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Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Heart Berries: A Memoir in Books

Mar 18, 2018

Chaotic coming-of-age manifesto from a First Nations female survivor

This memoir about pain and trauma written by an indigenous woman should not be typecasted and categorised as "Native Writing", although many themes do arise in this area.

As the author explains, this book is less about identity and more about coping with huge swathes of pain - from having a baby taken away right after birth, child sexual abuse to being institutionalised with bipolar disorder, Terese Mailhot is first and foremost a survivor. What she reveals in her writing, is that these issues take different shapes in every community, and for her, she attempts to consolidate her experiences and what she has learnt from her parents together.

In one instance, she talks about how she can't understand the notion of forgiveness preached by white therapists, because she has learnt that pain is a ritual to undertake. And in this way, we see where she appears similar to other survivors and where she diverges because of her belief structures. She also speaks about pain being inherent in the Native condition because of centuries of mistreatment by colonial powers - and so she refers to it differently than some.

Where I struggled with this, is her relationship with her 'boyfriend' Casey, which felt irritating because it took up far too much of the book - and I did just want to shake her and tell her to get a grip especially as she has young children, and it seemed almost juvenile. But overall, an important piece of literature in this growing sphere.

Kudos

Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Feb 23, 2021

Sneak a peek at the Southern fiction/mystery novel ALFIE CARTER by BJ Mayo on my blog, and enter the giveaway to win your own signed copy of the book - 3 winners!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2021/02/book-blog-tour-and-giveaway-alfie.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
The seemingly never-ending Cabinda War (1975—) has left multitudes dead in its wake and thousands of children homeless and orphaned.

Jackaleena N’denga, a young Angolan girl, has become the sole survivor of one specifically brutal village massacre carried out by a band of guerrilla boy-soldiers.

Jackaleena’s resilience leads her to an orphanage on the west coast of Africa, known as Benguela by the Sea, where she and other children are taken in and protected. Her brilliant mind and endless questions capture the heart of her mentor, Margaret, who ensures her that her survival thus far—especially being the survivor from her village—must mean she has big things ahead of her. When the opportunity arises, she must find her purpose.

Not without a plan, Jackaleena stows away on a mercy ship that has made its yearly visit to the orphanage and is now preparing to return to America. Her journey takes her across the ocean, into the arms of New York City's customs officials, and finally into placement in a temporary foster home in Texas.

Enter Alfie Carter—a workaholic, small-town detective who is also battling memories of his past. His life is forever changed when he meets a young African girl looking for her higher purpose.

Kudos Comment

AbmostFiction (32 KP) rated I Am Legend in Books

Jul 24, 2017

I Am Legend

Richard Matheson | 2017 | Science Fiction/Fantasy

8.5

(20 Ratings)

Book Rating

Strong tension (4 more)

Comments on loneliness

New take on vampirism

Influential

Strong male character

Come out, Neville!

I Am Legend is an influential horror novel that despite being written in 1954 still holds up today.

Neville is the only survivor of a disease that turns people into howling vampires that gather outside his house every night to try and break in or lure him out. During the day he scavenges for supplies and tries to hunt his friends and neighbours and kill them while they're sleeping. Then before the sun sets he must barricade himself into his home to try and survive one more night.

In equal parts horrifying and heartbreaking, this fresh take on the vampire novel is one to read.

Kudos

Lee KM Pallatina (951 KP) rated Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010) in Movies

Jun 11, 2019

Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)

2010 | Action, Horror, Mystery

6.5

(19 Ratings)

Movie Rating

Resident Evil: another one?

After 2 great movies and a forgettable 3rd, alice is back to tell us her name is Alice, and she remembers everything (again)
In this 4th outing in the Resident Evil saga we see our survivor (ugh, what's her name again?) Find a group of survivors including chris Redfield who seems untrustworthy and locked in a cage (if a prison can't contain him, a cage won't) a returning claire Redfield and other forgettable badass characters.
This time trapped in a flooded building, that's surrounded by the dead and with time running out, Rick....I mean Alice will lead this rag tag group of survivors outta danger and into the unknown.
Still it helps us recover from Extinction...am I right?