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porchceiling15's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
givnuapeacesign's review against another edition
5.0
"A promise is a sacred thing." Dustin Lance Black's memoir is a brilliant tribute to his mama and his work bettering the lives of all of us. I was on the steps of the SCOTUS when the decision came down announcing marriage equality was the law of the land. I didn't know who was responsible for getting it there. I was coincidentally in town to jointly receive an award for our middle school and with my best friends grabbed an UBER the moment we heard the decision had come down. We had to be there, that day, that hour, that moment. Thanks to Black and his promise of urgency and immediacy to the children of America from the podium of the Academy Awards, I got to witness history on 06-26-15 This memoir demonstrates the gift of strength, courage, ferocity, and unconditional love Black's mother modeled for her sons and to the wider world to her dying breath. She did not want to be seen as disabled or receive special privileges because of her circumstances, yet she did expect truth, hard work, integrity, and honesty from those around her. She was forgiving, willing to listen, build bridges, and compromise. All of these qualities resonate through her sons throughout their lives. Life certainly wasn't easy for any of them, ever. But blessed it was and is. Bravo.
pleasereadittome's review against another edition
5.0
Part personal memoir, part family history and part cultural commentary, “Mama’s Boy” is nonfiction that follows the formula of quality historical fiction – a strong female character, intersection with landmark events and overcoming barriers both within yourself and from the world around you.
The story traces several generations of Black’s family, people that often found themselves on the fringes of society – whether from income disparity, disability, religion or sexual orientation.
First is his grandmother, Cokie, the wife to an alcoholic and mother to seven children, armed only with a fifth-grade education. She and her husband are two of the only white sharecroppers in segregated Lake Providence, Louisiana, in the 1940s and are barely scrapping by.
Next his is mother, Rose Anna who was three-years-old she was stricken with polio and spent more than a decade in multiple facilities, sometimes facing antiquated and inhuman practices that almost killed her, before making it back home in her late-teens.
Determined for a better life she set off for college with dreams of becoming a physician, and that’s where the trajectory of her life changed forever. I could go on and on about Rose Anna’s life but that would ruin the joy in discovering it for yourself.
Let’s just say her story involves converting to Mormonism; having children despite the medical risks; an abusive second marriage arranged by the Mormon church; building a successful career with the military; and courtship with a handsome, younger military officer.
Despite her hardships, Rose Anna never let life get her down. In fact, she thrived after every setback. Her resilience, courage and love shine through the pages, and Black writes (and narrates) with a cinematic flair that keeps you hooked.
About halfway through “Mama’s Boy,” the story pivots to focus almost solely on Black, and the early days of his career in gay Los Angeles in the mid-90s.
While an interesting coming out and behind the scenes Hollywood story, these chapters felt disconnected from the broader narrative, which is strange because it’s Black’s memoir, but his mother is the heart of the story.
When they do start to intersect again – specifically after his coming out which left their relationship icy for a period of time – the subtitle “A Story From Our Americas” starts to take shape.
The last third of the book is almost a manifesto of sorts, with Black using the acceptance of his sexuality from his military-loving, religious and deeply conservative mother as a call-to-action for us all to be more open-minded and forgiving.
Black straddled two mostly disparate worlds almost his entire life. He’s been successful by building bridges that allowed him to advocate for himself and others in a way that was more organic, and I’ll say, impactful from the “you’re either with me or against me” attitude of modern politics and social change.
Easily one of my top books of 2021.
The story traces several generations of Black’s family, people that often found themselves on the fringes of society – whether from income disparity, disability, religion or sexual orientation.
First is his grandmother, Cokie, the wife to an alcoholic and mother to seven children, armed only with a fifth-grade education. She and her husband are two of the only white sharecroppers in segregated Lake Providence, Louisiana, in the 1940s and are barely scrapping by.
Next his is mother, Rose Anna who was three-years-old she was stricken with polio and spent more than a decade in multiple facilities, sometimes facing antiquated and inhuman practices that almost killed her, before making it back home in her late-teens.
Determined for a better life she set off for college with dreams of becoming a physician, and that’s where the trajectory of her life changed forever. I could go on and on about Rose Anna’s life but that would ruin the joy in discovering it for yourself.
Let’s just say her story involves converting to Mormonism; having children despite the medical risks; an abusive second marriage arranged by the Mormon church; building a successful career with the military; and courtship with a handsome, younger military officer.
Despite her hardships, Rose Anna never let life get her down. In fact, she thrived after every setback. Her resilience, courage and love shine through the pages, and Black writes (and narrates) with a cinematic flair that keeps you hooked.
About halfway through “Mama’s Boy,” the story pivots to focus almost solely on Black, and the early days of his career in gay Los Angeles in the mid-90s.
While an interesting coming out and behind the scenes Hollywood story, these chapters felt disconnected from the broader narrative, which is strange because it’s Black’s memoir, but his mother is the heart of the story.
When they do start to intersect again – specifically after his coming out which left their relationship icy for a period of time – the subtitle “A Story From Our Americas” starts to take shape.
The last third of the book is almost a manifesto of sorts, with Black using the acceptance of his sexuality from his military-loving, religious and deeply conservative mother as a call-to-action for us all to be more open-minded and forgiving.
Black straddled two mostly disparate worlds almost his entire life. He’s been successful by building bridges that allowed him to advocate for himself and others in a way that was more organic, and I’ll say, impactful from the “you’re either with me or against me” attitude of modern politics and social change.
Easily one of my top books of 2021.
mallorycbrown's review against another edition
5.0
Read this book. Learn while you read it. Look inward while you read it. Cry while you read it. Feel hope while you read it.
ell_n_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.75
Very interesting - made me cry. a lot. but found the sections abt his religion growing up particularly interesting.
wennanathalie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
5.0
collegeoflore's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.75