From the Ashes (memoir)
| Company type | Memoir |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Founder | Jesse Thistle |
| Products | Book |
| Owner | Simon & Schuster |
From the Ashes is a memoir published in 2019 by Métis-Cree scholar and author Jesse Thistle.
This memoir details Thistle's difficult early life, highlighting his battles with homelessness, addiction, and the complexities of Indigenous identity, while emphasizing themes of resilience and love. The narrative concludes by portraying his academic achievements, meaningful personal connections, and sense of community integration. From the Ashes holds the distinction of being the top-selling Indigenous memoir in Canada over the last two decades and ranks fourth overall among Canadian memoirs released between 2006 and 2021, trailing only behind works by Chris Hadfield, Wayne Gretzky, and Amanda Lindhout. On January 31, 2024, it was recognized as one of the "most notable" 100 books published by Simon & Schuster and its global divisions from 1924 to 2024, uniquely standing as the sole Canadian-authored title alongside literary figures such as Ernest Hemingway and Stephen King.
The book garnered widespread critical praise, secured awards for Thistle, and consistently appeared on Canadian bestseller lists from 2019 through 2022.
Author
Jesse Thistle serves as a Métis-Cree academic at York University, focusing his research on Michif road allowance communities in mid-20th century Saskatchewan. His scholarly work addresses issues including Indigenous homelessness, substance abuse, and trauma passed through generations. From the Ashes represents his first published book.
Synopsis
The memoir traces Thistle’s turbulent childhood in Saskatchewan, marked by his father’s addiction and his placement into state care before being raised by his grandparents in Brampton, Ontario. It delves into his struggles with Indigenous identity, dynamics with his siblings, substance dependency, eviction from his grandparents’ residence, and periods of homelessness across cities such as Vancouver, Brampton, Ottawa, and Toronto.
Structured through brief chapters that blend prose with poetry, the story recounts Thistle’s confrontations with suicidal ideation, time spent incarcerated, and eventual transformation achieved through higher education.
Critical reception
Jesse Winter of The Toronto Star characterizes the narrative voice as both unflinchingly candid and modest. Michelle Nolden writing for Toronto Life commends the memoir’s raw honesty and courageous storytelling, describing it as a "beautiful story of hope, love and perseverance."
By October 2020, From the Ashes had become the top-selling Canadian book across all categories for that year; it maintained this status through year-end. In 2021, it was the most borrowed Canadian non-fiction title and also ranked as the bestselling Canadian non-fiction book of 2020. Additionally, it was recognized as the bestselling two-year-old Canadian book in 2021. The memoir was featured in the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Canada Reads competition during 2020.
External links
- The harsh reality of Métis road allowances: forced roadside living, CBC Radio, 2019, featuring an interview with Jesse Thistle