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tellsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
An intense book! Super intense. So many gems and real points. Review to come.
--- update: review -/----
You know what’s crazy... that publishers didn’t think it was important in the past to publish diverse voices telling their own stories from way back when. Now that white people are going out of style and we ain’t trying to really hear none of their morally bankrupt and dry stories, literary diversity is becoming the in-thing. Okay, I’m being a little cheeky, but what I mean is that on one hand I’m sick that we’re just getting these stories out now and on the other hand I’m glad more and more BIPOC first-person accounts and BIPOC & LGBTQIA fiction & nonfic is coming to the forefront.
Something like this shouldn’t just exist now. Iterations of this book spanning decades should exist and should be easily accessible; but there’s no one to blame but racist publishing practices from the top down. There should be hundreds of books like this — spanning decades. I want to compare a book like this to a book like this from the 1950s/1960s. I want to read about progress and progression. I want to experience the breadth of these experiences through reading, I want to read about people like me and these books need to exist for girls and boys who need to see themselves in history and it should have always existed. I'm repeating myself but I’m not talking crazy — representation matters. It makes you feel less crazy.
It’s Indigenous History Month and I feel so lucky to get to experience Alicia Elliott’s book. The title captured me and is what made me want to read this work. I shouldn’t feel “lucky” — more writing from black and brown writers need to be centered and should have always been centered in the public discourse. I commend Alicia Elliott's writing, putting truths out there detailing real Canadian history juxtaposed with current relatable content and topics from her personal life, lived. She broke down huge truths on trauma, colorism, white-passing privilege, capitalism, greed and the murder and rape of not just indigenous culture and people but the inefficacy of the justice system and the perpetuation of racism and genocide. She served up truths on truths and truths and quite literally gave us space to ask ourselves questions and challenge our own biases. She wasn't pulling any punches and I could follow her lead and her lines like they were charted out on the wall, true-detective style.
This book was PROPER. It brought about the same feelings in me that I felt reading Eloquent Rage by Brittney Cooper, the same way feelings I felt reading When they Call You A Terrorist by Patrisse Khan-Cullors. I'm just inspired that there are women out here claiming space in the literary world telling our distinct stories.
This is a must-read!
--- update: review -/----
You know what’s crazy... that publishers didn’t think it was important in the past to publish diverse voices telling their own stories from way back when. Now that white people are going out of style and we ain’t trying to really hear none of their morally bankrupt and dry stories, literary diversity is becoming the in-thing. Okay, I’m being a little cheeky, but what I mean is that on one hand I’m sick that we’re just getting these stories out now and on the other hand I’m glad more and more BIPOC first-person accounts and BIPOC & LGBTQIA fiction & nonfic is coming to the forefront.
Something like this shouldn’t just exist now. Iterations of this book spanning decades should exist and should be easily accessible; but there’s no one to blame but racist publishing practices from the top down. There should be hundreds of books like this — spanning decades. I want to compare a book like this to a book like this from the 1950s/1960s. I want to read about progress and progression. I want to experience the breadth of these experiences through reading, I want to read about people like me and these books need to exist for girls and boys who need to see themselves in history and it should have always existed. I'm repeating myself but I’m not talking crazy — representation matters. It makes you feel less crazy.
It’s Indigenous History Month and I feel so lucky to get to experience Alicia Elliott’s book. The title captured me and is what made me want to read this work. I shouldn’t feel “lucky” — more writing from black and brown writers need to be centered and should have always been centered in the public discourse. I commend Alicia Elliott's writing, putting truths out there detailing real Canadian history juxtaposed with current relatable content and topics from her personal life, lived. She broke down huge truths on trauma, colorism, white-passing privilege, capitalism, greed and the murder and rape of not just indigenous culture and people but the inefficacy of the justice system and the perpetuation of racism and genocide. She served up truths on truths and truths and quite literally gave us space to ask ourselves questions and challenge our own biases. She wasn't pulling any punches and I could follow her lead and her lines like they were charted out on the wall, true-detective style.
This book was PROPER. It brought about the same feelings in me that I felt reading Eloquent Rage by Brittney Cooper, the same way feelings I felt reading When they Call You A Terrorist by Patrisse Khan-Cullors. I'm just inspired that there are women out here claiming space in the literary world telling our distinct stories.
This is a must-read!
camille_caterpillar's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
A difficult, engaged, and introspective read that challenged many of my perceptions and understanding of my own identity, both as a person living in a settler society, as a person of mixed ancestry, and as a person dealing with mental illness. Something to think about.
jgwhatever's review against another edition
A great opportunity to reflect on community, reconciliation, and trauma in many forms.
immortalfrog's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Sexual assault
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
allisondukes's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0