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hear_my_echo's review against another edition
5.0
Incredible.
This is one of the most important memoirs you will ever read.
Darrel opens his heart and spills it onto the page for anyone willing to listen.
I hope you listen.
TW: suicide, rape, abuse
This is one of the most important memoirs you will ever read.
Darrel opens his heart and spills it onto the page for anyone willing to listen.
I hope you listen.
TW: suicide, rape, abuse
careinthelibrary's review against another edition
Trauma doesn't just appear, it's a result of hurt, loss. Residential school, Christianity, intergenerational poverty, addiction, abuse, cultural genocide. And this pain is often passed down through generations, manifesting in different ways. Mamaskatch is a story of this intergenerational trauma as well as about McLeod's coming-of-age and coming to terms with his sexuality.
For some of Darrell's family, their trauma subsumes them. Others build upon the crumbling foundation and pull themselves out of its depths. I was so invested in Debbie, Trina, and Darrel especially. They come to life in the page as such beautiful tributes to his complicated, complex, beautiful siblings. His mother as well is a person I won't soon forget, both for the ways she harmed and neglected her children and also the ways she loved them.
This is such an important book for Indigenous people like Darrel to have access to. As an Indigiqueer/LGBTQ+ person (it isn't specified in the text how he identifies), his memoir is one of a few on the shelf in this sub-genre and must be invaluable for young questioning gay youth (especially Indigenous). Though on the other hand, it may be triggering or offensive for some trans people (more below) so I'm not sure.
The depiction of Darrell's sister Trina, who is transgender and transitions when Darrell is an older child, was a bit troubling to me. She is misgendered and deadnamed several times after its made clear that she is trans by the 'narrative' voice of the author. It doesn't seem like Darrell ever fully accepted his sister or saw her as a genuine woman and this was a bit triggering and upsetting for me
Also, the timeline of this memoir was unspecified in many cases, perhaps in purpose. I found myself unsure in many of his stories and experiences how old he was. There were very few references to years or his age and when it did crop up, I was usually surprised because I had misinterpreted his age in that instance.
This memoir was powerful, emotional, and accessible. If you're a lover of memoirs or Indigenous lit, please check this out. And there's a sequel coming! I can't wait for Peyakow.
Content warnings for: graphic descriptions of child physical and sexual abuse, suicide, neglect, pedophilia, racism, attempted child abduction by a social worker, transphobia, misgendering, deadnaming, scenes in residential schools, scenes with alcohol abuse and drug addiction (including children drinking), poverty.
For some of Darrell's family, their trauma subsumes them. Others build upon the crumbling foundation and pull themselves out of its depths. I was so invested in Debbie, Trina, and Darrel especially. They come to life in the page as such beautiful tributes to his complicated, complex, beautiful siblings. His mother as well is a person I won't soon forget, both for the ways she harmed and neglected her children and also the ways she loved them.
This is such an important book for Indigenous people like Darrel to have access to. As an Indigiqueer/LGBTQ+ person (it isn't specified in the text how he identifies), his memoir is one of a few on the shelf in this sub-genre and must be invaluable for young questioning gay youth (especially Indigenous). Though on the other hand, it may be triggering or offensive for some trans people (more below) so I'm not sure.
The depiction of Darrell's sister Trina, who is transgender and transitions when Darrell is an older child, was a bit troubling to me. She is misgendered and deadnamed several times after its made clear that she is trans by the 'narrative' voice of the author. It doesn't seem like Darrell ever fully accepted his sister or saw her as a genuine woman and this was a bit triggering and upsetting for me
Also, the timeline of this memoir was unspecified in many cases, perhaps in purpose. I found myself unsure in many of his stories and experiences how old he was. There were very few references to years or his age and when it did crop up, I was usually surprised because I had misinterpreted his age in that instance.
This memoir was powerful, emotional, and accessible. If you're a lover of memoirs or Indigenous lit, please check this out. And there's a sequel coming! I can't wait for Peyakow.
Content warnings for: graphic descriptions of child physical and sexual abuse, suicide, neglect, pedophilia, racism, attempted child abduction by a social worker, transphobia, misgendering, deadnaming, scenes in residential schools, scenes with alcohol abuse and drug addiction (including children drinking), poverty.
amanda_marie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Memoirs can be tricky, repetitive, or overdone. Mamaskatch is none of those things. It is beautiful, insightful. It covers tragedies but emphasizes moments of beauty. It is about the complications of family, of intersectional identities, about how we keep living, we keep going on, no matter what life does to us.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Grief, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Hate crime, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Drug use, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Deadnaming
gibbslamey's review against another edition
4.0
A beautifully heartbreaking, yet uplifting story. I had a lot of feels reading this one. #ggread2018 #ggwinner2018
usernameinvalid's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
hstephens21's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
meredith_w's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0