Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Life in the City of Dirty Water: A Memoir of Healing by Clayton Thomas-Muller

19 reviews

zee's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad slow-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation

Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual assault

audreylee's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

3.25

The cyclical, repetitive nature of hard memories and regrets gives way to a more positive energy and focused activism in this memoir of a Cree man. It is on the Canada Reads shortlist. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Addiction, Domestic abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Sexual assault

bookthia's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

4.25

I had never heard of Clayton Thomas-Müller prior to this book.  How is that possible when I was familiar with most of the organizations he had worked for?  

I am SO GLAD this book was selected for Canada Reads 2022 because otherwise, it would not have crossed my path. And I am SO GLAD I read this.  I learned.  I ached.  I grieved.  I questioned myself.  I learned some more.  

This book is gut-wrenchingly candid, profoundly forthright, relevant, important, generous in spirit, informative and unapologetic.  If you need to do some colonization unlearning, I HIGHLY recommend this book.  Go in with an open mind and an open heart.  It won't hurt so much.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Racism, Colonisation, Drug abuse, and Genocide

knaylor's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

Valuable learning about growing up as an urban Indigenous man in Canada.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Genocide, Vomit, Child abuse, Colonisation, Sexual assault, Bullying, Cursing, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Addiction, and Domestic abuse

It looks like a lot of warnings, but it’s critical reading.

tracey1981's review against another edition

hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Infidelity, Drug use, Bullying, Child death, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Racism, Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Genocide

mayukiiq's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad

4.0

Super important read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Drug abuse, and Child abuse

swansandroses's review against another edition

I didn’t realize there were discussions of sexual assault and domestic abuse and I am not comfortable listening to the descriptions. Will try to pick this up in print and continue on. I should have looked at the book summary a little more in detail prior to picking this up.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

maddycumerlato's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

3.5

3.5 stars, rounded up. Clayton Thomas-Müller’s story is one of resilience and hope, a story that speaks to the importance of those you choose to surround yourself with, and how your connections to everything and everyone around you shapes your path in ways you could never expect. 

From his earliest days suffering with abuse and homelessness, choosing to walk dark paths in order to survive, only to find a life he loves 20 years later… that’s what life is truly about. It’s hard to see it in the moments when you’re low, but as Thomas-Müller expresses, everything is connected and for many, the path is set for us before we are able to see it. Everything that happens occurs for a reason. It is an experience to learn and grow from, and makes you a better person. 

I definitely needed to hear that message right now. This is a beautiful, educational, and passionate memoir about a man who has lived his life as honestly and fully as he could. Highly encourage everyone to read 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, Colonisation, and Grief

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, and Sexual assault

Minor: Abortion and Bullying

ka_ke's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

This is a must read for anyone who calls themself an Ally of the First Nations, Métis & Inuit peoples.  Clayton paints a brutal picture of what life is like as an Indigenous male trying to survive a colonialist society. It is oddly inspiring. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Bullying, Child abuse, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Cursing

Moderate: Abandonment and Confinement