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smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
I probably wouldn’t have picked this book up if it hadn’t been on the Canada Reads 2021 long-list this year but I’m so glad I did! Unlike many of the Indigenous works I’ve read Gregory Scofield wrote this in 1999, before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission when the climate for Indigenous writings was much less welcoming and celebratory. In his memoir he shares very painful stories of his struggles growing up and not feeling “Indian” enough because of his looks. He had to deal with sexual abuse and neglect as a child and had a very complicated relationship with his mother. He is also very open about his conflicting feelings of sexual identity. He fights his true nature most of his life trying to fit the heteronormative mold of what a “good Native man” should be (ie married with kids). It was great to see how he dedicated his life to helping others in his community and eventually is able to embrace his true self and find great success and acclaim as a writer. Very glad this came up on my radar. Fans of From the Ashes should enjoy this memoir too - I found Gregory much more relatable and could empathize with his hardships a little more than I was able to with Jesse Thistle’s book. I listened to this on audio and the narrator was good but I was a little disappointed Gregory didn’t voice the audiobook himself - that said it doesn’t take away anything from the overall impact and power of his story.
whatjuliareads's review
4.0
This is one of those books that is lovely and thought provoking, but not enjoyable. I find this often when I read memoirs or stories that heavily feature child abuse - that's a huge part of a lot of people's lives, but it breaks my heart just the same.
I recently read my first book of Gregory Scofield's poetry - and I am not a poetry reader, so I'm not quite sure how I found myself here - and picked up his memoir from the library.
A lot of memoirs rely on the fact that people are older and looking back on their life, giving the impression that the journey is over or coming to a close. As a memoir written by a man in his thirties, this memoir is self consciously in the middle of Gregory Scofield's journey. There's more questions than answers, and I love that. I also love, though I see that a lot of reviews did not love, the fluidity of identity throughout the book. A lot of Indigenous people lost - and continue to lose - connections to identity for a number of reasons, and acknowledging that his journey was not linear, and one of questions and shame and internalized stereotyping. As a settler, the reminder that identity is not clear cut, and that generations of erasure don't mean that someone loses a right to try to engage with their family history, is important. As someone who checks some of the other demographic boxes covered in the book, reading about a man who in his twenties and early thirties was still coming to terms with a lot of things was... honestly lovely.
I believe, if I'm not mistaken, he's written a second memoir that was slated for publication in 2021, so it'll be interesting to see how the two communicate with each other.
Overall, I appreciated the vulnerability and nuance of the memoir and will continue to read through Gregory Scofield's bibliography.
Completely unimportant, but it's always a weird kind of joy when you find out that an author whose work you like works at the school or went to the school that you got your Master of Arts in a totally different field from.
I recently read my first book of Gregory Scofield's poetry - and I am not a poetry reader, so I'm not quite sure how I found myself here - and picked up his memoir from the library.
A lot of memoirs rely on the fact that people are older and looking back on their life, giving the impression that the journey is over or coming to a close. As a memoir written by a man in his thirties, this memoir is self consciously in the middle of Gregory Scofield's journey. There's more questions than answers, and I love that. I also love, though I see that a lot of reviews did not love, the fluidity of identity throughout the book. A lot of Indigenous people lost - and continue to lose - connections to identity for a number of reasons, and acknowledging that his journey was not linear, and one of questions and shame and internalized stereotyping. As a settler, the reminder that identity is not clear cut, and that generations of erasure don't mean that someone loses a right to try to engage with their family history, is important. As someone who checks some of the other demographic boxes covered in the book, reading about a man who in his twenties and early thirties was still coming to terms with a lot of things was... honestly lovely.
I believe, if I'm not mistaken, he's written a second memoir that was slated for publication in 2021, so it'll be interesting to see how the two communicate with each other.
Overall, I appreciated the vulnerability and nuance of the memoir and will continue to read through Gregory Scofield's bibliography.
Completely unimportant, but it's always a weird kind of joy when you find out that an author whose work you like works at the school or went to the school that you got your Master of Arts in a totally different field from.
benrogerswpg's review against another edition
4.0
Very strong read.
As a fellow Métis myself, I am honored to read a Métis story.
I found this really similar in writing and narrative to [b:Call Me Indian: From the Trauma of Residential School to Becoming the Nhl's First Treaty Indigenous Player|55655496|Call Me Indian From the Trauma of Residential School to Becoming the Nhl's First Treaty Indigenous Player|Fred Sasakamoose|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1605572498l/55655496._SX50_.jpg|86787820]. Parts of this book (specifically, the treatment of children) are really hard to read and were also quite shocking.
I enjoyed this a lot.
4.2/5
As a fellow Métis myself, I am honored to read a Métis story.
I found this really similar in writing and narrative to [b:Call Me Indian: From the Trauma of Residential School to Becoming the Nhl's First Treaty Indigenous Player|55655496|Call Me Indian From the Trauma of Residential School to Becoming the Nhl's First Treaty Indigenous Player|Fred Sasakamoose|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1605572498l/55655496._SX50_.jpg|86787820]. Parts of this book (specifically, the treatment of children) are really hard to read and were also quite shocking.
I enjoyed this a lot.
4.2/5
zee's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
Greg Scofield's memoir is heart wrenching as he explores his early childhood and the abuse and trauma at the hands of so many adults, themselves broken by vices and their pasts. Throughout, he earnestly searches for his identity, despite pushing away from the realities of being Métis and gay, due to the stigmas attached. The writing is beautiful, and I was unsurprised to learn he is a notable Canadian poet. This edition includes a 20th anniversary foreword by the author, which is itself incredibly reflective.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Child abuse
musicalpopcorn's review against another edition
4.0
This is the memoir of Gregory Scofield, who has spent his whole life trying to find his place in the world.
I don’t know that I’ve ever read a memoir that had more abuse and betrayal at the hands of almost every single person the narrator came into contact with. The people in Greg’s life have such intense vices that if this were a fiction book, I would be chastising that the narrator didn’t give us any redeemable characters in the end. Scofield’s story is heartbreaking and hard to read, but important for people who want to understand what it’s like growing up indigenous, or more specifically Métis in the late 20th century.
I don’t know that I’ve ever read a memoir that had more abuse and betrayal at the hands of almost every single person the narrator came into contact with. The people in Greg’s life have such intense vices that if this were a fiction book, I would be chastising that the narrator didn’t give us any redeemable characters in the end. Scofield’s story is heartbreaking and hard to read, but important for people who want to understand what it’s like growing up indigenous, or more specifically Métis in the late 20th century.
mattgroot1980's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
whimsicallymeghan's review
4.0
This was Gregory Scofield’s memoir and his recounts growing up within Indigenous communities throughout Canada. From not fitting in and not feeling “Indian enough” to his struggles with his sexual identity as well as the abuse he faced both physically and sexually, Scofield is an open book as he searches for his identity in a world that isn’t accepting or open to him. He doesn’t shy away from the gruesome details that took place in his life and it was so eye-opening to read. The reader could connect with Scofield as he’s a likable person, so sweet and gentle. He’s also a masterful storyteller, weaving stories past and present together to give an honest and genuine tale of being Native Indian and trying to find your place in the world, a place where you fit in and who your people are. The writing was so poetic and beautifully crafted. With each passing chapter and no matter how bad things got, and it got very dark, trigger warnings for attempted suicide, the writing was still so beautiful. It was heartbreaking and completely harrowing to read some of the accounts as there was also a bit of Canadian history in here that most of us don’t know about because we’re not taught it. This was such a powerful and impactful story and truly spoke volumes. There is still a lot of reconciling that needs to happen to heal a lot of wounds that have been mentioned in this book, but reading, listening and learning these stories is a step in the right direction.