Many times while listening to Jonny Appleseed, I had to pause to consider what I just heard. Not the explicit parts, of which there are plenty, but the powerful prose that brought both smiles and tears, often together. This book was so poetic in many ways to me. It's like contemporary "poetry" told from an NDN Two-spirit Indigiqueer cybersex worker.
Gritty, graphic, and often TMI, Jonny tells his story of life on the rez and later hustling in Winnipeg. Like me, you may not know anything about this lifestyle, but after taking in this book, you are bound to experience a connection.Author Joshua Whitehead details rez life with truth, humour, and memorable style.
Jonny's relationship with his kokum (grandmother) is among the most touching I've ever heard. Never any holding back of raw emotion and pain. There's a lot of power and respect in how he's unabashedly himself.
This audiobook is heartbreaking, humorous, and haunting. I can see how it won for the Canada Reads 2021 theme "One book to transport us".
Jonny Appleseed left me with an appreciation of the deeply poetic way we can connect with one another.
May we all be so lucky to experience it's many forms.
🐂🍎🌱
Until next time,
~Kara
