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Pa.28/4/2024 Anyone who has ever met my father, Herman Van Bostraeten, knows that, when he writes a detailed book review, he does it as objectively as possible. The idea that anything his daughter produces, is by definition excellent, would be insane.
As such, I am intensely proud that ‘our Pa’ - with his background as historian and archaeologist, once representative of the NFWO (National Fund for Scientific Research), later teacher at the Saint Barbara's College in Ghent, Belgium and also author of multiple articles for scientific and cultural magazines and of his book ‘De Merovingische begraafplaats te Gent – Port Arthur en de nederzetting Sloten’ (The Merovingian cemetery in Ghent – Port Arthur and the settlement of Sloten) which was awarded the Pro Civitate Prijs voor Geschiedenis van het Gemeentekrediet van België (Pro Civitate Prize for History by the Municiple Credit of Belgium) in 1966, and published by this organisation in 1971 - wrote (read: typed) the following considerations about ‘Recognise ME’, my memoir about medical gaslighting, which is to be published on the 15th of May by Raven Crest Books. Anneke VLIEGEN, Recognise ME. A book review. In truth, it has been years since I read - both in form and content - such a rich, complex and layered book as Anneke Vliegen’s Recognise ME. The subjective - what else could it be? - memoir of this author appears, upon critical reading, to be a report, as objective as possible and chronologically structured as it should be, of her evolution from carefree child into adult, spouse and mother, for decades a victim of medical gaslighting. This term - also used in medical circles - means (roughly speaking): if we, scientists, are at a loss about a condition, then it most likely resides in the patient's mind… (As if that would provide a reason to stop searching and helping…) This account of an ever-present battle to survive honourably with a chronic illness, and the considerations of the writer about her own position and behaviour in addition to those of her entourage - reads as fluently and is as engaging as a Swedish thriller: a surprising story full of twists and turns, as unpredictable as the patient’s condition itself.
These questions would be pointless, should they fail to point towards clear answers, or at least to relevant reflections:
The answers have never been formulated. Has anyone ever given them any thought? If so, it’s likely to have been the victims of the lack thereof, rather than those within the circles that could/should (want to?) implement change… These deliberations alone lead to appropriate and applied social criticism… In Recognise ME clear examples are presented. Are politics about steering government towards prosperity and - even more important - towards communal well-being or are they about the battle for power to be allowed to make that happen? And does that work within our, the Western world’s, ideological model? Or elsewhere? More questions than answers. You won’t find the latter in this review, anyway. And who is going to disapprove of that? One thing is clear. ME and chronic conditions in general, form part of a societal context, and create tension between the individual and their environment, between those close and involved and those further away and indifferent. The art to survival is dependent on developing enough self awareness to keep adjusting to the ever changing situation, based on experience and introspection on the one hand, and on the other creating a sizeable and strong enough network of medically and therapeutically trained, nursing and caring, committed professionals, forming a cooperative multidisciplinary team. But doesn’t the most important factor remain the support and understanding of friends and Friends? The answer can be found in the question. Recognise ME is not only a memoir, it is also a bittersweet book about hope and love. In the end light will need to enter the tunnel from the outside; meanwhile there is clarity on the inside through growing individual radiance and that of a sympathetic environment in various areas. This review is certainly no mirror to Recognise ME.
Anneke herself has suffered this culture shock twice, once upon her arrival on the island and years later when she returned to Belgium… There are worse things to worry about! Life as it is, with a smile and a tear… Herman VAN BOSTRAETEN Özdere (TR), 25 april 2024 Recognise ME is already in pre-order as eBook.
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