She is encouraged to write about her feelings while in the hospital most of the writing we read are ‘letters’ to Casey, explaining herself and her life. Heart Berries is the result of Terese Marie Mailhot being hospitalized for her suicidal ideation and bipolar disorder in the wake of her relationship with a man named Casey breaking down.
Quick Synopsis ** SPOILER ALERT FROM HERE ON, DO I EVEN HAVE TO SAY IT?!**:.This is also a pretty slim book, so even if it isn’t something you would normally read, you should give it a go, because it ends quickly – too soon, if I may say. I guess do not read this book if you are too triggered by reading about alcoholism, sexual assault, and manipulative relationships. This may not sound appealing to some, but there is nothing like a good writer describing difficult emotions and situations. I would also recommend this book if you like reading about people who are incredibly talented and creative, but also in a lot of pain and distress. Heart Berries will help show you why behind every “drunk Indian” story is a legacy of cultural genocide and continued forced poverty and marginalization. If you live in a culture of settler colonialism and are white, you may not even realize the impact it has on the whole fabric and day to day life of your society. I would definitely recommend this book! If you live in Canada, or the United States, then you live in a settler colonial state. However, a bit of a *trigger warning* is necessary, as Mailhot is writing about some pretty traumatic events, mental illness, and the deep effects of colonialism in Canada. It was also praised by another amazing indigenous writer – Eden Robinson, writer of Monkey Beach – that I love, so I was honestly so pumped to start.
It’s a critically acclaimed memoir by a woman who grew up in British Columbia – something I did as well (the living in BC, not the writing a critically acclaimed memoir) – on an isolated reservation. In fact, in January, I made a list of books I wanted to read, and Heart Berries was pretty high on that list from the get go. This book has been on my radar for quite some time. Like when you bite into a raspberry and your taste buds sing but also you want to cry.
This book gets 4 out of 5 deliciously juicy and somehow painfully tart berries.
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