Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

See No Stranger by Valarie Kaur

6 reviews

emalderwood's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

I picked this up as part of a reading challenge, not having really high expectations. I was wary of it being a very 'feel-good,' 'self-help' type book. Instead, I discovered probably one of my favourite books of all time - a book that, despite being published 4 years ago, touched on my deepest fears and pain as we struggle to keep hoping and pushing for change amidst an internationally-broadcast genocide. 

This was like a love letter to anyone who is laboring for a better world founded in love - real, just love and not the kind that doesn't require action. The bits of personal experience lent depth and poignancy to the lessons imparted and it really felt like a big sister taking me by the hand and saying "you are strong enough, and you are not alone." I cried so many times reading this - both at the wisdom Valarie Kaur shared, the words that spoke to me, and at the weight of the grief and pain she recounts bearing witness to. Anyone struggling to make sense of injustice, to find their way in a broken world, or to keep working towards justice through pain and grief: READ. THIS. BOOK. 

I also appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the Sikh faith. Kaur wove elements of her spirituality throughout the book in a way that was accessible, I believe, to anyone of any faith. She has studied other religions and holds appreciation for practices beyond her own and uses examples to help demonstrate how specific wisdom is relevant to other spiritualities. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Hate crime

Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy

Minor: Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Suicide attempt

meganpbell's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.75

This memoir astonished and altered me. Coming of age as an American Sikh in the aftermath of 9/11, Valarie Kaur’s dedication to making a difference and her extraordinary courage in the face of hate crimes, police brutality, and sexual assault are made only more remarkable by her resilient compassion toward those who’d harm her. Read this if you believe a better world takes both courage and kindness and you’d like to become more of both.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Islamophobia, and Mass/school shootings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Torture and Suicide attempt

beth_simmons's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

This book should be required reading at this moment in our society. Full of insight, hope, and honesty, Kaur's idea of revolutionary love and how we practice it is so engaging it needs more than one read-through. I led a discussion about it which was supposed to be a single one-hour session. Instead, we stretched it out over four sessions which all went well past the time allotted. It is just so full. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

ajaggers324's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Islamophobia, and Medical trauma

Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Genocide, Homophobia, Infertility, Terminal illness, Antisemitism, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

sneaky_snake22's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

This is a book I will be revisiting for the rest of my life.  It's beautiful and inspiring, I'm not a motherhood person nor l but even I can get on board with her metaphor.  I absolutely loved this.  The content is broken up in a way to allow you to pieces the information slowly, which is great since some of it is really heavy and emotional and you need that time to breathe.  I am inspired and able to accept that there is a lot I'm heading from as I continue working to fight for racial and social justice.  That I don't have to be everything,  but simply use the gifts I have to move forward.  I needed this book.  And I like many people need it too. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Pregnancy

She talks as a survivor and someone who works with survivors to move in and through their grief. This is a very honest and difficult book but 100% worth it.

applesaucecreachur's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

4.5

A reflective and important memoir that challenges people to radically move beyond hate. The emphasis on wonder and self-love in a world dominated by hatred is difficult to swallow at times, but is backed up by the author’s explanation that anger is a protector of love, and therefore is something to be understood (though perhaps not always allowed). In my own life, I will try to choose wonder and self-love.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Chronic illness, Infertility, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt