A riveting, poetic memoir from a Canadian indigenous woman. Mailhot bares everything in these pages; she does not spare herself nor anyone else she writes about. There was a certain element of her deep rage and willingness to demonstrate it that I found riveting and intense. There are whole swaths written directly to her now-husband that felt like I was peering into the usually private discussions in a relationship. And there are times when Mailhot alludes to awful things, only to be fully revealed later in the book. There is a lot of talk of trauma; not just her own but the the traumas of all indigenous people, of the people in her family. Her storytelling is fractured and took me a moment to get into the rhythm, but once I was there I couldn't look away from the vulnerable unveiling of her own truths.

There were moments in the audiobook I had to pause it, and re-listen to make sure I heard right. ("Wait, murdered? What??") It's probably a better book in print, with the ability to easily re-read. Though it may have been tougher to continue, as well--there are a lot of horrors within.

I am looking forward to more from Mailhot; she has a distinct voice and needed perspective in literature today. I can't wait to read what's next.