3/5 stars.
ebook, 331 pages.
Read from April 3, 2022 to April 4, 2022.
This book was the first to go during this year’s Canada Reads 2022 debates. This memoir reveals a moving story of trauma that has afflicted generations of First Nation Canadians but it missed the mark in meeting this year’s debate theme.
Clayton is a First Nation Canadian who writes on the traumas he experienced growing up in Canada, his struggles with addiction, and how it all brought him into political activism in terms of the environment and how they are intertwined with First Nation’s rights and issues. Clayton dedicates a lot of time talking about how he met his wife, how she helped save him, and ultimately everything she had to put up with in terms of his activism and addictions.
While the topics and struggles in this book are important and immensely relevant to Canada and its politics this book required a heavier hand from the editor. The author’s story felt like a jumbled journal of his thoughts and views. The book itself could have been more focused and concise, it’s as if the author couldn’t decide if they wanted to write a memoir or political non-fiction and the merge of the two was not successful. The author’s story is moving and intense at times drawing attention to the shocking realities that many First Nation Canadians have to deal with. While it is not the best-written book I’ve read on this important topic, it was still an interesting read in terms of the author’s activism and how he got involved in it. I wish the author all the best on his continued healing journey and I am glad he shared his story.
The Pluviophile Writer 