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crssreads's review
challenging
funny
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
You can definitely tell this is written by a blogger. His asides, while often humorous, are torturously long skip-worthy. Riffing doesn't translate too well to print. Also, the jumbled chronology of the memoir made it difficult to follow. If you're going to write a memoir in essays... Why constantly refer back to prior events? Why not just write a roughly chronological account?
jorlsmith's review against another edition
5.0
"Combined, these tidbits and others assemble to remind me and inform whoever happens to read this that you can't tell my story the way I'd want my story told without comedy. It's been a security blanket providing catharsis when necessary---and company when the catharsis becomes too exhausting and corrosive." (12)
Spoilers up next with my full review!!!
I will be honest. When I started this book, I thought it was going to be a hotep mess and I was going to have to stop reading it because it would piss me off. I quickly got over that within the first chapter. This book got me hooked within the first 15 pages just from the quote from above. I think it is important to tell stories but I am comforted more by stories that are told with comedy. I have used comedy as a deflection, way to protect myself from harm, and to get others to enjoy themselves. Damon Young's stories felt like it was written personally for me. All of the chapters made me laugh in one way or another. My favorite chapter that made me laugh out loud was East Liberty Kutz but I thoroughly enjoyed each in every chapter. I think the real reason that they made me laugh (outside of the funny shit in there) was that his humor was communicating his real feelings. Every chapter had an aspect of him being honest about his past self, mistakes, and his present self.
The chapter that affected me the most was the chapter about his mom. "Living while Black killed my mom" is definitely one of those chapters that you have to stop and breathe out because it will overwhelm you. As a Black woman, I am conscious about the ways that these systems (pick one and it has failed Black women in more than way). It hurt me to think about the reality that his mom likely died from the failure of the systems and the history that predates her. Finally, this hit home for me even more because how much can one Black woman give and give before she is left with nothing? A chapter that was 14 pages long made me question a lot of things and I don't really have any answers to any of my questions. The light in this about this chapter that made me feel a lot of emotions is the clear love and appreciation that Damon has for his mom. You can feel it through the words he chooses and the way he tells stories about his mom.
All around, I really enjoyed this book. I didn't think that I would enjoy it so much but this is the life of a reader who is trying to get some peace during the Rona era. Rating: 100/10.
Book 10/30. (My reading goal is 30 books and I like keeping track of them this way and through the help of Goodreads Reading Challenge).
Spoilers up next with my full review!!!
I will be honest. When I started this book, I thought it was going to be a hotep mess and I was going to have to stop reading it because it would piss me off. I quickly got over that within the first chapter. This book got me hooked within the first 15 pages just from the quote from above. I think it is important to tell stories but I am comforted more by stories that are told with comedy. I have used comedy as a deflection, way to protect myself from harm, and to get others to enjoy themselves. Damon Young's stories felt like it was written personally for me. All of the chapters made me laugh in one way or another. My favorite chapter that made me laugh out loud was East Liberty Kutz but I thoroughly enjoyed each in every chapter. I think the real reason that they made me laugh (outside of the funny shit in there) was that his humor was communicating his real feelings. Every chapter had an aspect of him being honest about his past self, mistakes, and his present self.
The chapter that affected me the most was the chapter about his mom. "Living while Black killed my mom" is definitely one of those chapters that you have to stop and breathe out because it will overwhelm you. As a Black woman, I am conscious about the ways that these systems (pick one and it has failed Black women in more than way). It hurt me to think about the reality that his mom likely died from the failure of the systems and the history that predates her. Finally, this hit home for me even more because how much can one Black woman give and give before she is left with nothing? A chapter that was 14 pages long made me question a lot of things and I don't really have any answers to any of my questions. The light in this about this chapter that made me feel a lot of emotions is the clear love and appreciation that Damon has for his mom. You can feel it through the words he chooses and the way he tells stories about his mom.
All around, I really enjoyed this book. I didn't think that I would enjoy it so much but this is the life of a reader who is trying to get some peace during the Rona era. Rating: 100/10.
Book 10/30. (My reading goal is 30 books and I like keeping track of them this way and through the help of Goodreads Reading Challenge).
herskullinabook's review
4.0
After reading the last sentence, I'm ready to sing "I'm black y'all, and I'm black y'all And I'm blackety black and I'm black y'all And I'm black y'all, and I'm black y'all And I'm blackety black and I'm black y'all I'm piggety black black And black black and blackety black yo" LBVS
The author Damon Young tells stories in such a way that is apologetically black. While reading this book I felt like I seen a different insight to a lot of topics that I don't think about as a black woman that a black man would see and experience.
This is a book that everyone (black,white, yellow, or whoever) should pick up and read it. It will definitely give you a better insight on topics that black people more importantly black men experience on a daily basis.
While reading this book, I laughed, I cried, I cringed and that showed me that this book is that in depth and insightful. My favorite part of the book was the chapter to his daughter Zoe.
I would highly recommend this book.
The author Damon Young tells stories in such a way that is apologetically black. While reading this book I felt like I seen a different insight to a lot of topics that I don't think about as a black woman that a black man would see and experience.
This is a book that everyone (black,white, yellow, or whoever) should pick up and read it. It will definitely give you a better insight on topics that black people more importantly black men experience on a daily basis.
While reading this book, I laughed, I cried, I cringed and that showed me that this book is that in depth and insightful. My favorite part of the book was the chapter to his daughter Zoe.
I would highly recommend this book.
malenhar's review
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.0
This was...ok. I've read a lot of memoirs and this one wasn't anything groundbreaking. I had a few laughs, since the author is witty and comical. But I felt like this was missing some depth. I wasn't captivated and just wanted it to be over.
jaydionne's review against another edition
5.0
Ok so I don’t fuck with memoirs for real. Stumbled upon this and said hm ok why not. Baby I laughed from cover to cover. It was like sittin in the bar with my homie and he just telling me story after story. You get to see the growth and accountability. This isn’t good or bad, it’s someone’s life and the epitome of it is what it is. I enjoyed this immensely.