Reading Eric Gansworth's 'Apple: (Skin to the Core)' felt like flipping through a deeply personal photo album—one filled with pain, love, and resilience. The way he weaves poetry, art, and memoir together is unlike anything I've read before. It's not just a book; it's an experience.

As someone who grew up with family stories that were often left unspoken, Gansworth’s honesty about his Onondaga upbringing hit me hard. The childhood anecdotes—both joyful and heartbreaking—made me laugh one moment and tear up the next. His struggles with identity as an 'outsider on the inside' resonated deeply, even though my background is different.

The Beatles' White Album motif was genius. As a music lover myself, I adored how lyrics and album aesthetics mirrored his life’s fragmentation and healing. The 'liner notes' at the end? A perfect touch—like bonus tracks on a favorite record.

Yes, the verse format takes getting used to (I’ll admit I reread passages to savor them), but it forces you to slow down and absorb every word. Skip the e-book though—the physical copy’s artwork demands to be held.

This isn’t just a 'Native American story.' It’s a universal meditation on family, belonging, and reclaiming what was stolen. Finished it in two sittings... then immediately gifted copies to friends.