Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia by Anita Heiss

3 reviews

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

beautifulpaxielreads's review

I got about 104 pages in. I think this is the kind of book that is not meant to be read all in one go but to dip in and out as you so choose. That is the method I will take from now on. I will stress that my DNF'ing this book is in no way a reflection of the importance of its content, which is incredibly valuable and necessary.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Mental illness, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery

Talks a lot about the impact that colonialism has had on Aboriginal Australians.