I was in awe of this brutally honest and open memoir about best-selling and award-winning queer Syrian Canadian, Danny Ramadan's new memoir!
I especiaI was in awe of this brutally honest and open memoir about best-selling and award-winning queer Syrian Canadian, Danny Ramadan's new memoir!
I especially loved how they were utterly transparent about struggling with sharing parts of their past they weren't comfortable with recounting gratuitously because it would bring them too much pain.
This was amazing on audio narrated by the author himself and a MUST READ, especially during pride month! I cannot recommend this book enough!! ...more
By far one of the BEST autism memoirs I've read! This is a deeply personal, open book about the autism influencer author's journey to getting an autisBy far one of the BEST autism memoirs I've read! This is a deeply personal, open book about the autism influencer author's journey to getting an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, her struggles with self-acceptance, depression and suicidal ideation as well as great commentary and insights into societal ableism and how one autistic person's experience is only one autistic person's experience.
HIGHLY, highly recommended, especially on audio read by the author herself. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review. Perfect for fans of books like fellow Canadian, Sarah Kurchak's award-winning "I overcame my autism and all I got was this lousy anxiety disorder."...more
A great middle grade graphic novel memoir about a young Chinese Canadian boy of an immigrant single mother trying to support her two children and aginA great middle grade graphic novel memoir about a young Chinese Canadian boy of an immigrant single mother trying to support her two children and aging mother. Kevin is an aspiring comic artist living in a crowded apartment and seen as the weird Asian kid at school. When he becomes the 'Egg boy' his life feels really difficult until a class trip to an amusement park has him becoming 'Wonder boy.' Heartfelt and relatable, this is a moving multi-generational immigrant story perfect for fans of books like Age 16 by Rosena Fung or Mexikid by Pedro Martin. Highly recommended!...more
An incredibly moving, lyrical and raw memoir about grief and loss and learning to move on after the sudden death of a partner. This was amazing on audAn incredibly moving, lyrical and raw memoir about grief and loss and learning to move on after the sudden death of a partner. This was amazing on audio read by the author, new Canadian writer, Amy Lin. Highly recommended for anyone experiencing loss and grief....more
An incredibly well-written and heartfelt memoir about growing up as a biracial Black man in the Canadian prairies. Khodi Dill also touches on racism iAn incredibly well-written and heartfelt memoir about growing up as a biracial Black man in the Canadian prairies. Khodi Dill also touches on racism in Canada, pop culture, mental health and ways we can to do better. Excellent on audio and recommended for fans of books like Angry Queer Somali Boy or Saga boy. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
An interesting literary experiment that definitely won't be for everyone but I quite enjoyed. Part memoir, part stream of consciousness ramblings orgaAn interesting literary experiment that definitely won't be for everyone but I quite enjoyed. Part memoir, part stream of consciousness ramblings organized alphabetically by the first letter in each sentence. Good on audio however I wish the author would have narrated the book herself. In it she discusses her fears, hopes, desires, anxieties, writing, career, relationships and so much more. Recommended for true Sheila Heti fans! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
Another beautifully written memoir about mothers and daughters, motherhood, loss, addiction and the way the women in Helen's family were equally stronAnother beautifully written memoir about mothers and daughters, motherhood, loss, addiction and the way the women in Helen's family were equally strong and weak. At its core though, this is a love letter to the women in Helen's family and the way they valued motherhood above all else. Great on audio read by the author and a must read if you enjoyed her previous book, In my moccasins. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and Penguin Random House Canada for sending me a lovely gifted finished copy!!...more
WOW. For a such small volume of poems/letters/essays and prompts this sure packs a punch!! Written by a popular Asian Canadian trans femme author duriWOW. For a such small volume of poems/letters/essays and prompts this sure packs a punch!! Written by a popular Asian Canadian trans femme author during the pandemic when they were hurting from seeing all the hate and violence in the world. This book is meant to be a source of catharsis, provide healing and be a beacon of trans joy.
Dedicated to different people and topics, each poem/letter is filled with emotion and deeply personal. Both sad and hopeful, this reads as a volume meant to heal during a very painful period of the author's life.
Lyrical and extremely moving and I can't recommend it enough. I especially enjoyed the letters to the deathwalkers (those contemplating suicide), to the johns and to JK Rowling and prompts that follow each letter that ask the reader to take various actions or reflect on different parts of themselves.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This is a book I will be buying to keep on my forever shelf and raving about to everyone I know! A MUST READ of 2023!!...more
I didn't love this one unfortunately. However, it was a really honest and vulnerable account of one Canadian gay man's journey to extricate himself frI didn't love this one unfortunately. However, it was a really honest and vulnerable account of one Canadian gay man's journey to extricate himself from the cult-like grasp of the Jehovah Witness religion he was raised in. Narrated by the author, this wasn't my favorite as an audiobook. Usually I am all about hearing books read by the authors but in this case I feel like hiring a professional might have served the book better (but that's just my humble opinion). I also felt like the essays were a little disjointed/hard to get fully invested in. Overall I appreciated learning about this very homophobic religion and the author's bravery in turning his back on his upbringing....more
A really honest memoir from a second generation Pakistani Canadian Muslim man who grew up in Scarborough and spent his whole life battling racism and A really honest memoir from a second generation Pakistani Canadian Muslim man who grew up in Scarborough and spent his whole life battling racism and Islamophobia. It was eye-opening to see just how far Canada still has to come to be a more accepting country. We truly aren't that better than America but the author spent time living and working in both countries and it was dispiriting to hear about his bad experiences serving in government under Trudeau's cabinet. Great on audio read by the author, this is definitely a must-read especially for fans of Can you hear me now? or Indian in the cabinet (other Canadian memoirs from BIPOC politicians)....more
Wow. What an incredibly brave, powerful and vulnerable memoir from the bestselling author of Love lives here. In their previous book, Rowan (formerly Wow. What an incredibly brave, powerful and vulnerable memoir from the bestselling author of Love lives here. In their previous book, Rowan (formerly Amanda) detailed their partner's transition story from a cis man to a trans woman and the effect it had on their family.
In this new book, Rowan talks openly about their mental health crisis, suicide attempt, therapy, early childhood trauma, addictions and drug abuse and later in life their struggles with social media trolls, transphobia, depression, body dysmorphia and so so much more.
The final chapter is particularly revelatory as they share their own transition story embracing themselves as Rowan, a trans man, and the struggle they had coming to accept this part of themselves. Another standout, not to miss memoir!!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and Libro.fm for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!! Highly recommended, especially for fans of books like Elliot Page's Pageboy or Geena Rocero’s Horse Barbie. ...more
A moving memoir about the complicated relationship between two Canadian sisters, childhood cancer, infertility (PCOS) and cancer later in life that ulA moving memoir about the complicated relationship between two Canadian sisters, childhood cancer, infertility (PCOS) and cancer later in life that ultimately has one sister having to watch the other die. Very moving and hard to read at times. This story was really about forgiveness and love and being there for family when they need you the most. Great on audio read by the author. Much thanks to @Librofm for an ALC....more
This was such an honest and vulnerable memoir from Chinese Canadian writer Jen Sookfong Lee!!
Great on audio read by the author herself, she talks aboThis was such an honest and vulnerable memoir from Chinese Canadian writer Jen Sookfong Lee!!
Great on audio read by the author herself, she talks about her family, losing her father to cancer at a young age, her mother's struggles with mental health, her divorce, her writing career, feeling fetishized in many of her relationships and the lack of quality Asian representation in the media.
Lots of pop culture references are sprinkled throughout too, from Justin Beiber to Princess Diana to Anne of Green Gables. I thoroughly enjoyed this and found it so well written! Much thanks to Librofm for a complimentary ALC!!
⚠️CW: abortion, divorce, loss of a parent from cancer, anti-Asian racism...more
A deeply moving and personal memoir about the famous actor's decades long struggle with gender and body dysphoria, their childhood growing up in CanadA deeply moving and personal memoir about the famous actor's decades long struggle with gender and body dysphoria, their childhood growing up in Canada, film career and journey first coming out as gay and later transitioning and going through top surgery.
One of my most anticipated memoirs of the year, this book did not disappoint and only gave me more empathy for the rocky journey the author went through to finally embrace their authentic selves as a trans man despite backlash from the industry and public. Highly recommended especially if you want a great book to read during Pride month!!...more
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