annabelle42688's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Incredibly informative.
nhunni's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
kittyka0s's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
meeji's review against another edition
5.0
Words are powerful and this is so apparent while reading this book. The writers reclaim phrases, reject others and use their voice to talk to their audience in an intimate and candid setting. And when words connect, they create stories — such a central part of Aboriginal culture and incredibly present in each unique chapter.
The 51 Aboriginal writers come from all over the country and from all walks of life. From suburbia to country towns, with a myriad of lifestyles and paths among them. That alone should quash any ‘othering’ that can take place when non-Indigenous people think about Aboriginal Australia. This is a diverse snapshot that only just skims the surface of Blak culture and community.
Chapters are sorted by alphabetical order, which means there is no structure to narrative or theme. You’ll meet people who struggled with their identity, the varying shades of their skin, and the casual racism thrown their way. You’ll meet people in pain. And others who are embracing their culture after living removed for so long.
Celeste Little, one of the writers in the collection, sums it up best: "Until this country finally 'grows up Aboriginal' itself, and starts not only being honest about its history and the ongoing impacts of colonisation, but also making amends, I don't feel I will be able to completely grow up Aboriginal myself. I wonder if I will ever get to be able to in this lifetime. I hope so."
#alwayswasalwayswillbe
The 51 Aboriginal writers come from all over the country and from all walks of life. From suburbia to country towns, with a myriad of lifestyles and paths among them. That alone should quash any ‘othering’ that can take place when non-Indigenous people think about Aboriginal Australia. This is a diverse snapshot that only just skims the surface of Blak culture and community.
Chapters are sorted by alphabetical order, which means there is no structure to narrative or theme. You’ll meet people who struggled with their identity, the varying shades of their skin, and the casual racism thrown their way. You’ll meet people in pain. And others who are embracing their culture after living removed for so long.
Celeste Little, one of the writers in the collection, sums it up best: "Until this country finally 'grows up Aboriginal' itself, and starts not only being honest about its history and the ongoing impacts of colonisation, but also making amends, I don't feel I will be able to completely grow up Aboriginal myself. I wonder if I will ever get to be able to in this lifetime. I hope so."
#alwayswasalwayswillbe
lifeinpoetry's review against another edition
5.0
I'm not Australian though my grandfather is Purépecha (indigenous people in Mexico) so I'm interested in indigenous peoples both within and outside my home country. I judged this anthology less on the strength of the writing since anthologies are always a mixed bag and more on the breadth of the experiences it presented me.
There were 50-ish contributions so it no one story was the same. The age of the contributors was varied and some were of mixed-race, some grew up always knowing they were Aboriginal while others only learned about it when they were older. Some lived with their original family, some had been taken away by the state in an institutional attempt to assimilate Aboriginal people. A lot of it dealt with institutional racism, internalized racism, racism from settlers, and prejudice from other Aboriginal people.
There was also the joy of self-discovery, familial love, and, for some, discovering that they were part of a much larger community than they grew up knowing.
There were 50-ish contributions so it no one story was the same. The age of the contributors was varied and some were of mixed-race, some grew up always knowing they were Aboriginal while others only learned about it when they were older. Some lived with their original family, some had been taken away by the state in an institutional attempt to assimilate Aboriginal people. A lot of it dealt with institutional racism, internalized racism, racism from settlers, and prejudice from other Aboriginal people.
There was also the joy of self-discovery, familial love, and, for some, discovering that they were part of a much larger community than they grew up knowing.
anniesreading's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
kirsty_sheridan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0