A review by amandaquotidianbooks
Carry: A Memoir of Survival on Stolen Land by Toni Jensen

dark emotional informative reflective slow-paced

4.0

Toni Jensen’s memoir Carry weaves together her childhood memories as a white-passing Métis, her interest in etymology, nature writing and a discussion of land and gun violence in America.

Jensen explores her evolving relationship with her alcoholic, abusive father, made complicated by his recent diagnosis of Lewy body dementia. We piece together moments of her life with the ebb and flow of quiet meditation. Some essays are more experimental, using second person perspective to directly engage the reader.

Jensen looks at examples of gun violence, past and present, in the places she calls home. She describes each city through this violence, but also recognizes the natural beauty to be found there. This is a topical, well-rounded nonfiction, blending fact with poetry to deliver an introduction to contemporary indigenous life in America.
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