November Wrap-Up || 2019

TL;DR

In this November wrap-up, Adriana discusses diverse books she read, including a memoir about abuse, a story about Indigenous experiences, a high fantasy novel, an indigenous comic collection, and an academic nonfiction book on diversity in popular fiction.

Transcript

Bibliophiles of the internet, my name’s Adriana and today I’m here to finally bring you my November Wrap-Up. November, as you should know, is Native Heritage Month, and therefore it was also Indigathon, and we did a round of Tome Topple, and it also was Nonfiction November. So I’m gonna take you through what I read for each of those events. First... Read More

Key Insights

• 🇲🇵 "In the Dream House" by Carmen Maria Machado tackles the difficult topic of abuse in queer relationships and highlights the societal failures in addressing this issue.
• 👨‍🎨 "Jonny Appleseed" by Joshua Whitehead explores modern Indigenous experiences, defying stereotypes and reflecting on the pain and trauma associated with childhood experiences.
• 🤦‍♀️ "Sabrina and Corina: Stories" by Kali Fajardo-Anstine portrays the challenges faced by Indigenous Latinx women in Denver, exploring themes of grief, loss, and determination to resist societal expectations.
• ✋ "The Priory of the Orange Tree" by Samantha Shannon offers complex female characters, discussions on mental health, and queer relationships within the context of a high fantasy world.
• 🤫 "The Way of Thorn and Thunder" by Daniel Heath Justice reframes the hero's quest through a Native lens, exploring issues of power, personal identity, and cultural preservation.
• 🧘 "Moonshot: The Indigenous Comic Collection" edited by Hope Nicolson showcases a wide variety of Indigenous experiences, histories, and futurisms through comics, highlighting the diversity within Native nations.
• ⚧️ "Crota" by Owl Goingback is a gripping Indigenous paranormal creature feature that challenges traditional narratives, although it suffers from gender representation issues and excessive graphic descriptions.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is "In the Dream House" by Carmen Maria Machado about?

"In the Dream House" is a memoir by Carmen Maria Machado, recounting a deeply abusive relationship she had with one of her exes. It explores the difficulty of recognizing and naming abuse, particularly in queer relationships, and addresses society's failure to address abuse in such relationships.

Q: How does "Jonny Appleseed" by Joshua Whitehead explore Indigenous experiences?

"Jonny Appleseed" is a story about a two-spirit cybersex worker who belongs to the Peguis First Nation. It delves into modern sensibilities of indigenous experiences, portraying a character who defies stereotypes and uses misconceptions to create a living. The book also explores the pain and trauma associated with childhood experiences on the reservation and the struggle to connect with cultural identity.

Q: What themes are present in "Sabrina and Corina: Stories" by Kali Fajardo-Anstine?

"Sabrina and Corina: Stories" explores themes of grief, loss, and determination in the lives of Indigenous Latinx women living in Denver, Colorado. The collection depicts the struggles these characters face in their efforts to exist while standing apart from societal expectations.

Q: What is the premise of "The Priory of the Orange Tree" by Samantha Shannon?

"The Priory of the Orange Tree" is a high fantasy novel that tells the story of the East and West's disagreement about the existence and purpose of dragons. The central focus is on Sabran, the queen trying to produce a daughter who is believed to hold the key to an ancient evil's continued imprisonment.

Q: What is unique about "The Way of Thorn and Thunder" by Daniel Heath Justice?

"The Way of Thorn and Thunder" reframes the traditional hero's quest through a Native lens. It explores the struggles and journey of Tarsa'deshae, a newly-awakened wyr-warrior who must understand her power and her place in a conflict with the race of Men. The story incorporates the exploration of gender and the challenges presented by societal changes.

Q: What does "Moonshot: The Indigenous Comic Collection" edited by Hope Nicolson offer readers?

"Moonshot: The Indigenous Comic Collection" is an anthology that showcases Indigenous histories, mythologies, and futurisms through the work of various Indigenous authors and artists. It offers readers a varied and diverse collection of stories, including superheroes, traditional storytelling methods, and creative explorations of Indigenous experiences.

Q: What is the main message of "The Dark Fantastic" by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas?

"The Dark Fantastic" explores the severe diversity crisis in children's and popular fiction. It argues that representation alone is not enough, but there is a lack of imagination in popular stories that perpetuate certain ideas. The book encourages the re-storying and counter-storification of popular narratives to transform the portrayal of marginalized characters.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Adriana discusses "In the Dream House" by Carmen Maria Machado, a memoir about a deeply abusive relationship, highlighting its dark and surreal style and its exploration of society's failure to address abuse in queer relationships.

• She then reviews "Jonny Appleseed" by Joshua Whitehead, a story about a two-spirit cybersex worker, praising its exploration of indigenous experiences and the character's journey of self-discovery.

• Adriana also talks about "Sabrina and Corina: Stories" by Kali Fajardo-Anstine, a collection of stories about Indigenous Latinx women, noting its exploration of grief, loss, and determination in the face of societal challenges.

• "The Priory of the Orange Tree" by Samantha Shannon is a high fantasy novel with complex female characters, discussions on mental health, and queer relationships, although the underlying quest and villain could have been more nuanced.

• Adriana shares her thoughts on "The Way of Thorn and Thunder" by Daniel Heath Justice, a Native high fantasy story that reframes the hero's quest through a Native lens, although the dense writing style may require more focus.

• She also reviews "Moonshot: The Indigenous Comic Collection" edited by Hope Nicolson, an anthology showcasing Indigenous histories, mythologies, and futurisms, praising its variety and the exploration of Indigenous experiences in different genres.

• Adriana discusses "Crota" by Owl Goingback, an Indigenous paranormal creature feature, commending its gripping suspense, portrayal of Indigenous heroism, but acknowledges its flaws in gender representation and graphic depictions.

• Finally, she talks about "The Dark Fantastic" by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, an academic nonfiction book exploring diversity in popular fiction, highlighting its emphasis on telling diverse stories to challenge existing narratives.