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stevia333k's review against another edition
3.5
So this is by an author who wanted to challenge expectations about works written by indigenous authors. (I didn't pick up on how besides various marketable narratives -- i mean this in the way that both karl marx & the austrian school of economics are considered "controversial".)
Anyways, I read the book on the basis of family building & decolonization. The part about forgiveness being done in ceremonies instead of the white idea of "letting go", especially since I've struggled with that colonial dynamic too, except as a white settler I didn't have established ceremonies for context.
Admittedly I was kind of indifferent to the poetics I guess. The intersections were interesting enough.
in the interview at the end, there's 2 notes about influences on this book that the author mentions that explained the squicks I had with this book:
- the bible (which went over my head because I'm not a Christian),
- and Adrienne Rich (I already returned my copy of this book to the library & it was an audiobook, but the way the word "man" was used felt heteronormative & that "patriarchal" could've worked better. Like I think I figured it out via like argument from analogy with like settler vs indigenous & the fact she's mainly talking about 1 man in particular, but the lack of precision felt suspicious to me, and it turned out I was right.)
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation
ajoyr's review against another edition
4.25
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
stevie's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
melaniekarin's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Sexism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
kayceeraereads's review against another edition
3.75
I had to set this down several times and sit with it. Not because I didn't like it, but because some of the feelings were a lot.
"Pain is faster than light, and I wish people would not fault me for things I can’t forget or explain."
This memoir is written beautifully. Mailhot does an amazing job weaving together thoughts and feelings in the form of letters and essays. It's fragmented and non-linear, so if you like concise prose, this one is not for you. You're reading her work almost as if you are remembering a memory with her and going through all of the rollercoaster of emotions that she dealt with regularly. It almost reads like poetry.
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, and Sexism
jayisreading's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Eating disorder, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Forced institutionalization
mikki_9's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Incest, Self harm, Terminal illness, and Pregnancy
Minor: Medical content, Abortion, and Sexual harassment