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A review by dawnsworldblog
From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way by Jesse Thistle
5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jesse Thistle’s memoir tells his story over an almost 40 year period. It starts at a traumatic time in his childhood and covers his challenging family life, growing up estranged from his parents. A large part of the book, very honestly, tackles Jesses’s drug and alcohol addiction, a decade that he spent homeless and a number of spells in prison. Jesse’s life then turns a complete full circle to rehab, marriage, rediscovering his Métis-Cree heritage, going to university and becoming a highly respected academic.
It is, at many points, not an easy read (not the writing, that flows effortlessly) but the subject matter. Though if it wasn’t easy to read then what the hell must it have been like to live it.
Of all the books I’ve read in 2020 this will most definitely be one of the ones that sticks with me the most. Jesse’s writing is honest, insightful and an absolute inspiration.
Memoirs are not typically my genre of choice but I’m so glad I gave this one a try as it was truly incredible and I won’t forget Jessie and his story anytime soon. I urge everyone to go and read this book!
Jesse Thistle’s memoir tells his story over an almost 40 year period. It starts at a traumatic time in his childhood and covers his challenging family life, growing up estranged from his parents. A large part of the book, very honestly, tackles Jesses’s drug and alcohol addiction, a decade that he spent homeless and a number of spells in prison. Jesse’s life then turns a complete full circle to rehab, marriage, rediscovering his Métis-Cree heritage, going to university and becoming a highly respected academic.
It is, at many points, not an easy read (not the writing, that flows effortlessly) but the subject matter. Though if it wasn’t easy to read then what the hell must it have been like to live it.
Of all the books I’ve read in 2020 this will most definitely be one of the ones that sticks with me the most. Jesse’s writing is honest, insightful and an absolute inspiration.
Memoirs are not typically my genre of choice but I’m so glad I gave this one a try as it was truly incredible and I won’t forget Jessie and his story anytime soon. I urge everyone to go and read this book!