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4.54 AVERAGE
4.54 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
emotional
reflective
sad
Reading this is like listening to a friend tell you about their life by a campfire. It jumps around, sometimes you can't keep the people mentioned straight, there aren't as many facts and outside research mentioned to corroborate the ideas being put forth, but ultimately it's intensely personal. To be honest that meant parts were hard to get through (because I was confused at the jumping around), but really this is a good memoir in how it details Knott's life and how she's dealt with trauma. There are a few of Knott's poems in this book and that was by and large the highlight for me, her poetry is evocative, raw, and touching. Those additions really contributed to the up-close and personal feel of this memoir.
I do wish the formatting had been a bit different of how the stories were laid out - the book is split into three major sections but those were just guideline titles, the sections could have been a bit more clearly delineated in terms of content if that's what they were going for. I also wish there had been a bit more of the 'historical insight' mentioned in the synopsis because it feels like this book just contains generalities and doesn't go into any details other than one short bit about her family's history with colonialism. As mentioned in the book, Indigenous individuals should not be held to educating the white populace on the horrors of colonialism and how it continues today but I was given the impression it would go into that so I was just a bit disappointed there.
A good memoir for those who have experienced any similar traumas (addiction, sexual abuse, racism, familial abuse) or anyone interested in reading an Indigenous person's experience in the modern culture.
I do wish the formatting had been a bit different of how the stories were laid out - the book is split into three major sections but those were just guideline titles, the sections could have been a bit more clearly delineated in terms of content if that's what they were going for. I also wish there had been a bit more of the 'historical insight' mentioned in the synopsis because it feels like this book just contains generalities and doesn't go into any details other than one short bit about her family's history with colonialism. As mentioned in the book, Indigenous individuals should not be held to educating the white populace on the horrors of colonialism and how it continues today but I was given the impression it would go into that so I was just a bit disappointed there.
A good memoir for those who have experienced any similar traumas (addiction, sexual abuse, racism, familial abuse) or anyone interested in reading an Indigenous person's experience in the modern culture.
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
As a Canadian, this one hit hard. There is so much going on in our country that we just turn a blind eye to. This book was heavy, but Helen was a light in that darkness. And her writing is beautiful and moving, and I’m so thankful to be able to read her story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
"When you have a lifetime of emotions that you have been running from, it seems like once they catch up they will gang-beat you and leave you crippled in an alleyway. Curb stomp finale. You learn to have distaste for them, to ignore their presence, and to dislike when other people are emotional. You learn to interpret their vulnerability as weakness and witnessing a sob might very well make your stomach churn. 'Get it together,' you'll mutter under your breath or in the back of your mind as other people weep. Seeing their emotion only reminds you of your own weakness, which in fact is not really a weakness at all but a necessity to live an emotionally healthy life." (240)
Incredible; hard-hitting and poetic. A necessary read for all.
"A beautiful book chronicling a Canadian indigenous woman's story of resilience and activism, rising from a history of child abuse, alcoholism, drugs, and sexual assault. This memoir's emotionally resonant narrative is only augmented by its lyrical prose and understanding of when to ease and release tension. Despite the intense subject matter, I read this book eagerly within two sittings. Knott's honesty and introspective observations make her story compelling, memorable, and will assuredly speak to the hearts of many. Her grip on hope, for her herself and for other indigenous women in similar dire circumstances, solidify its urgent necessity on all to-read bookshelves." - Skincareforintroverts.com
Incredible; hard-hitting and poetic. A necessary read for all.
"A beautiful book chronicling a Canadian indigenous woman's story of resilience and activism, rising from a history of child abuse, alcoholism, drugs, and sexual assault. This memoir's emotionally resonant narrative is only augmented by its lyrical prose and understanding of when to ease and release tension. Despite the intense subject matter, I read this book eagerly within two sittings. Knott's honesty and introspective observations make her story compelling, memorable, and will assuredly speak to the hearts of many. Her grip on hope, for her herself and for other indigenous women in similar dire circumstances, solidify its urgent necessity on all to-read bookshelves." - Skincareforintroverts.com
Heavy but so important to hear this story! Definitely check trigger warnings before reading or listening