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lit_laugh_luv's review against another edition
3.0
This memoir is by design non-linear and fragmented, but when combined with the dense academic writing I found myself struggling through certain passages. The personal narratives are where Billy-Ray Belcourt shines brightest and depicts his lived experiences through factors like racism, homophobia, colonialism and gender. I particularly enjoyed hearing about his early life, as it was something I connected to in many ways as a reader, and really highlighted how disparate the experiences of a gay white settler versus a gay Indigenous person are in Canada. A key theme in the book is the intentional separation of the ideas of inclusion versus belonging; in many ways, inclusion in a space is entirely insufficient and often the default approach. Establishing a feeling of belonging requires addressing factors like intergenerational trauma and history to proceed, and it is aptly noted that Canadian government has by design made little progress to go beyond acknowledging history.
It feels both deeply personal but simultaneously descriptive of the broader societal issues that stem from the very origins of Canada. The repeated scholarly references are where it lost me and ultimately detracted from my enjoyment; in some instances they didn't feel like they added the depth or value they intended to. As readers we aren't necessarily entitled to know all of Belcourt's formative experiences, but as a stylistic choice in a memoir it felt too structured and rigid to be continually reliant on such academic definitions of concepts.
The book definitely helped changed my understanding of suicidality and how desensitized settlers have become to Indigenous issues. The confrontation of the language we use is also really insightful in this memoir - for example, noting how problematic the descriptor 'state of emergency' can be when referring to the intentional and systemic consequences of colonialism. It doesn't address how the emergency itself isn't singular, and conveys a false promise of both urgency and the ushering to safety. I really enjoy hearing Billy-Ray Belcourt's experience and perception of the world, since it's so raw and different from my own; with that said, I don't think the style of the book was particularly for me, but it certainly did achieve its intended goal and left me thinking.
It feels both deeply personal but simultaneously descriptive of the broader societal issues that stem from the very origins of Canada. The repeated scholarly references are where it lost me and ultimately detracted from my enjoyment; in some instances they didn't feel like they added the depth or value they intended to. As readers we aren't necessarily entitled to know all of Belcourt's formative experiences, but as a stylistic choice in a memoir it felt too structured and rigid to be continually reliant on such academic definitions of concepts.
The book definitely helped changed my understanding of suicidality and how desensitized settlers have become to Indigenous issues. The confrontation of the language we use is also really insightful in this memoir - for example, noting how problematic the descriptor 'state of emergency' can be when referring to the intentional and systemic consequences of colonialism. It doesn't address how the emergency itself isn't singular, and conveys a false promise of both urgency and the ushering to safety. I really enjoy hearing Billy-Ray Belcourt's experience and perception of the world, since it's so raw and different from my own; with that said, I don't think the style of the book was particularly for me, but it certainly did achieve its intended goal and left me thinking.
nah_justaw0rm's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
lisamchuk's review against another edition
4.0
This is hard to read at times, both in terms of subject matter and complexity of writing, but is at the same time lyrical and insightful.
amberhammer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.75