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mynameisprerna's review against another edition
5.0
This is the second book I’ve read by Billy-Ray Belcourt, and I loved it just as much as the first.
I appreciated the ways these stories weave together, painting a picture of sexuality, history, death, remembrance, survival, love, art, and meaning making, all through the experience of living in the shadow of colonialism.
I highlighted so many lines in this book. It’s such a poetic exploration, full of insights that are going to sit with me for a long time.
I appreciated the ways these stories weave together, painting a picture of sexuality, history, death, remembrance, survival, love, art, and meaning making, all through the experience of living in the shadow of colonialism.
I highlighted so many lines in this book. It’s such a poetic exploration, full of insights that are going to sit with me for a long time.
kate_cunningham's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
ireadshitbooks's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bisexualbookshelf's review
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 incarcerationtarapatey's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
A captivating collection of short stories.
Belcourt’s writing is both beautiful — leaving no doubt that he is also a poet — and gripping. I enjoyed his first book A Minor Chorus. However, it was missing something and I couldn’t put my finger on it. Then, during the story “Summer Research”, I read the following line:
“I wanted desperately to be an intellectual, but all my curiosities were personal.”
I found Belcourt's earlier writing to be intellectual. The writing was beautiful but I felt no connection. In this collections, each of these stories, regardless of the nature of the character, is so personal that I could feel myself in each of the characters.
The collection is perfectly bookended. Upon finishing the last story, I immediately returned to the first and reread it.
Included in this collection is a story that is simply terrifying, made more so by the fact that I was not expecting it. Who puts a horror story in the middle of a collection of literary stories? Billy-Ray Belcourt, that’s who.
Belcourt’s writing is both beautiful — leaving no doubt that he is also a poet — and gripping. I enjoyed his first book A Minor Chorus. However, it was missing something and I couldn’t put my finger on it. Then, during the story “Summer Research”, I read the following line:
“I wanted desperately to be an intellectual, but all my curiosities were personal.”
I found Belcourt's earlier writing to be intellectual. The writing was beautiful but I felt no connection. In this collections, each of these stories, regardless of the nature of the character, is so personal that I could feel myself in each of the characters.
The collection is perfectly bookended. Upon finishing the last story, I immediately returned to the first and reread it.
Included in this collection is a story that is simply terrifying, made more so by the fact that I was not expecting it. Who puts a horror story in the middle of a collection of literary stories? Billy-Ray Belcourt, that’s who.
cgood90's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Beautiful. Tragic. Will have you staring into the void.
beck0000000's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
kylieve's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Beautifully written. Belcourt’s prose is so poetic. These stories are both sad and hopeful—so full of love.
sminatra's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25