Rowan McCandless share her story of trauma, abuse, and oppression in a uniquely formatted collection of essays and experimental narratives. Each piece is meticulously crafted and placed so that reader doesn't feel disjointed, but also can see how McCandless is coming to terms with the feelings she is sharing with the audience. This lovely memoir would be a good read for anyone, but in particular people leaving toxic relationships, whether it is with a partner, parents, or religion.

A deeply challenging and emotional revisiting of McCandless's own journey out of a long-term abusive relationship. Through an incredible series of linked and inventive essays, McCandless invites us to join her as she reviews the patterns, the narratives, and the echoes of a strangled life.

It was an extremely intense experience to read this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks to Dundurn Press, Rare Machines for the opportunity to read this

This was a beautiful work, allowing hte author to process many of her experiences within her identities. Black. Polish. Woman. Partner. Ex-partner. Individual. The writing was fragmented at times but this fit the narrative that she was describing. It was truly a look into the human soul, the soul of a woman coping with a rough landing.

I enjoy this book. It was different like poetry with the different letters. However, it had a strong feeling and connection. The development of the story was different but interesting.

This is an intense book that will make you take a moment and think.

Thank you NetGalley, Dundurn Press and, Rare Machines for giving me the opportunity to read this.

Thank you for the chance to read this! I love reading books that have varied ways of telling the story-like you're actually there hearing her tell it to you. A hard read in the sense of the topics in it but enjoyable.

I really love parallels and metaphor with Persephone and Hades, that's what really captured my attention. The cover also is really pretty. I also love a kind of memoir book, I wish to write one like this one day.

a unique memoir. I know this is just what everyone and the blurb says but it's true, the narrative structure is all over the place with the use of multiple forms of scaffolding zip tied together by her exploration of the traumas of her life (abuse from partner and family, mixed race, mental illness, ED etc) in vague but also bodily experiental ways

This memoir is best described as ‘creative non-fiction'. Yes, Rowan McCandless tells us about her life: growing up in Canada with a white mother and a black father, racist bullying at school, sexual assault, abusive relationships, eating disorders, motherhood, her daughter nearly dying in childbirth… and more. However, the telling is by no means straightforward.

Described as ‘essays’, the different sections vary wildly in style and the subtitle ‘A Life in Fragments’ is accurate. These essays take the form of an A to Z of vocabulary, a contract, crossword clues, a wordsearch, a screenplay, poetry, extracts from a notebook and writing prompts, a glossary of cartography terms, botanical encyclopaedia entries, an inventory of homes, a scientific field report, notes on the colour orange, a quiz, a book of magic, a psychiatric report, an inventory of wants and needs… Along with other miscellanea.

It’s certainly unique, but I found some sections more interesting than others. Some parts are harder to follow and there is a bit of repetition as it’s technically a book of essays and not a straight memoir. The different styles made more of an impression than the actual story – some of the creativity seemed to overpower what the author wanted to say.

Three stars feels a little generous, but there were parts when I was very invested. I wouldn’t readily recommend this book, but if you like experimental literature and you want to read a memoir unlike no other – give this a go!

Thank you NetGalley and Dundurn Press for this ARC.

This book was absolutely incredible. Raw and emotional, and strong and poignant. I laughed and cried and hope that there will be many people who read this book.

This memoir by McCandless was told in a uniquely mixed format that made it engaging to read. While heart wrenching at times, it managed to feel hopeful and encouraging in others.

This was an interesting read. It is a memoir exploring domestic violence and all that relates to this. The format is confusing at first, but it is a unique and powerful method of telling the story. I read this as an eARC but my feeling is that this format doesn’t do it justice. I think a physical book would capture the poetic methods used within these pages. The author explores all the different ways that domestic abuse are manifest, from physical to controlling to demoralizing. Essentially, it is a story about the ways that an abuser can chip away at the humanity of the abused.
This is an interesting and powerful look into an abusive relationship.
I would like to see a final version of the book to see if the style choices work better than they did in the eARC. The author was very creative with the approach.
#PersephonesChildren #NetGalley #DundumPress

Book received for free through NetGalley

I got 27% of the way into this book but didn't get further. I wanted to leave my review as it was. It was written well but wasn't my cup of tea at this time.

A gorgeous plot, beautifully rendered by an author who has clearly done her research. Thought-provoking and page-turning....I loved it!

As a memoir on trauma, this is fantastic. The choppy, fragmented structure isn't anything that hasn't been done before (I'm thinking of books like Small, by Claire Lynch) but using it as an allegory for trauma and how the brain processes events elevates it to something more integral, a core part of the text. McCandless' writing is gorgeous and perfectly encapsulates the experience of the liminal, always living between things, in the undescribed spaces. Memoir is my favourite genre for a reason, and that reason is books like this one.

It was an interesting read. I just kept getting lost. The arrangement was choppy and disjointed, making it difficult to follow at times. I liked reading about the author’s family history and also all the pictures that were included.

Persephone's Children is an unique, different memoir.
The vibes are "memoir x poetry collection" - made with an assortment of different formats, each Fragment tells you a new bit of the author's life. The writing style also contributed to the poetry feel.
This creative non-fiction creates a different type of interaction with the book and with the "story", and seems particularly fitting when discussing the parts of a life that deal with pain, abuse, discrimination/oppression and trauma.
Most of the book deals with heavy, dark moments /periods of McCandless life, mainly regarding her abusive relationships, and her road as a survivor. Other themes include race (biracial), eating disorders, sexual assault, being a mother, abortion, being a woman.


TW/CW: abortion, relationship/domestic abuse, sexual assault, racism, eating disorders, medical issues (specifically in giving birth).

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

A deeply intimate and earnest memoir, told through mixed mediums. It was an interesting and important reckoning of Canada’s racist history told through the author’s own familial experience, and I commend her for being strong enough to not only grapple with inter-generational trauma, but to then share it with the world.

Pretty interesting and important read. The essays were so wonderfully put together. Truly and genuinely enjoyed it.