Welcome to Litsy!

Each person's discovery of gender identity is unique, but Two-Spirit, the way it's relayed here, I think it's important to recognize this is specific to a people, a culture, a spirituality. Likewise, Indigiqueer, queer and Indigenous, is an experience separate from how a white person might experience queerness or an Indigenous person might experience heteronormativity. 1/?

I will always be grateful to every instance of a character in any medium calling out exactly how "fucked up" such comments are, and yes, stating that all bodies deserve "to be...loved". It's a message that bears repeating.

Gut punch prose.

This reads like a memoir and is a deep engrossing exploration about relationships - romantic and familial- and queerness and indigeneity, including fetishization. I love reading about sex work without commentary on it, as in its just how Jonny gets money to go back to the rez in this world. It‘s not told in chronological order, the stories weave in and out of each other.

It was not in chronological order, and it was quite sexually graphic at times. The author narrated the audio but he has a monotone voice. Turns out there might have been more of a plot than I thought, so maybe I did miss more than I thought. For some reason, I had it in my head that indigenous 2-spirit people were more accepted in indigenous cultures than gay people in white cultures, but (at least in this book) that doesn‘t appear to be the case

A good but very explicit listen. It went further than I‘m generally comfortable with but the writing was excellent and the story had a beautiful nuance to it.

Such an intense, memorable read.

#12Booksof2021 @Andrew65 #April

#12Booksof2021 #March

I knew this was bound to happen. I can't pick just one for March. Both of these books challenged and affected my view of the world. They both still sit in my heart all these months later.

@Andrew65

The Giller winner will be announced tonight and juror Joshua Whitehead is blinged up for the event. #CanadianAuthor

I found that the book jumped around in time a lot and it was hard.to keep track. Jonny's struggling with his identity and how sex fits into that - the acts of sex in this book are about his raw emotions and trying to find his way - I felt like I was invading his private, innermost thoughts- which left me with a "yuck" feeling. This book is NOT mindless, steamy sex where you are just along for the ride.
Loved his Kokum and their bond.

Continuing my Indigenous reads with fiction now. I've heard so many good things about this one!

I saved this to read in June #pridemonth and #indigenoushistorymonth it‘s a raw, beautiful story of coming of age and coming out on the Rez and in the big city. Joshua Whitehead is a WONDERFUL writer. I look forward to reading more from him

Igor loves new book scent too 😹.

Jonny is a preteen to early 20‘s indigiqueer two spirit exploring his sexuality and growing up on the Rez in Canada. His family is challenged with alcoholism and life isn‘t always easy. But Jonny‘s grandmother is a loving supporter and advocate for him, and thier relationship was touching.

Y‘all this book is brimming with sex, so if that would bother you maybe steer away.

One of a kind, informative, 👍👍.

I've seen Whitehead's writing classified as "indigiqueer" which is such a great descriptor. This book is more of a look into the life of a young queer / Two-Spirit Indigenous guy named Jonny Appleseed, focusing on the important women in his life, than a plot-heavy novel. Jonny contemplates the cyber sex work he does in the city and his experiences growing up with his mom and kokum (grandmother) on the "rez." A really compelling read.

I picked this story completely at random. Imagine my surprise! I enjoyed the slice of life story. I was not Cary about the author narrating.

Following a young 2Spirit character navigating life inside and outside his home. Very physical book, in both the sexual encounters that come up a lot, but also the amount of physical interaction with his family, which is written in a really poetic way, entwining stories and histories with physical touch.

Love feels like the wrong word to describe what I felt about this book. It's raw, emotional, eye-opening, and something I will never forget.

This book doesn't necessarily have a plot, it feels more like you just stepped into Jonny's life and you experience his world with him as he does what he needs to survive.

I feel this is an important read that will help others see things from the viewpoint of a Two-Spirit indigenous person. 💚

This is a good one. A First Nations gay man who is a sex worker, but his friends and family don‘t know that he is. He tells his history while also telling the story of earning enough money to get back to the reservation for his stepdad‘s funeral.
Well written and narrated by the author. Short and worth it.

This is interesting and good so far.

There's been a lot of love for Jonny lately, and CBC Books just posted this list of books to read if you loved Jonny Appleseed! Happy TBR-ing!

https://www.cbc.ca/books/10-canadian-books-to-read-if-you-loved-canada-reads-win...

@Megabooks @Kalalalatja

Your good vibes totally worked @Megabooks found this audiobook on OverDrive 🎧

There is not much plot here, but I enjoyed the rawness of the writing and the depth of the character enough that the lack of plot wasn‘t a big issue for me. It is a story about a queer, indigenous youth trying to find a way through the poverty, racism, and homophobia in his life. Loved the writing and the author did a great job reading this. I also loved the way the character showed his deep respect and fondness for the women in his life. 4⭐️

This books has a unique, special feeling about it, and it makes me want to find other books like it!

If you aren‘t scared off by the graphic sexual content (it‘s there, but it fits the story), you will be swept away by Jonny and the story of their life, their family and their way of being in the world. Jonny is two spirited, indigenous, and someone I enjoyed getting to know!

#Pop21 - Indigenous author

And I haven‘t even opened the box of Target B2G1. The top book was the winner and the next two finalists for the 2021 Canada Reads. (I‘m not from Canada) Delphine is a middle grade fantasy. Professional Troublemaker is the March pick for the Fantastic Strangelings Book Club. This is Chance is about a female reporter that covered the 1964 9.0 earthquake in Anchorage.
C.R. The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix.

This book is damn gorgeous. Normally this much graphic sex would turn me off, but the beauty of the prose and of the author‘s narration turned this into a book I loved!

Jonny is a two-spirit, indigenous, queer sex worker in Winnipeg. As they gather money to return to The Res for their stepfather‘s funeral, they reflect on their first love, poverty, being a professional fetish, and their beloved mother and grandmother. ⬇️ #audiobook

I'm posting one book per day from the ever growing unread stacks in my personal library. No description or explanation, just books I own and plan to read. #tbr

Day 20

No spoilers. The tagged book was my favourite. I‘m so sad it‘s over. It always goes too fast. But this year was one of the very best. The books I read were great. The debate was fantastic. I loved it all!

I‘m so excited for the Canada Reads debate to start on Monday! All of these books were exceptional; Hench was my favourite by far, but I want Jonny Appleseed to win. I read TMB as an ARC and enjoyed it, but not everything worked for me. TTMAF was beautiful but I got lost in some of the science. JA was a devastating character study, and BHPB was an intense story that spans multigenerational grief. I highly recommend all of them.

This is a novel-as-character-study, rather than a plot driven tale. It's a hard thing to pull off, but Whitehead succeeds with love and vulnerability. Open your heart, bear witness, and (too often) ache for Jonny, a two-spirited NDN princess learning how to come home again. Raw and frank in its depictions of sex, sexuality, and sex work, this may not be one for everyone, but it is so worthy of its spot in the #CanadaReads panel.

My hold came in for the final #CanadaReads selection. So I am hiding from my family with it, tea, and chocolate I refuse to share (I'm normally a dark chocolate girl, but this stuff is bananas).

This will be the first time I've managed to complete all five selections before the debates start. Bring on the 8th!

Vulnerable, sharp, raw, and heavy with hope. This novel is driven by the voice of its narrator. #canadareads2021

Another exciting addition to my giant stack of books to be read once summer vacation starts. I know it's strange, but I'm stockpiling in advance so I have a great selection at the ready when the time comes.

My third read for #Canadareads2021. Not my favorite, or my second favorite.

#CanadaReads2021
The first few chapters were so raw, ugly and graphic. But somewhere I fell in love with Jonny, a two-spirit princess, who felt forced to leave the rez, in order to survive. Working as a sex worker in Winnipeg, trying to make enough money to go home for his sorta stepfathers funeral, while sharing the stories of his home and the people who live there. The writing is amazing. The storytelling is fantastic. This is my winning pick.

Sunday-ing. And readathon-ing.
#20in4 @Andrew65

Went for a long walk down by the river. It was very refreshing. Now I‘m going to dive into this book for a few hours. #20in4 @Andrew65

JONNY APPLESEED‘s opening chapters convinced me it was the type of litfic that‘s Good For You instead of the kind I connect with. This impression faded somewhat as the book built steam, but while I came to see this as a layered, heartfelt, and important narrative, I never did click with it the way I wanted to. It‘s worth reading and I think it deserves its spot in Canada Reads, but it won‘t be my top pick. #canadareads2021

Another thing to respect and like: X-Men references!

I‘m enjoying the book more now, 30% in. It didn‘t hook me straight off, but it builds well.

I‘ll be honest with you: so far, JONNY APPLESEED feels like assigned reading. I respect it more than I like it—but one thing I both respect and like is how very Manitoba it is. My mum took me to SAAN all the time when I was little.

Jonny Appleseed is a portrait of an Indigiqueer person as he grows up on the rez then moves to Winnipeg. I personally prefer more plot than this book provides, but I think the visibility and voice of this character are so important. #ownvoices

This is not just an #IndigenousPeoples post for #integrateyourshelf, this is an #IndiQueer post for #integrateyourshelf! 😂 (Any UK Littens get the reference to a TV ad here?!)

Haven't read this yet but will at some point for #readcanada.

@ChasingOm @Emilymdxn

I really liked this. Pretty grim and graphic at times, but there is also much beauty here and some very fine writing. As he states in the note at the end, Whitehead places Two Spirit persons and Indigenous women at the center of the narrative and it‘s these characters, their relationships, and his exploration of home and place that I found most compelling.
#CanadaReads #Manitoba ✅
This gives me my 2nd #BookSpinBingo !

3.5/5
I stumbled upon this book while looking for an #ownvoices book written by an indigenous or native author. I loved reading from the pov of a queer NDN. The writing is expressive and alive, and his tone authentic. But, I found the style to be a bit confusing. The constant flipping of time left me a bit disoriented. I did learn a lot about life on the reservation and being an Indigiqueer, which I found very valuable.

My last read of June. #PrideMonth

#readcanada @Book_Fiend_Melissa

Here's what I've got planned (in pencil, just in case I change my mind). Doing a combination of author's birthplace & book setting for this challenge.

Just need:
🇨🇦 New Brunswick
🇨🇦 Prince Edward Island
🇨🇦 Northwest Territories
🇨🇦 Nunavut
🇨🇦 Yukon