CW: sexual assault

This was an excellent read, totally understand why it won Canada Reads.

It’s a graphic memoir about the 2 years that the author spent in the tarsands in Alberta.  What I really liked was that it’s just her story of living and working there; it’s not for or against the tarsands (though I am 1000% against them, personally), it’s just showing what it’s like to work there.

I have heard what it’s like there, though to get the perspective of a woman working there, where the ratio of men to women is at times 50:1, is quite eye opening.

While I do understand that this all took place 15+ years ago, I have to admit that I was quite shocked by the complete lack of mental health supports that there appeared to be. I hope that’s improved, but I could also see it still being the same.  The author does touch on this in the afterward, the idea that the tarsands are this place with all of these hyper-masculine men, who are strong and tough and don’t need no therapy, and the type of culture that that produces.  Rape culture, cat calling, and massive substance abuse.

I highly recommend this book, it was really excellent.