Pathemata, Or, The Story of My Mouth is an experiment in interiority written in the pandemic studio. Something of a companion piece to 2009's Bluets, Pathemata merges a pain diary chronicling a decade of jaw pain with dreams and dailies, eventually blurring the lines between embodied, unconscious, and everyday life.
Through diligent documentation of her experiences, Nelson depicts the negative of pain–its imprint on a life–revealing her personal encounters with the exploitation of desperate individuals integral to the corrupt economy of healthcare in America today ... Pathemata’s sensitive exploration of suffering is a profound reflection on vulnerability, persistence, and how we try to move towards connection with others in the aftermath of trauma, pain, and death. With subtlety and deftness, Nelson’s writing is sensational in its stark and touching heft.
A fascinating study in how collective and individual suffering can isolate us but also teach us the necessity of fully inhabiting each moment of our lives ... Flows seamlessly from pain-addled dreams to medical summaries.
Dense and striking, to be savored and reread ... While the text is short, it packs plenty of Nelson’s signature power punches of brilliance and shrewd humor, driving the reader to look between carefully constructed lines that twitch with secrets and memories held and defended ... Reveal[s] both the power and burden of what is said and what is not.
