sometimesbryce 's review for:

Heart Berries by Terese Marie Mailhot

4.0

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Mailhot arrives as a stunning, haunted voice in non-fiction. Her essays lay out her life through her sons, her lovers, her mental illness, and her culture. She is one of the few writers able to effectively step back from herself and see herself as we might - flawed, broken, whole. Her memoir bleeds on every page and screams its way down inside you. As always, you can find mini, individual reviews below.

Indian Condition (first) - 3/5
Really poetic and lovey but a bit too detached for my taste

Heart Berries - 4/5
This was beautiful. It gave voice to some of my hidden fears.

Indian Sick -5/5
Let’s get something clear: I will never not like a well written letter to an ex. That’s my MO.

In a Pecan Field - 4/5
I see a lot of myself in her.

Your Black Eye and My Birth - 5/5
She is able to do the hardest thing in a memoir: step back from herself.

I Know I’ll Go - 4/5
A really honest look at her dad.

Little Mountain Woman - 5/5
My favorite so far.

The Leaving Deficit - 3/5
This was a bit too disjointed for me.

Thunder Being Honey Bear - 4/5
An honest piece on trauma

Indian Condition (second) - 5/5
Really beautiful. I feel like this should have been the last piece.

Better Parts - 3/5
This as the last piece really emphasizes the role her mother played in her life. I don’t feel it was as strong as some her others, however.