Scan barcode
iliyenzio's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
2.0
It was fine overall I suppose. It just wasn't something I was completely interested in.
megpsmit's review against another edition
4.0
This book not off to a really rough start for me but it really was a coming of age story. As Darnell experienced more I began to understand his voice more and what he was trying to convey. I love how important family is in his story.
gallag's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully written memoir. I couldn’t stop reading. His writing flows so well. The experiences he described in his life and how he felt going through them is remarkable and important.
readingwithlain's review against another edition
5.0
No words. This is one I think I will have to come back to over and over again. I feel humbled and changed by this book. I will forever be grateful to Moore for sharing his story.
jmutrickster's review against another edition
5.0
A fascinating memoir filled with honest and hard-hitting truths.
maggieparedesauthor's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Violence, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Biphobia, Bullying, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, Racism, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Toxic friendship
tanyagold's review against another edition
5.0
An engaging and moving memoir in which activist and writer Darnell Moore shares his experience of growing up black and queer in the '80s and '90s.
bgg616's review against another edition
5.0
Darnell Moore grew up in Camden, N.J Camden is a city that over the decades became one of the most neglected and poor American cities. Its residents are overwhelmingly African American. I never cease to be amazed at the unrelenting decline of some cities like Detroit. and Camden. What are the causes? What are the forces at work? Moore provides some history that provides some of the reasons and recommends a book for those readers who want to understand more. His own grandmother lost her home at some point, a victim of the economic up and downs of the city. Later his grandparents provided a home that was a refuge for any family member who needed a place to live, eat or escape to.
As an adolescent, Moore realize he was attracted to his own sex. But in his family, his city, his community and his church, being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transexual was not acceptable. Despite his efforts to hide his sexual orientation, other gay classmates told him over and over that he was gay. He continued to deny it, and dated girls. When he went away to college, despite same-sex relationships, he continued to hide. He got involved in the Campus Ministry, still denying his true self.
Moore was well into his adulthood before he, at last, realized he had to love himself before he could truly love others, his Black Community, and especially other GLBT people. The book description mentions Moore's involvement in Black Lives Matter. This doesn't come up until the final chapter. However, my conclusion is that Moore couldn't truly advocate and believe that Black Lives Matter until he learned to love himself, and the LGBT community. As we see in the recent attack on Jussie Smollett, his identities as a Black man, and a gay man, created an intersectional identity, that made him much more vulnerable. It took Moore a long time to get there, but at the conclusion of his book, he is a man who loves himself, his family, his city of Camden, and the Black Community. Most important, he loves humanity.
As an adolescent, Moore realize he was attracted to his own sex. But in his family, his city, his community and his church, being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transexual was not acceptable. Despite his efforts to hide his sexual orientation, other gay classmates told him over and over that he was gay. He continued to deny it, and dated girls. When he went away to college, despite same-sex relationships, he continued to hide. He got involved in the Campus Ministry, still denying his true self.
Moore was well into his adulthood before he, at last, realized he had to love himself before he could truly love others, his Black Community, and especially other GLBT people. The book description mentions Moore's involvement in Black Lives Matter. This doesn't come up until the final chapter. However, my conclusion is that Moore couldn't truly advocate and believe that Black Lives Matter until he learned to love himself, and the LGBT community. As we see in the recent attack on Jussie Smollett, his identities as a Black man, and a gay man, created an intersectional identity, that made him much more vulnerable. It took Moore a long time to get there, but at the conclusion of his book, he is a man who loves himself, his family, his city of Camden, and the Black Community. Most important, he loves humanity.