Reviews tagging 'Genocide'

A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott

30 reviews

readingbrb's review

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault, Colonisation, and Genocide

bookishmillennial's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad fast-paced

disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial

This collection of essays by Alicia Elliott did not let me catch my breath for one moment. I feel like I highlighted so much throughout the book, probably every other page, if not every page 😭

Alicia comments on and asks questions about so much: colonization, capitalism, racism, misogyny, desire, selfies, “reality” tv, truth versus opinion, familial dynamics, indigenous practices, and so much more. 

I desperately want a print copy of this now, as it was such an important read. Capitalism and colonization has brought so much horror to the world, and the solutions will not be found with them. I look forward to reading more from Alicia Elliott and I am so grateful that I read this book. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Sexual violence, Genocide, Classism, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Police brutality, Transphobia, Sexism, Addiction, Mental illness, and Racism

ivi_reads_books's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

3.75

This book is a good mix of memoir and history and stats on indigenous people in Canada and the US. The author describes growing up with a bipolar mother in precarious environments and how their suroundings influenced their behavior.
The author doesn't tell the reader what to do or think. She rather observes what happens and what doesn't happen. What gets said and what doesn't and thus encourages readers to self-reflect on their own behavior

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, and Colonisation

Moderate: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Grief, Abandonment, Addiction, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Violence, Death, Deportation, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Pregnancy, Vomit, Alcoholism, Cultural appropriation, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Police brutality

souplover2001's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

despite how many books i read that are similar, i am always so struck by an author's skill and, more importantly, their vulnerability to weave such poignant and informative pieces about bigger political issues with the experiences they go through in their own lives. this is a feat elliott executes beautifully!!

while all good, i found the strongest essays to be in the second half of the book and plan on revisiting "34 grams per dose," "boundaries like bruises," "on forbidden rooms and intentional forgetting," "not your noble savage," and "sontag, in snapshots."

in the same way that book dedications have a special place in my heart, so do book acknowledgements and i quite enjoyed reading the ones here. nya:wen to u too, alicia elliott!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Genocide, and Racism

kchin's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

Her voice is strong, writing is clear and brilliant. Everyone needs to read this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Police brutality, Murder, Genocide, Sexism, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Racism, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Hate crime, and Colonisation

alexxcp's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Rape, Racism, Colonisation, Genocide, and Mental illness

purplemuskogee's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

Such an intelligent and moving collection of essays, ranging many topics - trauma, abuse, growing up on a reservation, mental health, fitting in, colonialism... Beautifully written and poignant without pathos. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Genocide, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness

ocha10x's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Colonisation, Mental illness, Genocide, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, and Sexual assault

remimicha's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Alcoholism, Classism, Police brutality, Body shaming, Child abuse, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Murder, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Violence, Cultural appropriation, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Transphobia, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Suicide, Gun violence, Homophobia, Eating disorder, Hate crime, Cancer, and Death

june_haya's review against another edition

3.75

This book feels like putting sugar on a bruise that is already purple. I think that means I liked it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Sexual assault, Genocide, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, and Violence

Minor: Abortion and Suicidal thoughts