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elliott_roi's review
5.0
I will never not be obsessed with anything that Billy-Ray Belcourt writes. His stories feel both personal and universal, intimate and relatable. I find myself continuously highlighting as if with a shovel: unearthing gorgeous prose and new ways of viewing the world.
Short story collections can easily feel disjointed or uneven, with some stories standing out and others fading into the background. For Coexistence, I feel every story was strong. I loved all the characters and how the format allowed for different perspectives.
I especially appreciated the depictions of queer and Indigenous experiences, set mainly in my home province of Alberta. The impacts of colonialism and the resilience of Indigenous peoples in the face of its horrors were so powerfully felt throughout the narratives.
I highly recommend picking this one up! And a big thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this title. All thoughts expressed here are my own.
Short story collections can easily feel disjointed or uneven, with some stories standing out and others fading into the background. For Coexistence, I feel every story was strong. I loved all the characters and how the format allowed for different perspectives.
I especially appreciated the depictions of queer and Indigenous experiences, set mainly in my home province of Alberta. The impacts of colonialism and the resilience of Indigenous peoples in the face of its horrors were so powerfully felt throughout the narratives.
I highly recommend picking this one up! And a big thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this title. All thoughts expressed here are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, Homophobia, Grief, and Racism
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse
Minor: Addiction
bisexualbookshelf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
"Coexistence" by Billy-Ray Belcourt is a mesmerizing collection of interconnected stories that delve into the lives of Indigenous characters navigating the aftermath of colonial capitalism. With raw and vulnerable prose, Belcourt explores themes of identity, memory, and resistance, challenging the ways colonialism seeks to define Indigenous people and their relationships.
Throughout the collection, Belcourt deftly examines the intersections of masculinity, queerness, and indigeneity, offering poignant representations of sapphic, bisexual, and achillean experiences. The stories are haunted by the specter of intergenerational trauma caused by genocide, yet they also celebrate the joys and pleasures that colonialism continues to attempt to erase.
One of the collection's strengths lies in its exploration of Indigenous kinship structures and intimate relationships, highlighting the resilience of Indigenous communities in the face of erasure. Belcourt's characters grapple with the complexities of identity and belonging, seeking to forge a legacy that transcends the wounds inflicted by colonial capitalism.
"Coexistence" stands not just a collection of stories, but as a brave call for Indigenous liberation and decolonization. Belcourt skillfully navigates themes of Land Back, environmental justice, and Indigenous resistance, urging readers to rethink their relationship to the land and to each other.
As a reader who appreciates lyrical prose and thought-provoking narratives, I found "Coexistence" to be a deeply moving and impactful read. Belcourt's exploration of time, memory, and place resonated with me on a profound level, reminding me of the importance of acknowledging and confronting the legacies of colonialism. My favorite stories of the collection were Lived Experience, Outside, and Summer Research.
In conclusion, "Coexistence" is a powerful testament to the resilience and strength of Indigenous communities in the face of oppression. Belcourt's storytelling is both captivating and illuminating, offering readers a glimpse into a world shaped by both trauma and triumph. This collection makes a perfect read for anyone interested in exploring themes of Indigenous identity, resistance, and community care.
📖 Recommended For: Advocates of Indigenous Liberation, Lovers of Poetic Prose and Queer Lit, Fans of Kaveh Akbar and Ocean Vuong.
🔑 Key Themes: Indigenous Resilience, Queer Indigeneity, Colonial Trauma, Kinship and Community, Resistance Against Colonialism, Decolonization of Identity and Art.
"Coexistence" by Billy-Ray Belcourt is a mesmerizing collection of interconnected stories that delve into the lives of Indigenous characters navigating the aftermath of colonial capitalism. With raw and vulnerable prose, Belcourt explores themes of identity, memory, and resistance, challenging the ways colonialism seeks to define Indigenous people and their relationships.
Throughout the collection, Belcourt deftly examines the intersections of masculinity, queerness, and indigeneity, offering poignant representations of sapphic, bisexual, and achillean experiences. The stories are haunted by the specter of intergenerational trauma caused by genocide, yet they also celebrate the joys and pleasures that colonialism continues to attempt to erase.
One of the collection's strengths lies in its exploration of Indigenous kinship structures and intimate relationships, highlighting the resilience of Indigenous communities in the face of erasure. Belcourt's characters grapple with the complexities of identity and belonging, seeking to forge a legacy that transcends the wounds inflicted by colonial capitalism.
"Coexistence" stands not just a collection of stories, but as a brave call for Indigenous liberation and decolonization. Belcourt skillfully navigates themes of Land Back, environmental justice, and Indigenous resistance, urging readers to rethink their relationship to the land and to each other.
As a reader who appreciates lyrical prose and thought-provoking narratives, I found "Coexistence" to be a deeply moving and impactful read. Belcourt's exploration of time, memory, and place resonated with me on a profound level, reminding me of the importance of acknowledging and confronting the legacies of colonialism. My favorite stories of the collection were Lived Experience, Outside, and Summer Research.
In conclusion, "Coexistence" is a powerful testament to the resilience and strength of Indigenous communities in the face of oppression. Belcourt's storytelling is both captivating and illuminating, offering readers a glimpse into a world shaped by both trauma and triumph. This collection makes a perfect read for anyone interested in exploring themes of Indigenous identity, resistance, and community care.
📖 Recommended For: Advocates of Indigenous Liberation, Lovers of Poetic Prose and Queer Lit, Fans of Kaveh Akbar and Ocean Vuong.
🔑 Key Themes: Indigenous Resilience, Queer Indigeneity, Colonial Trauma, Kinship and Community, Resistance Against Colonialism, Decolonization of Identity and Art.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, Drug use, Mental illness, Death of parent, Racism, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor trigger warnings for residential schools and incarcerationtinamayreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Made me cry twice!
I LOVED these stories!!!
I LOVED these stories!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Racism, and Death of parent
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