Wolves #1
Perzine, M. Paradise, Instagram @anchor_and_stars, $2
Wolves is a perzine by M. Paradise that explores family trauma and dysfunction. Paradise does an absolutely fantastic job of writing about the difficult topics of family relations, especially strained relations. Wolves is haunting and beautiful, even if you don’t have family trauma.
Paradise tells the story of their uncle, his affect on their life, and their mother’s death. It’s painful and intense, a narrative that is so well-woven that you can’t help but get caught up in it. It’s a hard read. It’s intense and raw, and you can easily feel the struggle and agitation that Paradise experienced. Family trauma is difficult. It’s hard to talk about, it’s hard to process, and it’s hard to tell other people about. Paradise does so in a unique way, using pack mentality and wolves to explain their family’s struggle with their uncle.
Generally, we know that wolves use packs to survive, that being in a pack is supposed to make life easier, and that the lone wolf thing just isn’t a reality. Paradise talks about how they have to rely on their family to find kinship in the pack, even when one of the members is turning on the rest of them. It’s a difficult thing to have a family member become toxic and abusive, especially in the middle of an already troubling time. Paradise recounts the experience eloquently, expressing the harm and pain so well that despite its complex content, Wolves is a fast read. You can’t help but want to know how they moved forward with their pack, and hope that they will find safety in their pack once more.