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selinayoung's review against another edition
5.0
I highly recommend this book!!! I also acknowledge that it may be triggering for some people.
Jesse tells his story with such genuine honesty and at times humour. The writing is so compelling that you get sucked in and don’t want to stop (or you reread every chapter as I did so I could spend a bit more time with the story and experiences).
It shows that small things can happen that spiral out of control quickly. It also shows the power of the human spirit, the power of family and the importance of connection to self, community and place. “Every step is a gift, every one is sacred and each, in its own little way is a prayer for me.”
You aren’t just a blur Jesse, you are so very much more. “I’m not just a blur to them, I’m no longer a blur to myself.”
I hope everyone who reads this thinks a bit more and acts with more kindness towards others - we don’t know what someone has gone through, is going through, so hold your judgement, acknowledge humanity.
Jesse tells his story with such genuine honesty and at times humour. The writing is so compelling that you get sucked in and don’t want to stop (or you reread every chapter as I did so I could spend a bit more time with the story and experiences).
It shows that small things can happen that spiral out of control quickly. It also shows the power of the human spirit, the power of family and the importance of connection to self, community and place. “Every step is a gift, every one is sacred and each, in its own little way is a prayer for me.”
You aren’t just a blur Jesse, you are so very much more. “I’m not just a blur to them, I’m no longer a blur to myself.”
I hope everyone who reads this thinks a bit more and acts with more kindness towards others - we don’t know what someone has gone through, is going through, so hold your judgement, acknowledge humanity.
jaklyn_heath_reads's review against another edition
*not rated as this is a memoir and I find it unfair to rate someone’s own words about their life and experiences
stivi's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
emilyprinci's review against another edition
5.0
Very interesting point of view on homelessness and how intergenerational indigenous trauma impacted ones life. Took a long time to get through because it’s a memoir, and memoirs aren’t my fave style of book, but super good.
ashianajivraj's review against another edition
5.0
I could not look this memoir down. Well written, incredibly moving - just one of the best told stories of an individual who works and lives through their struggle.
daliafarra's review against another edition
5.0
I just finished reading this book. Wow. Incredible story. Powerful storytelling. Amazing writing. I felt my foot hurt while reading, that’s how strong the author is at describing things. What a story!
laurapk's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars in my opinion. I read memoirs of recovering addicts, but they were all people with a financially stable family to support them and catch them when they fell. I wondered how the story of an addict without support would look like, and it turns out, not as different as I've thought, once the addiction kicks in. What differs is the path into addiction, but the way out is always paved by people willing to listen, support and offer a second chance. Without love, the wounds will never heal.
The concept of rock bottom is a myth. There is no lower point, there is always a lower point (excepting death). The path to recovery is always tortuous and with a lot, a lot of dead ends. What was impressive in this story though was how much more determination and self control was required for the author to pull himself up and out of addiction. Jesse Thistle had all the cards stacked against him: he was half metis-cre, his father (a white man) was an addict (self-fulfillment prophecies are dangerous, yet many families can't help but throw them at their children), he was abused as a child in foster care before his grandparents stepped in, he didn't finish high-school and could barely read and write. He was on a collision course with early death and only managed to escape with his life because of small acts of kindness from strangers or friends along the way.
There were very few faults I could find with the book. It had some beautiful language, and some genuine moments of emotions, but the delivery (especially the audio book) was at times flat. I suspect this is a mechanism of self-protection the author employs when dealing with some raw memories, and I completely understand it. I did however want to understand Lucy a bit more. She seems to be such an important part of the recovery process, yet I was a bit curious about who she was and why did she, a distant school mate, have so much empathy and trust in Jesse? There may be parts the author omitted to protect her.
I did love the parallel between the author discovering his native roots and the ultimate solidification of his sobriety. It speaks volume about the importance of knowing and understanding our past, in order to become healthy adults. And it also highlights - again - why the Canadian residency schools were such an abomination.
Highly recommend it, but a strong stomach is needed at times. Fret not, it has some genuine fun and hear warming moments as well.
The concept of rock bottom is a myth. There is no lower point, there is always a lower point (excepting death). The path to recovery is always tortuous and with a lot, a lot of dead ends. What was impressive in this story though was how much more determination and self control was required for the author to pull himself up and out of addiction. Jesse Thistle had all the cards stacked against him: he was half metis-cre, his father (a white man) was an addict (self-fulfillment prophecies are dangerous, yet many families can't help but throw them at their children), he was abused as a child in foster care before his grandparents stepped in, he didn't finish high-school and could barely read and write. He was on a collision course with early death and only managed to escape with his life because of small acts of kindness from strangers or friends along the way.
There were very few faults I could find with the book. It had some beautiful language, and some genuine moments of emotions, but the delivery (especially the audio book) was at times flat. I suspect this is a mechanism of self-protection the author employs when dealing with some raw memories, and I completely understand it. I did however want to understand Lucy a bit more. She seems to be such an important part of the recovery process, yet I was a bit curious about who she was and why did she, a distant school mate, have so much empathy and trust in Jesse? There may be parts the author omitted to protect her.
I did love the parallel between the author discovering his native roots and the ultimate solidification of his sobriety. It speaks volume about the importance of knowing and understanding our past, in order to become healthy adults. And it also highlights - again - why the Canadian residency schools were such an abomination.
Highly recommend it, but a strong stomach is needed at times. Fret not, it has some genuine fun and hear warming moments as well.
jmcrobbie's review against another edition
5.0
Content warnings for homelessness and starvation, addiction and drug&alcohol use, sexual assault, attempted suicide, racism, child neglect, and some intense body/injury stuff if you’re icked out by blood etc.
bookishlychar's review against another edition
5.0
This is an extremely intense book that I was deeply moved by. Jesse Thistle provides a raw, informative and real insight into his life. This is one of the realest memoirs I have read, with so much heartbreak and tragedy in it. It is also a story of overcoming and despite the things that have been thrown at him, Thistle managed to build himself up and achieve great things. I appreciate the perspective written here and think that it would be beneficial for anyone to read.