Reviews with content warning for Racism - Heavy: An American Memoir

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon

85 reviews

obvious_lia's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

Laymon writes about the anti blackness of life in America under white supremacist capitalist patriarchy. He tells us of violence done to bodies, whether by systems, self, or those who love us most. I felt seen in his relationships with food, family, and addiction. I was altered by his words on teaching, writing, and revision. Uniquely compelling and emotional. I didn't have time to stop reading and cry, I had to keep going. Deep gratitude for this book; I can see why it's one of my partner's favorites.

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hillysreads's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced

5.0

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fwarg's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.25

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melissa_cosgrove's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

WOW wow wow wow this was so good.

This book is heavy, for sure. But there’s hope here too. The language is rich and raw and unique, his voice is direct and honest, and there’s a rhythm and cohesiveness to the whole experience.

I don’t think I’ve ever read a memoir written in second person before, and I’m blown away by how well it worked here. It was a really creative, effective way to portray such a complicated maternal relationship.

As someone who also has a very complicated relationship with my mother, I was in awe of his capacity for compassion and empathy, while staying true to himself, his trauma, his very justified anger and pain. It’s a delicate balance I have yet to achieve in my own writing. I underlined so many quotes in this book, and I know I’ll be reading it again.

Really really excited to see him speak in Buffalo next week. Really really excited to read the rest of his work.

This book is powerful and abundant and I was hanging on every word.

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