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Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Sexual harassment
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Dementia, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Grief, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Misogyny, Dementia, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation
Minor: Excrement, Car accident
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Hate crime, Suicide, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Violence
Minor: Mental illness, Abandonment
Moderate: Hate crime
Minor: Suicide
I found Stolen to be a fascinating look into a culture I know little about: traditional Sámi reindeer herding communities. Laestadius deftly explores the way racism is embedded into law enforcement and small-town culture in countries beyond the US; as a reader coming from a US perspective, I really appreciated this perspective. The US has a uniquely and perniciously racist relationship to law enforcement, as our system of policing arose out of slave-catching squads. Yet, it's important to remember that racial inequities under the law are not contained within our country's borders.
Stolen was an interesting read, but a rather difficult one. There are blunt and sometimes detailed descriptions of animal torture, mutilation, and murder. Laestadius also describes the effects of such racial violence (as reindeers are integral to Sámi culture and way of life, reindeer killings are more than simply property theft) on the community, highlighting mental health issues including suicide. I did have a bit of an issue with the novel's end, which felt somewhat abrupt and conveniently contrived. But overall, I'm glad to have gotten to know the Sámi culture a bit through the novel and its characters.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Hate crime, Mental illness, Suicide, Colonisation
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Stalking, Suicide attempt
Not only was the story gripping and the characters complex and interesting, but I also learned so much about Sámi life, history, and culture. At the same time, this knowledge didn't come across as a lecture but was shown through the daily life of the characters, their conversations, and reflections. It was also incredibly nuanced in its discussion of contemporary problems, which I appreciated. It was particularly fun for me that I could immediately apply and expand this knowledge in real life.
Another thing I appreciated was how the setting of the seasons related to the progression of the story, making it a very wintery read but not getting stuck there and serving as a metaphor.
What I didn't like so much was a lot of the conflicts in the book could have been solved if people just SPOKE to each other, even a tiny little bit - I know this is kind of the point and serves as social commentary itself, but to me, it makes for an extremely frustrating read.
Overall, a great read and a clear recommendation.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Hate crime
Moderate: Suicide, Dementia, Suicide attempt
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Hate crime, Blood, Cultural appropriation