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Reviews tagging 'Violence'
Karamo: My Story of Embracing Purpose, Healing, and Hope by Karamo Brown
2 reviews
pacifickat's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
2.25
This memoire is also a self help book, which is my least favorite genre. I don't even like home décor that tries to tell me what to do in saccharine yet judgy tones (Live, Laugh, Love, Dream, Smile, Believe, Think Happy, Good Vibes Only...). So, this was not the book for me.
It also seems like Karamo believes he's manifested a lot of his success by putting the right vibes out in the universe, but it seems more like he's very pushy in many cases and sometimes bowls others over in pursuit if his dreams. He can he charismatic, charming, and driven. This combination can come off as bullying, manipulative, and disingenuous. There was a whole section about his partner, Ian, not wanting to get married and being very clear from the start, and Karamo saying Ian had to be the one to take their relationship to that next step. Then the next beat, Karamo plans this humongous public birthday party for Ian where he proposes in front of all their family and friends, and he's nervous because he's not sure Ian will say yes. It just seemed super manipulative! I would have been super mad and confused in Ian's shoes. The behavior looks like love, but is it? It might really be self serving.
Furthermore, Karamo also often describes situations and past conversations in ways that seem hugely implausible and are meant to cast him in the best possible light. I'm sure you said all those perfect things in that moment of tension, buddy. Suuuuure.
It's not all bad though, and I do admire some of his life choices and experiences. I even thought we had similar experiences with having church purity culture teachings pushed far too early, leading to huge discomfort and anxiety with being negatively sexualized when I was too young to sort through the messaging and my own feelings.
All in all, I was a bit bored. Karamo is a talker, and often in a rambling sort of way. The beginning and end moved along, but the middle dragged. Also, the events of his life being told out of order, jumping from one thing back to another and then forward again, is repetitive at best and confusing at worst. It made me wonder when and how he had attained his social work training, how long it was between his treatment for domestic abuse and meeting Ian or being on Queer Eye, and what the overlap between his social work practice and his drug abuse/domestic abuse episodes had actually been.
As a fan of the Fab 5, I would strongly recommend Jonathan Van Ness' memoire over this one. To me it felt less preachy, more genuine, and better structured as a narrative.
It also seems like Karamo believes he's manifested a lot of his success by putting the right vibes out in the universe, but it seems more like he's very pushy in many cases and sometimes bowls others over in pursuit if his dreams. He can he charismatic, charming, and driven. This combination can come off as bullying, manipulative, and disingenuous. There was a whole section about
Furthermore, Karamo also often describes situations and past conversations in ways that seem hugely implausible and are meant to cast him in the best possible light. I'm sure you said all those perfect things in that moment of tension, buddy. Suuuuure.
It's not all bad though, and I do admire some of his life choices and experiences. I even thought we had similar experiences with having church purity culture teachings pushed far too early, leading to huge discomfort and anxiety with being negatively sexualized when I was too young to sort through the messaging and my own feelings.
All in all, I was a bit bored. Karamo is a talker, and often in a rambling sort of way. The beginning and end moved along, but the middle dragged. Also, the events of his life being told out of order, jumping from one thing back to another and then forward again, is repetitive at best and confusing at worst. It made me wonder when and how
As a fan of the Fab 5, I would strongly recommend Jonathan Van Ness' memoire over this one. To me it felt less preachy, more genuine, and better structured as a narrative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Addiction, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Drug use, Suicide attempt, Racial slurs, Racism, Classism, Infidelity, Child abuse, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Violence
Colorism, manipulationitsmeyseniab's review
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
You are not your past. You have prepared for your future. A yes can propel you, but a no will never hurt you.
As a fan of Netflix's Queer Eye, naturally I was excited to pick up Karamo's memoir as he and the "culture" aspect of the makeovers is one of the show's highlights for me. Although I do appreciate how candid he was with telling his story, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. At times it came off as preachy, condescending and left me feeling that he has a bit of a savior complex with a substantial dash of self-righteousness (which was baffling to me considering how empathetic and sincere he comes across on screen). Some examples of this behavior include:
- Karamo's high school best friend Stephanie becoming pregnant with his child Jason and secretly raising him as a single mother until Karamo was made aware of him when he was 10 years old. Karamo got to attend college and thrive academically while Stephanie "was only able to get her GED." (Yes, that is a direct quote and incredibly insensitive in my opinion).
- Karamo discusses in detail how he became addicted to various drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy during his twenties but frowning down upon others who were addicted to seemingly "worse" drugs. Make it make sense.
- Karamo stating that he was the reason why his kids broke the generational curse of fathering a child at 16. "I'm proud to report that Jason didn't lose his virginity until he was twenty years old to a girl he loved." I'm sure Karamo asked for Jason's blessing before publishing that sentence, but my goodness is that deeply personal and unnecessary to include.
I was pretty bummed that I didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I would, but I definitely do recommend the audiobook as it's narrated by Karamo himself.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Suicide attempt
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