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bookishmillennial's review against another edition
This collection of essays by Alicia Elliott did not let me catch my breath for one moment. I feel like I highlighted so much throughout the book, probably every other page, if not every page 😭
Alicia comments on and asks questions about so much: colonization, capitalism, racism, misogyny, desire, selfies, “reality” tv, truth versus opinion, familial dynamics, indigenous practices, and so much more.
I desperately want a print copy of this now, as it was such an important read. Capitalism and colonization has brought so much horror to the world, and the solutions will not be found with them. I look forward to reading more from Alicia Elliott and I am so grateful that I read this book.
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism
abbie_'s review against another edition
4.25
- Loved the essay about diversity being a white word and the new buzzword in publishing. White authors feel threatened by BIPOC authors seemingly monopolising all the publishing deals (lol sure) so they do their best to shoehorn characters of colour into their work - as long as they’re writing with empathy, so the saying goes, no harm done. But Elliott argues that unless you’re writing about a particular community with love, it’ll be glaringly obvious and damaging to said community. White authors like Lionel Shriver immediately go onto the defensive, claiming censorship, criticism turned into censoring free speech.
- There’s a hard-hitting essay about Elliott’s sexual assault. During sexual violence trials, it’s the woman’s innocence that’s put on trial, not the man’s guilt. Before choosing to believe a man is *not* a rapist, people do not subject him to the barrage of questions we demand of women to prove they *are* a victim. We demand a woman put her trauma and pain on display, to watch as we pull it apart, put fingers into open wounds, make her perform her trauma again and again before, more often than not, still choosing not to believe.
- The essay about food deserts in North America was amazing, the way the US and Canada have manufactured them, enabled poorer people to become overweight and then ill. Why do people believe that the answer to what is choking us - capitalism and colonialism - is to shove more of those same things down our throats while we choke?
- Essay on photography, voyeurism, colonialism, consent, power, desire - not as strong as some of the others but I liked how she explored white photographers encroaching on communities they don’t belong to to further their and western white society’s stereotypical views of a community
- Essay on lies and fiction (made me think of something else I read recently) where women writers are often conflated with their characters. Men rarely receive this treatment, but people often treat fiction written by women as autofiction
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Colonisation
paperbackportals's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
kchin's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Colonisation
alexxcp's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Colonisation
remimicha's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical trauma, and Toxic friendship
voidboi's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Minor: Cancer
buttermellow's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Colonisation
ltulisiak's review against another edition
5.0
Additionally, the author is originally from Buffalo, NY, and was partially raised in the greater Cleveland, OH, area, so I felt a geographical connection with her, as well.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Suicide attempt
raelin's review against another edition
5.0
This book covers so many categories, since each chapter is written almost as a stand alone essay then grouped together to make one book that does tie every chapter together into a cohesive work. It is masterfully done.
All people represented in this work are dimensional humans, with several different facets. Her mother isn’t just a bipolar religious fanatic. Her father isn’t just an alcoholic abuser. They are also caring, loving, supportive parents. This is how real people are, but not often how people are captured in the written word. The beautiful contradictions that fill our relationships with people are so accurately described.
This book is so much more than memoir. It is also history, inspires self reflection (by directly asking the reader to answer hard questions about their perspective), insight into the writing process, commentary on social media, self persecution, and so much more.
A definite must read for everyone that can handle the content warnings.
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Colonisation