Girl, Woman, Other

This novel by Bernardine Evaristo (Hamish Hamilton, 2019) is big but surprisingly light to read.
Its big size is because of many characters, mostly non-Caucasian women and their life histories in it and the style of writing.
While recounting their life's journey, these women comment upon every current, burning issue: racism, immigration, gender and feminism (now outdated). They narrate how they have overcome extreme odds in their lives.
The style of writing is elaborate with long sentences with minimum punctuation. A sentence typically extends to two or three lines and is then followed by a word or two on the following two or three lines. Small sections galore. A chapter is devoted to each woman. Trajectories of these women are connected.
It is a riveting, baffling, extremely clever book with a sweeping reach. It helps one to get a better connection with the world around.

Benefits of openness

The functions of British royal family are many. Providing a job to photographers and bit writers, entertainment to public and undertaking tours as goodwill ambassadors are the main ones. A whole publicity industry runs on them to provide fodder to both  starry eyed innocents and cynics.
The family has accepted that change will have to come to it also after the death of Princess Diana. So Meghan Markle was accepted into its fold.
Meghan is bringing about further and radical change. She and Prince Harry have declared that they do not want to live off the public exchequer. Wow! This is a deadly blow to the institution. Kudos to Meghan for her self-respect.
I bet Meghan was behind this move though Harry has also suffered from his membership of the family in the wake of Diana's split from Prince Charles. Any other British girl would have balked at the decision but not Meghan.
This is an example of openness and diversity leading to bold, good decisions.