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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.
Some poetic, some hilarious, many haunting or reckoning with pain and discrimination. Emotional, evocative, and expressive writing throughout.
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
kari_f's review
challenging
informative
reflective
5.0
“It’s so important for us elders to tell our stories and encourage others to write about their experiences and how they have come to terms with the past… I believe by recording our stories we leave behind a wealth of knowledge and a rich and important legacy for our future generations. Young people will then know their identity and cultural connections to this country, and be proud to work towards making a significant contribution to the destiny of their people.” (Doreen Nelson)
I can’t recommend this book enough for anyone who is interested in learning about Aboriginal experiences in Australia! My husband and I spent about six weeks traveling throughout the country a few years back, and in each state we went to we tried to visit a cultural center so we could learn about the different regional people groups, their ties to the land, and their experiences during/after colonization. We learned about The Stolen Generations and missions, about the songs and art and dance, about the land itself and how the people were/are tied to it.
Since that trip, I’ve searched for a variety of books by First Nations authors, and this collection of essays and short stories is perfect. There are a variety of writers from different Indigenous people groups, states and territories, ages, and walks of life. There are famous authors and footy players as well as activists, professors, artists, and a spectrum of people from different backgrounds and professions. Some of the stories are light and uplifting while others are bleak and share incidences and atrocities that have been experienced. Most of the stories have a bit of sadness as well as hopefulness.
This compendium is a testament to the fact that there is no one given way to grow up Aboriginal. Each story is as unique as the person telling it, and each is powerful and authentic and important in its own way.
✅ for anyone wanting to know more about First Nation experiences in Australia
I can’t recommend this book enough for anyone who is interested in learning about Aboriginal experiences in Australia! My husband and I spent about six weeks traveling throughout the country a few years back, and in each state we went to we tried to visit a cultural center so we could learn about the different regional people groups, their ties to the land, and their experiences during/after colonization. We learned about The Stolen Generations and missions, about the songs and art and dance, about the land itself and how the people were/are tied to it.
Since that trip, I’ve searched for a variety of books by First Nations authors, and this collection of essays and short stories is perfect. There are a variety of writers from different Indigenous people groups, states and territories, ages, and walks of life. There are famous authors and footy players as well as activists, professors, artists, and a spectrum of people from different backgrounds and professions. Some of the stories are light and uplifting while others are bleak and share incidences and atrocities that have been experienced. Most of the stories have a bit of sadness as well as hopefulness.
This compendium is a testament to the fact that there is no one given way to grow up Aboriginal. Each story is as unique as the person telling it, and each is powerful and authentic and important in its own way.
✅ for anyone wanting to know more about First Nation experiences in Australia
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Rape and Kidnapping
emzilia's review
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
(Listened to audiobook version)
A few notable chapters for me:
A few notable chapters for me:
- Easter 1969, Katie Bryan. Wish this one was longer
- Growing up, Grow up, grown-ups, Ambelin Kwaymullina
- ‘Abo Nose’, Zachary Penrith-Puchalski
- Carol Petterson’s chapter: I had no idea Australia enforced a type of caste system within missionaries based on the skin colour of people, people in the same family - Carol was not allowed to talk to her own brother or Mother because she was light skinned and he was not to avoid ‘contamination’
I really loved this anthology collection. It’s so important to hear the experiences of different Aboriginal people from different walks of life that are largely just synthesised together as a single experience in mainstream dialogue/media, or are otherwise underrepresented at all.
My first time listening to an audiobook, and while I think it complemented the nature of a short story collection with a range of voices, I did find it harder to retain the stories. If I get a chance I’d like to read this again, properly, and take my time with it a bit more so the essays don’t blend together as much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Self harm
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Rape
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