bookedinthebakery's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.5
greatlibraryofalexandra's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
This is probably one of the most intelligent, unique memoirs I've ever read. It was crafted with such nuance and elegance and somehow Jensen always effortlessly answered any question I had - any 'what about?' or 'what if'? ... She was sharp and reflective and her elucidation of her experiences juxtaposed with the larger context of being native, being a woman, and existing in America (and Trump's America) was crisp, insightful, and fascinating. That she did all this through the lens of gun ownership, gun violence, and a legacy of stolen land is just ... mind-bending; it's truly one of the most useful personal narratives I've ever read.
It could be very challenging at times due to the literary nature of it, and often I was frustrated, but overall it just knocks it out of the park.
It could be very challenging at times due to the literary nature of it, and often I was frustrated, but overall it just knocks it out of the park.
craftyanty's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
jocedun's review
5.0
Wow, the fact that one person can have so much proximity to gun violence is shocking. Our America is broken. Great audiobook read by the narrator. It has a poetic quality.
natsafan18's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
4.0
In her memoir of survival on stolen land, Toni Jensen discusses instances throughout her life revolving the themes of violence, hopefulness, and emotional vulnerability. She touches on these themes to tell her own story as well as the history of stolen land from her people and her culture. It is a very powerful novel that "reminds us that surviving in one's country is not the same as surviving one's country."
I feel like I don't even have the words to even describe this book, but I will try my best to do so. I will start out with saying that this book is deeply personal, so I give huge props to Jensen for writing such a personal arc of her story. With that being said, some of the themes that she touches on are very hard to read, and I had to stop reading at some points in order to deal with the emotions that I was feeling in those moments. It deals a lot with gun violence, violence against women (specifically Indigenous women), sexual assault, physical assault, fear of violence, and harsh language throughout - so if any of that is/seems triggering to some readers, I'd advise not reading this memoir.
With saying that though, I do feel like I gained a lot of respect while reading this novel. As I mentioned prior, I give huge props to Jensen for writing something that must've been hard to write and remember. But, this was just a hard one for me to get through. Yet, it gave this sense of hopefulness throughout it as well, that made me want to continue on through it. I'm very grateful that I was able to read this memoir and I hope to read more like it in the future.
I feel like I don't even have the words to even describe this book, but I will try my best to do so. I will start out with saying that this book is deeply personal, so I give huge props to Jensen for writing such a personal arc of her story. With that being said, some of the themes that she touches on are very hard to read, and I had to stop reading at some points in order to deal with the emotions that I was feeling in those moments. It deals a lot with gun violence, violence against women (specifically Indigenous women), sexual assault, physical assault, fear of violence, and harsh language throughout - so if any of that is/seems triggering to some readers, I'd advise not reading this memoir.
With saying that though, I do feel like I gained a lot of respect while reading this novel. As I mentioned prior, I give huge props to Jensen for writing something that must've been hard to write and remember. But, this was just a hard one for me to get through. Yet, it gave this sense of hopefulness throughout it as well, that made me want to continue on through it. I'm very grateful that I was able to read this memoir and I hope to read more like it in the future.
amandacssingh's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Child abuse, Gun violence, and Sexual assault
Minor: Rape