Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq

5 reviews

kodi_rae's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Part autobiography, part narrative fiction, part magical realism, etc. with some tough themes about SA, trauma, etc. One of the things that makes “Split Tooth” beautiful is the way Tagaq talks about the environment, animal spirits, the northern lights, etc. and how it ties into the narrative and cultural beliefs and practices. I read in other reviews that if you listen to the audiobook she narrates it herself and incorporates throat singing between each section which I imagine would lend itself to a whole new, raw experience. I think it would be worth revisiting. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Drug use, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Self harm, and Terminal illness

livelaughlesbian99's review

5.0

Read the audiobook with Tanya Tagaq as narrator. She is FANTASTIC.

This book is INCREDIBLY dark. If there is ANYTHING that will cause you severe distress while reading I recommend reviewing content warnings online… there are a lot which apply here. Split Tooth doesn’t shy away from the disgusting or the horrifying. There is a lot of abuse happening. However, Split Tooth also captures the beauty of the arctic and folkloric fantasy. I really enjoyed it. I’m disappointed it’s Tanya Tagaq’s only book!

If you read meet the story on its own terms. It has lots to say.


CW: Includes light spoilers. Specifics to help you prepare if you’re concerned. I have accurately tagged in my review below every content warning which applies to the text. There are more than pop up on the general page!

Most graphic stuff: pedophile teacher committing assault, one graphic rape scene, sex happening with child in the room, infanticide, forced pregnancy, a lot of details about pregnancy, hunting causing animal death, children witnessing domestic abuse, self harm via cutting, suicidal ideation and attempt

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Death, Self harm, Terminal illness, and Murder

cozylifewithabby's review against another edition

Read for my reading around the world challenge: Canada. Very productive, but so challenging and sad. Please check content warnings, but it is a good book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Child death, Rape, Terminal illness, and Pregnancy

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

nagev's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Addiction, Self harm, Murder, and Abandonment

Minor: Chronic illness and Terminal illness

rotfaced's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A deeply visceral and at times deeply upsetting story. I listened to it as an audiobook, which was recommended to me and which I would highly recommend as well; Tanya Tagaq lends her unique and beautiful narration to the text, bringing each poem, reflection, story and song to genuine life through her intimate and delicate vocalization. Between each chapter is her throat singing, which adds a new layer to the story as well. While I would like a physical copy of the book to revisit portions which stood out as poignant to me, I don't know if I would have enjoyed the experience as much had I began with the text. 

I found myself enraptured by the first 2/3rd of the book, engrossed in this world so unlike the one I inhabit. The final acts left me feeling deeply sad and even disturbed, but the journey through these segments was worthwhile. This book is very poetic and meant to invoke reflection, if not empathy; I encourage readers to approach it with no expectations and allow Tagaq's lyrical way of exploring life to animate itself in their mind. 

This is a book I couldn't stop listening to; I finished it in hours I carved out my day, finding every excuse to continue the story. That said, I do think it's worth pausing to reflect on scenes and chapters, especially if you feel you did not understand them (or, alternatively, if they resonated deeply with you). It is a heavy story, and with all heavy things, we must pause to rest between carrying them. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Drug use, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicide, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Blood, and Grief

Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, and Terminal illness