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stevia333k's review against another edition
3.5
So this is by an author who wanted to challenge expectations about works written by indigenous authors. (I didn't pick up on how besides various marketable narratives -- i mean this in the way that both karl marx & the austrian school of economics are considered "controversial".)
Anyways, I read the book on the basis of family building & decolonization. The part about forgiveness being done in ceremonies instead of the white idea of "letting go", especially since I've struggled with that colonial dynamic too, except as a white settler I didn't have established ceremonies for context.
Admittedly I was kind of indifferent to the poetics I guess. The intersections were interesting enough.
in the interview at the end, there's 2 notes about influences on this book that the author mentions that explained the squicks I had with this book:
- the bible (which went over my head because I'm not a Christian),
- and Adrienne Rich (I already returned my copy of this book to the library & it was an audiobook, but the way the word "man" was used felt heteronormative & that "patriarchal" could've worked better. Like I think I figured it out via like argument from analogy with like settler vs indigenous & the fact she's mainly talking about 1 man in particular, but the lack of precision felt suspicious to me, and it turned out I was right.)
Graphic: Abortion, Alcohol, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Incest, Infidelity, Ableism, Addiction, Medical content, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
ajoyr's review against another edition
4.25
Moderate: Sexism, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Child abuse, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
stevie's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Incest, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, Self harm, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Grief, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Racism, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Colonisation
melaniekarin's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Incest, Mental illness, Pregnancy, and Sexism
kayceeraereads's review against another edition
3.75
I had to set this down several times and sit with it. Not because I didn't like it, but because some of the feelings were a lot.
"Pain is faster than light, and I wish people would not fault me for things I can’t forget or explain."
This memoir is written beautifully. Mailhot does an amazing job weaving together thoughts and feelings in the form of letters and essays. It's fragmented and non-linear, so if you like concise prose, this one is not for you. You're reading her work almost as if you are remembering a memory with her and going through all of the rollercoaster of emotions that she dealt with regularly. It almost reads like poetry.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexism, and Child abuse
jayisreading's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Death, Eating disorder, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Forced institutionalization
mikki_9's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Child abuse, Racism, and Sexism
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Incest, Pregnancy, Self harm, and Terminal illness
Minor: Abortion, Medical content, and Sexual harassment