel due to the different creative styles of writing, and often unbelievable heart-wrenching essays, it most certainly isn’t. It is the rarely told and factual lives of fellow chronic pain and chronic illness sufferers who speak to truth and share their stories and challenges, as well as their hopes and gratitude, with those willing to listen.”
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The Comical Colon
“As someone who lives with three chronic illnesses, I felt like a handful of these authors were pulling bits of my chronic illness journey from my own journal! It was incredibly affirming and validating that I related to some of these stories so intimately.
“But the stories in this anthology aren’t always feel-good. (They, then, wouldn’t be truths, after all). The stories in this anthology are compelling. They’re raw. The writers dive into the nitty-gritty, the hard stuff; they let loose the unfiltered, unbridled truth of living with chronic illness.
“This book is a reminder that speaking aloud these darker things will throw them into the light.”
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Tales of a Natural Spoonie
“If you have a chronic illness there will be at least one if not many stories that will resonate with you. If you don’t have a chronic illness I would still recommend reading this book as it will help you to understand the invisible battles many people face daily.”
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Brainless Blogger
“…The very first essay got to me. Hit me in my feels.
“Fact is every story is relatable in some way. We see ourselves in them or we know people with chronic illnesses who have experienced the same thing. These are stories from our lives and our community as a whole. This is our Voice. Pieced together into a fabric. Each saying a little bit about our story. Each revealing a part of our experiences, but in their personal lives. But we know. We recognize it. It may not be our story but we have felt those emotions.”
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Brad McKenna
“I’ve been with someone with chronic illness for over a decade now. I’ve seen some of the struggles mentioned in this book first-hand. So believe me when I say, that the people in this anthology are so very strong. It takes buckets of resolve to be ok with not being ok; which is not the same as being complacent. One of the themes of the book is just how much work it is to be chronically ill.”
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The Bisexual Resource Center
Finding Connections in Bi+ and Chronically Ill Community
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Videos & Other Mentions
Find all sorts of fun information about The Things We Don’t Say: An Anthology of Chronic Illness Truths around the web.
Bi Women Quarterly
Julie Morgenlender was interviewed about The Things We Don’t Say: An Anthology of Chronic Illness Truths in this issue of the quarterly publication.
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Norton Public Library
Julie Morgenlender speaks about the intersections and differences between chronic illness and disability, read passages from The Things We Don’t Say: An Anthology of Chronic Illness Truths, and answered questions.
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Wilmington Memorial Library
“We think we understand chronic illnesses and those who have them, but we rarely talk about them. What is it truly like to live with chronic illnesses? Are our experiences common? How can we find community? What do our loved ones with chronic illnesses experience? Julie Morgenlender, editor of the recently published nonfiction “The Things We Don’t Say: An Anthology of Chronic Illness Truths”, will speak about how we define chronic illnesses, how they differ and overlap with disability, and the truths of people’s experiences. She will read a few passages from her book and discuss their meaning, followed by a Q&A. This is your chance to ask the questions about chronic illness that you have been afraid to ask, and to come away with new understanding and, for those with chronic illnesses, the reminder that you aren’t alone.”
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Lilith Magazine
In this interview I talk about “finding community, medical gender bias, and how a little Jewish compassion can go a long way.”
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INvisible Project Magazine
In this interview I talk about my journey to diagnosis and finding medical care and treatments. One long-time friend said, “I feel like I know you better now,” and I’m sure that you will, too
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Cary Library
Julie Morgenlender speaks about the intersections and differences between chronic illness and disability, read passages from The Things We Don’t Say: An Anthology of Chronic Illness Truths, and answered questions.
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