From the Ashes by Jesse Thistle
This story of perseverance as well as the lovely photo were submitted by one of our #WorkationWarriors Carol N., RN.
Don’t forget to email your latest fave to taylor.raymond@travelnurse.ca to have it featured in our monthly book club. :)
*Perfect for fans of other Canadian Authors like Richard Wagamese or Yasuko Thanh, this eye opening memoir made it in to the Top 5 in Canada Reads Battle of the Books!
Summary
From the Ashes is a remarkable memoir about hope and resilience, and a revelatory look into the life of a Métis-Cree man who refused to give up.
Abandoned by his parents as a toddler, Jesse Thistle briefly found himself in the foster-care system with his two brothers, cut off from all they had known. Eventually the children landed in the home of their paternal grandparents, whose tough-love attitudes quickly resulted in conflicts. Throughout it all, the ghost of Jesse’s drug-addicted father haunted the halls of the house and the memories of every family member. Struggling with all that had happened, Jesse succumbed to a self-destructive cycle of drug and alcohol addiction and petty crime, spending more than a decade on and off the streets, often homeless. Finally, he realized he would die unless he turned his life around.
In this heart-warming and heart-wrenching memoir, Jesse Thistle writes honestly and fearlessly about his painful past, the abuse he endured and how he uncovered the truth about his parents. Through sheer perseverance and education — and newfound love — he found his way back into the circle of his Indigenous culture and family.
An eloquent exploration of the impact of prejudice and racism, From the Ashes is, in the end, about how love and support can help us find happiness despite the odds.
Carol’s Thoughts:
I recently finished the book From the Ashes by Jesse Thistle whilst on an assignment at Sechelt. A captivating memoir, that highlights traumatizing events of an indigenous child who grew up battling addictions to alcohol and drugs. It was a page turner that made me want to know more and more about Jesse’s life and if there was truly a light at the end of the tunnel. It made me wonder, how much more self sabotages and sufferings will one go through until enough is enough. What is the turning point where somehow one conjures enough will power to fight against oneself? I felt this book gave me more insight into what possible demons one might be fighting and feeling when presented to the emergency room. For that, it makes me more cognizant of my practice in clinical setting.
