It is difficult to describe this book as it is so many things. The first quarter is on nature - the awe and wonder that is all around us if we stop and take time to observe. Part two is about telling the stories of our own lives and accepting our imperfections. The third section is on friendship and how vital relationships are. The last quarter is on paying attention, savouring joy, finding our inner strength.Baird's book is intensely personal as she reveals her experiences with cancer and the difficulty she had as a mother of young children while undergoing surgery and recovery. She found solace in the sea through her early morning ocean swims with a group of women who meet at Manly. She shares stories of her life in New York, her university days, and the friends she has made along the way.
I have previously read Baird's stunning biography Victoria the Queen (2017) which showcased her talents as a researcher, writer and historian. In Phosphorescence she uses these same skills but adds an element of memoir which draws the reader in.
I was talking with colleagues the other day about the good things about life during the pandemic. We spoke about slowing down, making time to connect and reignite relationships, revisiting hobbies, and finding joy in life's simple pleasures. These are things I want to carry into my post-pandemic life, along with the lessons of finding awe and wonder I was reminded of when reading Phosphorescence.