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Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'
From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way by Jesse Thistle
2 reviews
popgoesthereader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
5.0
An incredibly heart wrenching but important story, this one has been on my list for a while and I see why it has so much acclaim. Jesse Thistle is an expert storyteller, detailing in brutal detail his struggles and triumphs as a deeply broken man, in a system stacked against him who somehow found his way out. Themes of generational trauma and indigeneity are front and center in this story. I think that this story is an important one for all Canadians to read to understand many of the struggles plaguing our society right now, the overdose and homelessness crises along with the deep scars of our longstanding relationship with indigenous people in this country. Thistle holds nothing back, describing in detail the many hardships of his upbringing, the mistakes he made that led him to a life on the streets, and the hopelessness of addiction. It's a brutal and at times difficult read but you never stop rooting for his redemption and when it finally comes it's an emotional crescendo that keeps you hooked.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Self harm, Death of parent, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, Suicide attempt, Bullying, Abandonment, Racism, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, and Domestic abuse
fromjuliereads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5
I don't even have words to describe all of the emotions and thoughts that I have inside me from reading this book.
This is such a poignant, raw, and honest memoir. Jesse recounts truly traumatic and difficult times in his life, at times difficult to read - which left me reeling with the reality that he had lived all of this, that there are people living experiences like these even now.
Thistle recounted all of his lived experiences so incredibly well. There were small elements of dark humour, that shocked me when I had a little laugh in such a serious narrative. But I also cried at a few parts of his story, my heart hurting with his. It is such an important story and I am so glad I read his story.
This is such a poignant, raw, and honest memoir. Jesse recounts truly traumatic and difficult times in his life, at times difficult to read - which left me reeling with the reality that he had lived all of this, that there are people living experiences like these even now.
Thistle recounted all of his lived experiences so incredibly well. There were small elements of dark humour, that shocked me when I had a little laugh in such a serious narrative. But I also cried at a few parts of his story, my heart hurting with his. It is such an important story and I am so glad I read his story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Blood, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, and Racism
Minor: Cancer, Kidnapping, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Death of a grandparent
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