Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

13 reviews

micaelamariem's review against another edition

emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I did not know about the controversy around the author when I picked up this book so this review is solely about the book and not the author.
It was an okay read. Definitely quick and easy to read. I liked the exploration of what it means to be Native American and how the individual is always struggling with the community. There was some stuff that was uncomfortable—I can see why it’s a banned book—and some issues I wish were addressed better than they were, but overall it was an enjoyable read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Racism, Suicide, Bullying, Car accident, Colonisation, Alcohol, Death, Blood, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Classism, Cursing, Violence, Vomit, Ableism, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, and Cultural appropriation

brookey8888's review against another edition

funny informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I appreciated this book, but I’m not the target audience. I just can’t stand teenage boy humor and this book is full of it(which is fine because that’s the target demographic). I did love the discussion about the cycles they face and talk about friendships and race. I think this is a good book for discussion and learning for kids. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Colonisation, Cursing, Death of parent, Bullying, Classism, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Death, Car accident, Grief, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, and Emotional abuse

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

this truly felt like reading a young kids diary as they went through school and other life problems. such an important read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Alcohol, Cursing, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Death, Colonisation, and Grief

inked_in_pages's review against another edition

funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs

Moderate: Colonisation, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Physical abuse, and Death

directorpurry's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Violence, Ableism, Addiction, Bullying, Car accident, Classism, Drug abuse, Racism, Death, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Suicide, and Body shaming

Minor: Colonisation

elia_elizabeth_'s review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Racism, Sexual content, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Medical content, Vomit, Bullying, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Alcoholism

kendra_haug's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful sad fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Colonisation, Alcoholism, Car accident, Cultural appropriation, Eating disorder, Grief, and Death

gays0up's review against another edition

dark funny hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Colonisation, Racial slurs, Addiction, Alcohol, Bullying, Racism, Violence, Alcoholism, and Grief

Moderate: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Cursing, Homophobia, and Vomit

Minor: Animal death

jamiejanae_6's review against another edition

funny hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Addiction, Child abuse, Vomit, Alcoholism, Bullying, Grief, Toxic friendship, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, and Gun violence

Minor: Colonisation, Murder, and Eating disorder

jhbandcats's review

challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A devastating semi-autobiographical story of a teenaged Spokane Indian who leaves the reservation to break out of the rez cycle of poverty and alcoholism. 

This book isn’t very long and it’s very funny, and it has short chapters that move really quickly - but it seemed to take me forever to finish it. I’d put it down and then I’d procrastinate rather than reading more. It was because it’s about the most painful story I’ve read in I don’t know how long. It would be sad enough anyway, but the fact that it’s based on Alexie’s experiences makes it heartbreaking. 

I know about Alexie’s sexual abuse of women and the harm that he caused. That infuriates me. For someone so talented and so representative of a minority to take advantage of his position in this way is worse than appalling because it gives a bad name to all in that minority. In addition to my anger, I have mixed feelings about recommending his book. It’s the same with Woody Allen and Roman Polanski movies - how do you separate the reprehensible artist from the spectacular art? Is that even possible? 

I don’t know the answer. I just know that this was a phenomenal book that makes me want to read everything else by Sherman Alexie. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Car accident, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Classism, Grief, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Death, Domestic abuse, and Colonisation