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davidbythebay's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-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
This is a beautiful story dealing with several difficult topics. Chief among them is the epidemic of Indigenous suicide; as well as drug and alcohol addiction, and homophobia. It is an incredibly nuanced and delicate look at these topics with a lot of internal thoughts and searing images. I didn't know this is the rare instance of a book written after a movie is made; I can see the cinematography of the scenes here.
I am not Indigenous and can therefore not speak to the cultural aspects of this book, nor of the experiences of the characters related to their culture and lives. What I can say is I deeply appreciated the spirituality expressed in the book. I thought it aided the story in great ways.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book. Well-written and exploring, the prose sang on the page to the point I was deeply feeling the same emotions being expressed by the characters. An absolute read-this-now as this book should not be slept on.
I am not Indigenous and can therefore not speak to the cultural aspects of this book, nor of the experiences of the characters related to their culture and lives. What I can say is I deeply appreciated the spirituality expressed in the book. I thought it aided the story in great ways.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book. Well-written and exploring, the prose sang on the page to the point I was deeply feeling the same emotions being expressed by the characters. An absolute read-this-now as this book should not be slept on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Homophobia, Gun violence, Death, Grief, Addiction, Suicide, Alcoholism, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Rape, and Drug abuse
kimba13's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
readingwithcec's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
scruffycat's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
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
5.0
gothicpluto's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
thorwantsanotherletter's review against another edition
3.0
*Pick for the month of July's OMG She's Indigenous book club
I...am so conflicted.
I found this at my library in 2019 hoping to read it for my first time host of IndigAThon. Sadly, I didn't get to it, so I put it on my wishlist. One of my many mamas bought it for me, and it sat on my shelf until I mentioned this to Autumn and we chose it.
First off...there's so much wrong with this movie-to-book adaptation. I feel like the movie and the book both shit on Shane ridiculously. Tara...oh god, the most annoying girlfriend character in the history of annoying. I hated how in the movie she's painted as this victim, when in reality, she's a rapist and mentally abusive to Shane. Almost everyone shits on Shane, even David, whos's supposed to be his boyfriend. But everyone is trying to keep him contained to the reserve.
Honestly there's so much wrong with it that I can't even write it all.
The only thing that satisfied me with this was the way grief is explained in Native terms, and the way Shane feels it vs his mother. The house gets dirty, the roof starts leaking a little harder, until the house can't take it anymore.
I...am so conflicted.
I found this at my library in 2019 hoping to read it for my first time host of IndigAThon. Sadly, I didn't get to it, so I put it on my wishlist. One of my many mamas bought it for me, and it sat on my shelf until I mentioned this to Autumn and we chose it.
First off...there's so much wrong with this movie-to-book adaptation. I feel like the movie and the book both shit on Shane ridiculously. Tara...oh god, the most annoying girlfriend character in the history of annoying. I hated how in the movie she's painted as this victim, when in reality, she's a rapist and mentally abusive to Shane. Almost everyone shits on Shane, even David, whos's supposed to be his boyfriend. But everyone is trying to keep him contained to the reserve.
Honestly there's so much wrong with it that I can't even write it all.
The only thing that satisfied me with this was the way grief is explained in Native terms, and the way Shane feels it vs his mother. The house gets dirty, the roof starts leaking a little harder, until the house can't take it anymore.
sarahlillianbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This had some major insight for someone living on a rez in Canada. There was numerous of moments mentioning the relationship between the aboriginal people and the Canadian government. It was fascinating book and beautifully written. It was just lacking something that I'm not quite sure it is. I can say I don't like when people are mean to each other, especially if they know others are suffering, but they are just relentless.
My heart went out to the main character, Shane the whole book. Grief is such a hard topic and everyone deals with differently. I think that was nicely captured through Shane and Jackie, his mom, and their relationship.
I would definitely recommend this as a LGBT book, as well as an aboriginal (own voices) represented book.
My heart went out to the main character, Shane the whole book. Grief is such a hard topic and everyone deals with differently. I think that was nicely captured through Shane and Jackie, his mom, and their relationship.
I would definitely recommend this as a LGBT book, as well as an aboriginal (own voices) represented book.
homosexual's review against another edition
4.0
This was cute. I do think a few plot lines wrapped up either too quickly or too neatly, but overall I did like my time with this.
It is a contemporary novel so I don’t have a TON of thoughts.
Interested in seeing how the movie handles this.
It is a contemporary novel so I don’t have a TON of thoughts.
Interested in seeing how the movie handles this.
bloomingeyes's review against another edition
5.0
I think this book is exceptional. Ownvoices m/m indigenous representation is so important. The book is beautifully written and deeply emotional, with a nuanced exploration of Native spirituality and culture, poverty, suicide, and homophobia. It's dark, but ultimately hopeful. I can't speak to the authenticity of the representation, but I can say that the story felt very grounded in the setting and the culture of life on the reserve.