Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

From The Ashes by Jesse Thistle

15 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

hermana's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

This is such a wonderful book highlighting important issues and challenges faced by many people. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Medical content, Domestic abuse, and Abandonment

Cannot recommend enough!

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

zee's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

3.25

An incredibly brutal memoir focusing on how childhood trauma impacted Thistle's drug addiction and homelessness. I found it difficult to gauge the passage of time, and some anecdotes were quite disjointed with seeming nonsequitors. The ending wraps things up quickly without as much introspection as I'd hoped given the tribulations related. I'm glad Thistle was able to overcome such hardship, but the memoir unfortunately didn't grab me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

jennaslaney_'s review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use

Minor: Addiction and Abandonment

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

justinecass's review against another edition

challenging inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

This book should be mandatory reading for all non-Indigenous Canadians. Jesse's story perfectly encapsulates the tremendous impacts and complexities of colonization, systemic oppression and intergenerational trauma. Jesse's story paints a picture of the experience of so many indigenous folks in Canada. I listened to the audiobook and really loved hearing Jesse narrate his own story. Highly highly recommend and looking forward to his next book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Abandonment

brookeasmith17's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

This book is incredibly honest and raw. It deals with difficult topics such as addiction, homelessness, abandonment and abuse, but it is a story about survival, mistakes, wisdom and finding your way home. It’s an extremely moving read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, and Body horror

Moderate: Medical trauma, Violence, and Child abuse

lizlikesfrogs's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Drug abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

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