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wchereads's review
Tainna: The Unseen Ones is a collection of six short stories written by Norma Dunning, an Inuit author on turtle island (so-called Canada). The stories centred around several Inuit in various (and sometimes vastly different) circumstances, from unhoused people struggling to survive to the "ethnic member" of the wealthy (and White) widow club.
While I was reading it, I noted things that I would like to criticize. The more I thought about it, however, the more unsure I became about what exactly I was trying to criticize. Was it really any story in particular or the unfair reality that the stories reflect and is very much deserving of criticism? Was a female character's misogynistic opinion really the author writing normalized and unchallenged misogyny, when the same female character later formed a precious friendship with an older Inuit woman who also helped jump start her art career? Was the way antidepressants were dismissed in the story a dangerous misconception, or a reflection of the reality of over-medication? I thought the last story had (spoiler?) a strange hint of white saviourism, but isn't that also a reflection of real life where a white person's, specifically a white man's actions and words tend to get taken more seriously than those from an unhoused Inuit woman?
I would say the stories lack commentaries but that is not even very fair to say since these are short stories.
At the end of day, I did like the writing and I appreciate that this book made me have these reflections. I especially liked the folklore vibe from some of the stories. I would recommend it to people looking for a short story collection that is diverse but also centres the experiences and lives of Inuit.
While I was reading it, I noted things that I would like to criticize. The more I thought about it, however, the more unsure I became about what exactly I was trying to criticize. Was it really any story in particular or the unfair reality that the stories reflect and is very much deserving of criticism? Was a female character's misogynistic opinion really the author writing normalized and unchallenged misogyny, when the same female character later formed a precious friendship with an older Inuit woman who also helped jump start her art career? Was the way antidepressants were dismissed in the story a dangerous misconception, or a reflection of the reality of over-medication? I thought the last story had (spoiler?) a strange hint of white saviourism, but isn't that also a reflection of real life where a white person's, specifically a white man's actions and words tend to get taken more seriously than those from an unhoused Inuit woman?
I would say the stories lack commentaries but that is not even very fair to say since these are short stories.
At the end of day, I did like the writing and I appreciate that this book made me have these reflections. I especially liked the folklore vibe from some of the stories. I would recommend it to people looking for a short story collection that is diverse but also centres the experiences and lives of Inuit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Racism, and Rape
Moderate: Death, Murder, and Misogyny
Minor: Alcoholism
maren_hemsath's review
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking, Sexual violence, Rape, Racism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Death
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Addiction and Murder
monnibo's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, and Racism
Minor: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Sexual violence, Child death, Police brutality, Mental illness, Addiction, Trafficking, Forced institutionalization, and Drug use
nataliereadz's review
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Death
pomoevareads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Told in six short stories focussing on the life of different Inuk characters, Tainna won the 2021 Governor General’s Literary Award for fiction.
A group of original stories that focus on both the heart breaking stories that are all too uncommon for indigenous peoples and in particular women as well as some warmth of character and deep meaning of Inuit folklore. Pepper in some humour and some fantastically built characters and Dunning has demonstrated why this book is a winner.
It is too hard to pick a favourite story and each one offers something totally unique. I chuckled at parts of Panem et Circenses. A group of older wealthy women meet for wine and competition for the white man’s dollars. Maybe they will get a free trip out of it and are past being a body that can be degraded for the purpose of the men. Unfortunately, the claws come out and the racism below the surface shows itself when the Prima woman, the leader of the group, isn’t immediately picked by a man who comes to make them an offer. During the interview process the man asks the women if they will pay their own health insurance as a broken hip can set a man back. 😂
In Kunak, Kunak has fond memories of his grandfather Chevy who used to take him fishing. Chevy has died but not yet passed to one of the lands. Kunak wants to spend his time with another panhandler, Aviak, and tries to convince her to get some food at the Mission over going to the liquor store. Chevy is the spirit who watches out for Kunak and Aviak has called in Ubluriaq for the battle to protect their earthly beings. Sometimes the struggling young people need guidance from their spiritual ancestors.
In the title story, a young indigenous woman’s body is found dead on a golf course. Found by a man who cares and tries to get the police to take the case seriously. The victim and her mother always had a system but something went wrong they got disconnected write when Bunny needs her mother most.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Death, and Racism
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