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annemaries_shelves's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
This was probably one of the more unique and undefinable non-fiction books I've read in a while.
Jordan Abel, towards the end of the text, calls it a "research-creation", which 'combines elements of creative-nonfiction, found archival documentation, photography, concrete poetry, and academic inquiry.'
Throughout the book, Abel discusses the personal and broader impacts of intergenerational trauma from the residential school system in Canada and the complexity of Indigenous identity as a result. He especially focuses on the experiences of people who have, like him, have been stripped of/dispossessed of their community and history, and also identify as urban Indigenous. He also discusses the argument/fact that residential schools are always present in Indigenous art and literature, even in their explicit absence, and that was a really important and impactful moment of realization for me (and I hope other readers).
The mix of personal 'notes', interviews and transcripts of presentations/talks, photography, and poetry really strengthened the thesis of the book and made it an engaging, and emotional read.
I particularly appreciated the overlaying of Indigenous art (notably Indigenous art from the West coast) where in the art is overlays a photograph. The use of white space in the art and text was also really effective in supporting his ideas and experiences, and appears multiple times throughout the book.
There's a lot of really great ideas captured in his book and I want to tab/annotate my own copy one day.
Content/trigger warning: The book includes printouts of websites discussing suicide and self-harm. Mentions of residential schools don't go into detail, but are a topic discussed throughout the text.
Jordan Abel, towards the end of the text, calls it a "research-creation", which 'combines elements of creative-nonfiction, found archival documentation, photography, concrete poetry, and academic inquiry.'
Throughout the book, Abel discusses the personal and broader impacts of intergenerational trauma from the residential school system in Canada and the complexity of Indigenous identity as a result. He especially focuses on the experiences of people who have, like him, have been stripped of/dispossessed of their community and history, and also identify as urban Indigenous. He also discusses the argument/fact that residential schools are always present in Indigenous art and literature, even in their explicit absence, and that was a really important and impactful moment of realization for me (and I hope other readers).
The mix of personal 'notes', interviews and transcripts of presentations/talks, photography, and poetry really strengthened the thesis of the book and made it an engaging, and emotional read.
I particularly appreciated the overlaying of Indigenous art (notably Indigenous art from the West coast) where in the art is overlays a photograph. The use of white space in the art and text was also really effective in supporting his ideas and experiences, and appears multiple times throughout the book.
There's a lot of really great ideas captured in his book and I want to tab/annotate my own copy one day.
Content/trigger warning: The book includes printouts of websites discussing suicide and self-harm. Mentions of residential schools don't go into detail, but are a topic discussed throughout the text.
Content Warnings
Minor: Self harm and Suicide
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