Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

From The Ashes by Jesse Thistle

12 reviews

kelseymck's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Violence, and Racism

Moderate: Colonisation

popgoesthereader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

An incredibly heart wrenching but important story, this one has been on my list for a while and I see why it has so much acclaim. Jesse Thistle is an expert storyteller, detailing in brutal detail his struggles and triumphs as a deeply broken man, in a system stacked against him who somehow found his way out. Themes of generational trauma and indigeneity are front and center in this story. I think that this story is an important one for all Canadians to read to understand many of the struggles plaguing our society right now, the overdose and homelessness crises along with the deep scars of our longstanding relationship with indigenous people in this country. Thistle holds nothing back, describing in detail the many hardships of his upbringing, the mistakes he made that led him to a life on the streets, and the hopelessness of addiction. It's a brutal and at times difficult read but you never stop rooting for his redemption and when it finally comes it's an emotional crescendo that keeps you hooked. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Self harm, Death of parent, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, Suicide attempt, Bullying, Abandonment, Racism, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, and Domestic abuse

evandaniel's review

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

A wonderful reminder of perseverance and hope. Very honest and raw, Jesse’s story hits the hardest for me when he experiences profound loss. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Colonisation, Cursing, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Mental illness, Alcohol, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Medical content, and Alcoholism

Minor: Terminal illness, Alcohol, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Cursing, Xenophobia, Death, Death of parent, Hate crime, Grief, Toxic friendship, Blood, Cancer, Medical content, Murder, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

amandasiino's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Death, Alcoholism, Excrement, Drug abuse, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Colonisation

cemeterygay's review against another edition

emotional reflective

5.0

I can't add much more other than it was an incredibly emotional read. If you're in the right emotional headspace I would absolutely recommend reading it. Especially if you are native, I would recommend taking care of yourself while reading this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Blood, Colonisation, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Violence, Child abuse, and Confinement

Moderate: Bullying

annabunce's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Self harm, Rape, Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Mental illness, and Medical content

Moderate: Abandonment

ladev12's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Vomit

book_perk's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

4.5

This was a stunning memoir of Jesse Thistle's trauma, courage, and relationships. I was impressed with the honesty and bravery with which Jesse tells his story. The story is intense, extraordinary, and stomach-turning. I loved the writing style with the short chapters and powerful poetry intertwined. 

I don't necessarily feel right trying to rate this book as it is so deeply personal but I will do my best to explain my thoughts. In general, I would rate this 5/5 because it was captivating and most of all Jesse's bravery in sharing his story and pain can be felt through each page. On a personal level, I would rate this a 4.5/5 star because I was hoping for a little more detail on how felt turning his life around, dealing with guilt for past mistakes, and reconnecting with family and his heritage. Nonetheless, I think this is a must read for everyone. Just make sure you look up trigger warnings ahead of time as there are a lot of them! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Gore

Moderate: Blood, Excrement, Grief, Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Vomit

fromjuliereads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring medium-paced

4.5

I don't even have words to describe all of the emotions and thoughts that I have inside me from reading this book.
This is such a poignant, raw, and honest memoir. Jesse recounts truly traumatic and difficult times in his life, at times difficult to read - which left me reeling with the reality that he had lived all of this, that there are people living experiences like these even now.

Thistle recounted all of his lived experiences so incredibly well. There were small elements of dark humour, that shocked me when I had a little laugh in such a serious narrative. But I also cried at a few parts of his story, my heart hurting with his. It is such an important story and I am so glad I read his story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Violence, and Vomit

Moderate: Blood, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, and Racism

Minor: Cancer, Kidnapping, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Death of a grandparent

sunsetcity's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit