Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
I appreciate that the author didn't shy away from her own problematic behavior - I think it's uncommon in memoirs to show the memoir writer as fallible and at fault for some of the bad things that happen or the impacts of their mental health challenges. I also appreciate that the writer identified areas where she had thought she was at fault, things she blamed herself for from childhood, but were not actually her fault. she's right when she says therapy is very hard with trauma work because you do have to relinquish often incorrect narratives you've held as true for so long. she depicted her experience with mental health and substance use and motherhood very clearly.
what made me rate this lower is the seeming idolization of Sherman Alexie, who has been controversial for the sexual harassment/adultery claims made against him. considering the nature of her childhood abuse, I'm surprised she repeatedly mentioned him and spoke so highly of him, even going so far as to have him as her introduction writer. I skipped the introduction altogether and felt myself cringing each time he was mentioned. such an ick.
what made me rate this lower is the seeming idolization of Sherman Alexie, who has been controversial for the sexual harassment/adultery claims made against him. considering the nature of her childhood abuse, I'm surprised she repeatedly mentioned him and spoke so highly of him, even going so far as to have him as her introduction writer. I skipped the introduction altogether and felt myself cringing each time he was mentioned. such an ick.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
dnf. but would like to revisit someday. I wanted to like this book, but it was a slow start. I had to return it to the library before I could really get into it.
CW many forms of physical and emotional abuse/trauma to adults and children.
While in the same vein as other indigenous memoirs, this is unapologetic and couched to be palatable to a particular (white) consumer base/audience, which really does make it feel different from similar texts.
It also is extremely well written and feels extremely present in previous events in a way I’ve rarely read. I am not sure I’ve ever interrogated any events in my past the way every moment is in this. There is a willingness to reflect on the complexities of interactions where abuse is playing out by multiple parties.
Ultimately, it is unlike anything I’ve read and hard to explain. I definitely recommend it but make sure you’re in the right headspace.
While in the same vein as other indigenous memoirs, this is unapologetic and couched to be palatable to a particular (white) consumer base/audience, which really does make it feel different from similar texts.
It also is extremely well written and feels extremely present in previous events in a way I’ve rarely read. I am not sure I’ve ever interrogated any events in my past the way every moment is in this. There is a willingness to reflect on the complexities of interactions where abuse is playing out by multiple parties.
Ultimately, it is unlike anything I’ve read and hard to explain. I definitely recommend it but make sure you’re in the right headspace.
I kept not standing up so I could meet every idea in this book in one sitting. Defiant, brilliant, insistent on existing on its own terms.
Didn’t finish. I found this wildly disjointed and not particularly interesting.