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Shapes of Native Nonfiction
Shapes of Native Nonfiction: Collected Essays by Contemporary Writers | Elissa Washuta, Theresa Warburton
6 posts | 4 read | 1 reading | 5 to read
Just as a basket's purpose determines its materials, weave, and shape, so too is the purpose of the essay related to its material, weave, and shape. Editors Elissa Washuta and Theresa Warburton ground this anthology of essays by Native writers in the formal art of basket weaving. Using weaving techniques such as coiling and plaiting as organizing themes, the editors have curated an exciting collection of imaginative, world-making lyric essays by twenty-seven contemporary Native writers from tribal nations across Turtle Island into a well-crafted basket. Shapes of Native Nonfiction features a dynamic combination of established and emerging Native writers, including Stephen Graham Jones, Deborah Miranda, Terese Marie Mailhot, Billy-Ray Belcourt, Eden Robinson, and Kim TallBear. Their ambitious, creative, and visionary work with genre and form demonstrate the slippery, shape-changing possibilities of Native stories. Considered together, they offer responses to broader questions of materiality, orality, spatiality, and temporality that continue to animate the study and practice of distinct Native literary traditions in North America.
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Robotswithpersonality
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Pickpick

I'll admit that after being blown away by the introduction I did expect to see more variance in the traditional essay form than this collection indicates. I saw changes in formatting, and a few innovations, but I think it's best to view it as a selection of native non-fiction essays. The subject matter is strong enough to do away with gimmicks. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? Speaking of, discussion of trauma makes up a large portion of the works included, so just know that basically every trigger warning you can think of should be included.
Standouts for me, personally:
Letter to a Just-Starting-Out Indian Writer-and Maybe to Myself by Stephen Graham Jones:
No surprise, the essay was excellent, incisive and concise.
4mo
Robotswithpersonality 3/? I've experienced mostly wins with his horror, I think now I have to see what other nonfiction he's written.
Toulumne by Deborah A. Miranda: Ache of loss when you can't even be sure of the scope of everything that's been taken.
To the Man who Gave me Cancer by Adrienne Keene: Powerful, gripped me.
4mo
Robotswithpersonality 4/4 Pain Scale Treaties by Laura Da' : Twining pain of illness, post-surgery with generational trauma, the harm of in incision vs the harm of a people's forced removal from their land.
Women in the Fracklands by Toni Jensen: Haunting; particularly the Q&A section, presented in the framework of victim blaming questions asked after a sexual assault, answered in the context of Standing Rock.
4mo
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Robotswithpersonality
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Today's 'scratched my brain just right' phrase.

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Robotswithpersonality
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There's a term for that! 🦀

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thestarlesscasea
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From "To The Man Who Gave Me Cancer" by Adrienne Keene ?

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Soubhiville
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I‘m taking advantage of the Special End-of-summer #20in4 readathon to try to wrap up some August reads before the end of the month. Starting with the tagged today, since it‘s my bookclub discussion book for tonight, yikes! I‘m more than halfway through though, so it may be possible.

I‘ve just gotten some new plants for the garden I need to put in tomorrow morning, but should be able to get a good deal of reading in for the weekend.

Andrew65 Great to have you with us, good luck 😊 2y
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Soubhiville
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Did I get more books in the mail today? Yes, yes I did. Might be time to cut back, but there are so many great books coming out right now!

Native Nonfiction isn‘t a new release, but it‘s the August pick for one of my bookclubs.

Mercy‘s Quest is one of my good friend‘s Debut Novel! So of course it‘s next up on my TBR. It‘s fantasy with witchcraft and is full of gorgeous illustrations. Can‘t wait to start it!

AmyG Oh wow on your friend‘s first book. 🙌🏻 Not my genre but I hope it‘s wonderful. (edited) 2y
tpixie Congrats to your friend!! 2y
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