Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Grace Spence Green

Hannah Hill @hh-petrichor.bsky.social · Jul 9

Just finished listening to #ToExistAsIAm by @gracespencegreen.bsky.social Brilliant writing and I always love it when audiobooks are narrated so authentically by the author.

Front cover image of the book To Exist As I Am by Grace Spence Green. It shows a doctor wearing dark pink scrubs with a stethoscope around her neck, sitting in a wheelchair facing forwards. Her dark brown hair is just visible on her shoulders but her head is out of shot of the photo.

1 4

Reposted by Grace Spence Green

Dr Rachel Clarke @drrachelclarke.com · Jun 30

A pleasure to share some of my favourite recent reads in the @theguardian.com - @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social’s No Straight Road Takes You There, @gracespencegreen.bsky.social’s To Exist as I am & Yael Van Der Wouden’s sublime The Safekeep 📚

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...

What we’re reading: writers and readers on the books they enjoyed in June

Writers and Guardian readers discuss the titles they have read over the last month. Join the conversation in the comments

www.theguardian.com

2 8 30

Reposted by Grace Spence Green

Rhiann Johns @serenebutterfly.bsky.social · Jun 14

I might have finished this a couple of days ago, but it’s one I’m still thinking about. #ToExistAsIAm by @gracespencegreen.bsky.social is a powerful, life-affirming book and is a beautiful testament to the resilience and strength of the #disability community. Must-read book!

#BooksWorthReading

1 3

Grace Spence Green @gracespencegreen.bsky.social · Jun 3

Thrilled to be one Waterstones Junes Best Books List! Out on Thursday!
www.waterstones.com/blog/the-wat...

The Waterstones Round Up: June's Best Books | Waterstones.com Blog | Waterstones

As we run headlong into the summer sunshine, check out our pick of the very best publishing this June.

www.waterstones.com

2 2 9

Reposted by Grace Spence Green

Tom Shakespeare @tomshakespeare.bsky.social · May 26

Thread. I have read what resulted, and so should you.

Grace Spence Green @gracespencegreen.bsky.social · Feb 7

On the 25th October 2018, from my hospital bed, I began to write. 1/5

4 10

Grace Spence Green @gracespencegreen.bsky.social · May 26

if you read anything today, read this article by @archiebland.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

The boy who came back: the near-death, and changed life, of my son Max

It was, we were told, a case of sudden infant death syndrome interrupted. What followed would transform my understanding of parenting, disability and the breadth of what makes a meaningful life

www.theguardian.com

2

Grace Spence Green @gracespencegreen.bsky.social · May 23

So disappointing to hear- these cuts affect real people. Jess does such fantastic work.

Touretteshero @touretteshero.bsky.social · May 23

I’m profoundly sad to say that as of today, I’ll no longer be able to do my job as co-artistic director of #Touretteshero because of a recent decision by #AccessToWork to cut my support by 61%. Read & share this post, the hardest I've had to write: www.touretteshero.com/2025/05/23/a... 1/4

A photo of Jess Thom, a white, wheelchair using woman looking into the camera with a serious expression. She is wearing a blue and green hoodie, black padded gloves and is pictured in from of a brick wall

1 7

Reposted by Grace Spence Green

Jolyon Maugham KC @goodlawproject.org · May 21

Last year my wife had breast cancer and a double mastectomy.

This morning, for the first time ever, she was challenged in the changing rooms at the swimming pool. Her breasts were not what make her a woman - but, breasts or not, she is entitled to dignity and protection from vigilantes.

1.2K 3.9K 19K

Reposted by Grace Spence Green

Disability Arts Online @disabilityarts.bsky.social · May 16

Join a conversation between @gracespencegreen.bsky.social and Kyla Harris, as Grace explores her journey from spinal-injury patient to qualified doctor and disabled activist.

When - 05 Jun
Where - Wellcome Collection, London
Cost - Free

disabilityarts.online/events/radic...

A portrait of Grace Spence Green looking directly at the camera. Grace sits crossed legged in her wheelchair and wears round, pale yellow glasses.She has dark brown hair, with a fringe, and is wearing a navy blue jumpsuit and stripy top.

3 7

Reposted by Grace Spence Green

Dr Kate Womersley @katewomersley.com · May 7

Definitely one to look out for. Super so far. Out 5/6/25 @gracespencegreen.bsky.social

1 1 8

Grace Spence Green @gracespencegreen.bsky.social · May 7

Thank you so much Kate!

1 2

Reposted by Grace Spence Green

Caroline Sanderson @carosanderson.bsky.social · Mar 26

My #nonfiction Titles Not to Miss for June in @thebookseller.com are by @iainmacgregor1.bsky.social @dwhitehouse.bsky.social Barbara Demick @gracespencegreen.bsky.social Jay Griffiths @itaob.bsky.social Pria Anand @jeremyathertonlin.bsky.social Krystal Evans

4 7

Reposted by Grace Spence Green

John Green @johngreensbluesky.bsky.social · Mar 24

Happy World TB Day. Grateful for all the work global TB Fighters pour into preventing this curable and preventable scourge. Together, we can end TB.

16 120 1.2K

Grace Spence Green @gracespencegreen.bsky.social · Mar 7

As usual, Rebekah Taussig finds a way of speaking so eloquently on things I didn't realise I was feeling too but had no words to verbalise. Grateful for her voice here;
time.com/7225536/disa...

I'm a Disabled Woman. Is That My Brand?

"Am I squandering the power of my voice when I speak about anything else?"

time.com

3

Grace Spence Green @gracespencegreen.bsky.social · Feb 23

Beautiful article; www.theatlantic.com/family/archi...

My Dad Had Dementia. He Also Had Facebook.

At first, I worried about his erratic posting. Then I realized it was his lifeline.

www.theatlantic.com

1

Reposted by Grace Spence Green

Kit de Waal @kitdewaal.com · Feb 11

Great prize here for writers who are also carers.

Please share :)

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · Jan 21

So please talk about it. Share the site link, tell people it's free to enter and all they need is on the site, along with the entry criteria - the definition of the unpaid carer role. thecuraeprize.uk Be part of it, offer to add to the bursaries, but mainly spread the word. #Curae

The Curae Prize

A writing prize - just for writers who are also carers

thecuraeprize.uk

51 52

Reposted by Grace Spence Green

Nathan Day @nthndy.bsky.social · Feb 9

My partner in crime has written a deeply personal book on her unbeileveable experience. I (perhaps biased) feel that it is a profoundly important insight into medicine and disability which, at it's core, serves as a beautifully effusive paean to all things inclusive:
bsky.app/profile/grac...

Grace Spence Green @gracespencegreen.bsky.social · Feb 7

Every thought, every interaction, every reflection on this journey I would chronicle on scrap paper, iPhone notes, emails to myself- and slowly, painstakingly, that has turned into a book, TO EXIST AS I AM. 3/5

A picture of me, a white woman with glasses, holding my book TO EXIST AS I AM, a doctors notes on recovery and radical acceptance. The book cover is a picture of me sitting in my wheelchair wearing scrubs, from the shoulders down

a quote from y book, 'I want you to understand the nuances of my story, and that there is nuance to disability. Disability is too often oversimplified, sensationalised or glorified, leaving no room for its dynamic nature and the rich variety of experience. I want to frame this book in hope, too, writing from a place of compassion and empathy rather than criticism. I’m writing as someone who has not always done the right thing either, or always known what might be the right thing to – or the right words to say. I want us all to do better.'

3 7

Grace Spence Green @gracespencegreen.bsky.social · Feb 7

It’s out on June 5th, but as a new author, pre-orders massively help with visibility so I'd be so grateful if you'd considering ordering ahead of publication!! www.waterstones.com/book/to-exis... 5/5

To Exist As I Am by Grace Spence Green | Waterstones

Buy To Exist As I Am by Grace Spence Green from Waterstones today! Click and Collect from your local Waterstones or get FREE UK delivery on orders over £25.

www.waterstones.com

6 14

Grace Spence Green @gracespencegreen.bsky.social · Feb 7

I’m so grateful to the team at @wellcomecollection.bsky.social and @profilebooks.bsky.social for seeing the potential in this.
This has been the best thing I’ve ever done, and I can’t wait for you to read it. 4/5

1 1 11

Grace Spence Green @gracespencegreen.bsky.social · Feb 7

Every thought, every interaction, every reflection on this journey I would chronicle on scrap paper, iPhone notes, emails to myself- and slowly, painstakingly, that has turned into a book, TO EXIST AS I AM. 3/5

1 3 13

Grace Spence Green @gracespencegreen.bsky.social · Feb 7

At first it was a way to anchor myself to the strange new reality I had found myself in, but as I wrote, as I learnt, I began to think this could be something bigger than just my diary. 2/5

1 1 6

Grace Spence Green @gracespencegreen.bsky.social · Feb 7

On the 25th October 2018, from my hospital bed, I began to write. 1/5

2 4 12

Grace Spence Green @gracespencegreen.bsky.social · Feb 7

I asked a very quiet older patient to write a sentence for a Mini-Mental State Examination, and he wrote 'this test is a bit silly'. Have kept the scrap paper in in my notebook ever since!

swoon ganz @swoonganz.medsky.social · Feb 7

When I’m having a really awful shift, I look at this note an intubated patient wrote me. I have kept it in my work bag for over 2 years. Someone felt like I took great care of them and that means a lot to me.

“You are the best”

“You are the best” written in very messy handwriting.

3

Reposted by Grace Spence Green

London Review of Books @lrb.co.uk · Feb 1

‘The great children’s writers trusted children with irony and with sophisticated ideas: they trusted them to see in language a set, not of rules, but of possibilities.’

Katherine Rundell on children’s literature: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

Katherine Rundell · Why children’s books?

Children’s books, to a great extent because they are written for those who cannot participate in the market, can offer...

www.lrb.co.uk

48 130

Reposted by Grace Spence Green

A Girl Walks Home Alone 2 @kellylink.bsky.social · Jan 22

When you use alt text, I'm thrilled. I love reading what people write. I love to read how people interpret what they see, what they think is important, the details I might not otherwise have known to see, the piece of knowledge you're introducing me to. It's a flexible, fabulous tool.

22 210 1.1K