Tag: Memoir

“Crooked Teeth: A Queer Syrian Refugee Memoir” by Danny Ramadan

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Danny Ramadan came to Canada as a refugee 10 years ago. Though the identity he assumed after this event is what gives its name to his new book, Crooked Teeth: A Queer Syrian Refugee Memoir, becoming a refugee is but a small part of Ramadan’s story. 

I first encountered Ramadan through his piece “Speak my Tongue” which appeared in the 2021 essay collection Tongues: On Longing and Belonging through Language. His essay was so striking that I became immediately fascinated with his voice. Reading his memoir was a reminder of the indelible impression his essay left on me. 

Continue reading ➞ “Crooked Teeth: A Queer Syrian Refugee Memoir” by Danny Ramadan

The Measure of My Powers – A Memoir by Jackie Kai Ellis

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I sincerely believe in dedicating time to the things we love; it’s the name of this blog and the life philosophy I credit with giving me a second chance at a happy life. There is no “getting over it,” “you are too old for this,” and especially, “you are a mom, so you should not be doing x or y…” Motherhood, on the contrary, was one of the catalysts of my decision to not only never abandon the things I was passionate about—music, movies, reading, writing—but to pass these passions along to my son as the most beautiful gifts of being alive.

Continue reading ➞ The Measure of My Powers – A Memoir by Jackie Kai Ellis

Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay

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Every day, women of all ages around the world look in the mirror and hate what they see. As women, our criticism of our bodies is often ruthless; our rolls, dimples, stretch marks, and cellulite are a reflection of our laziness, carelessness, and excesses. In an unending cycle, we hate, try to lose weight, become overwhelmed by the difficulty, give up and then start all over again. This hate is not innate; instead, it has been ingrained in us from an early age through a culture that measures the values of girls and women through their bodies, each pound gained and year aged, lowering that value.

Continue reading ➞ Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay

Wab Kinew’s The Reason You Walk – A Memoir About Reconciliation

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This year Canadians celebrated their 150th anniversary since Confederation. Though the Canadian Government made a great effort to celebrate this milestone anniversary, in true Canadian fashion, the date brought a lot of conflicted feelings and introspection to many Canadians. So while most of us still celebrated the extraordinary accomplishments of this country, many also took the time to reflect on our past and the historical wrongs that have been inflicted towards our Indigenous peoples.

Continue reading ➞ Wab Kinew’s The Reason You Walk – A Memoir About Reconciliation