Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha

13 reviews

merenr's review

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.75

 Took me a super long time to read because the content was challenging for me. Big trigger warnings for SH, s**cide, SA, racism/queerphobia/ableism and a bunch of other stuff. 

During my reading, I often felt like: FINALLY SOMEONE IS TALKING ABOUT THESE THINGS. So many painful things that I feel the community has not spoken up about. So many words unsaid that are fully realized in Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha’s words. Audiobook is highly recommended, read by the author. I can’t express enough how the author gave words to what I could never parse together coherently. 

Care Work made me realize so many of the questions I have are not answered by psychology and traditional mental health practices, but rather Disability Justice. Slowly, I’ve been coming to terms about my disabled identity too. Ahhhh so many thoughts. So much growth and development igniting in me. Uncomfortable too. 

If you’re in an alright headspace, give this book a try, and make sure you take care of yourself and give yourself lots of breaks if you’re sensitive to the material. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Homophobia, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

30something_reads's review

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

 Written pre 2020 but still 100% relevant given the ways in which our systems are continuing to dismantle health and safety precautions for the chronically ill. And you're only able-bodied until the day you aren't.

A great read for intersectional disability justice and building community care networks.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Incest, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Addiction, Body shaming, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Excrement, Police brutality, and Suicide attempt

abookwormspov's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

An absolutely stunning and incredibly informative collection of essays. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

crybabybea's review

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

3.75

Opened my eyes to how I view myself and the people around me. Validated so many things for me.

Definitely made me realize how often disability gets overlooked in public spaces. 

Gave me hope that a care-centered community is possible.

Although a lot of the material talked about is sad (check TW), overall I felt the tone of the book was extremely hopeful, and I found the intimate look at care-centered communities beautiful and spiritual.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Death, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

mallyj_20's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Medical trauma

tlaynejones's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

This is the best book I’ve read this year. The writing is deeply compassionate thoughtful and challenging. I am grateful to have the opportunity to question and expand many of my long held understandings of the world and of myself. Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha shared her experiences, vulnerability, strengths, and desires with a warm generous relatability. I wish everyone would read this. Highly recommended.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism and Chronic illness

Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Dysphoria

rionstorm's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

3.5

There's some really good ideas and concrete resources in this book. There's also some wonderful utopian imagining and goal setting, which feels motivational and helped expand my thinking. 

It reads like a mix of a memoir, academic theory, and a practical guide, which was interesting. I struggled to get through certain sections that felt a little repetitive, or were very hyper-specific to Canada and the USA. The intense, firm narration style makes sense and fits with such vital subject matter, but for me became a bit overwhelming after a while, in the same way listening to a lot of impassioned speeches one after the other can make the words being said start to bounce off you a bit. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Excrement, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Violence, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Classism, and Deportation

Minor: Religious bigotry and Stalking

tinyplanet's review

emotional reflective slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation

porcupinetree's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Sexual harassment

brighteyed's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

4.75

such a powerful book and really helped me reconsider dis/ability! i’m not necessarily the biggest fan of some stylistic choices but this is an amazing book :)

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Content Warnings

Minor: Ableism, Child abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Violence