Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia by Anita Heiss

4 reviews

sophiesometimesreads's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

This was a really insightful and important read. I thought a lot of these essays or stories from peoples' lives growing up Aboriginal in Australia were great and shed light on these experiences that I, as a white Australian, have not experienced and the privilege that provides me. There was a good mix of happy, sad, beautiful and ugly throughout these stories. It also really shows how recently the atrocities against the Aboriginal population occurred, with stories from people part of the stolen generation included, as well as their children. It really highlights how much better as a society we must strive to be to be inclusive and accepting of the Aboriginal people and their ways of life. I think this was a great and important read for anyone in Australia, or even those globally. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Addiction, Colonisation, Drug abuse, and Racism

Moderate: Suicide

mel_s_bookshelf's review

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

This is such an important book - one I believe every Australian needs to read. 

Each voice is unique, as are their stories and experiences. It has left me feel raw, emotional, disgusted and ashamed and just as equally inspired, hopeful, uplifted and determined to make it a higher priority to read more from Indigenous authors. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Classism, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Grief, and Mental illness

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Abandonment, and Addiction

balfies's review

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.5

Another fantastic memoir anthology, this one exploring Aboriginality. I often had to take the time to properly absorb each piece, so I've been dipping into it shortly over about 9 months.

Some poetic, some hilarious, many haunting or reckoning with pain and discrimination. Emotional, evocative, and expressive writing throughout.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Rape, Medical trauma, War, Violence, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Murder, Misogyny, Mental illness, Hate crime, Grief, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, Colonisation, Classism, Child abuse, Bullying, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, Ableism, and Abandonment

dianahincureads's review

emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

“Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia” is the type of anthology that should be read by everyone. It features 50 unique pieces, all focusing on different facets of what it means to be Aboriginal today in Australia. It challenges stereotypes, it reflects on Australia’s colonial past and racist policies. It creates a safe space for these valuable stories. The variety of voices is refreshing. Writings from well-known authors, such as Alison Whittaker and Tara June Winch, are featured alongside newer voices. This collection puts forth a puzzle of experiences that show the complexity of identity and belonging. Most importantly, it shows that Aboriginality is not a homogenous block. Aboriginal peoples have diverse cultures, languages, and beliefs.

The GROWING UP series contains 5 titles: Growing Up Disabled in Australia, Growing Up Queer in Australia, Growing Up African in Australia, Growing Up Asian in Australia, Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia. A fresh new anthology is on its way: Growing Up in Australia is released in November this year and contains pieces from all the aforementioned anthologies.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Racial slurs, and Racism

Minor: Addiction