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A review by mrsthrift
Since I Laid My Burden Down by Brontez Purnell
5.0
I greatly enjoyed and appreciated this brilliant book about growing up queer and black in 1980s Alabama. It is well-paced, hilarious, heart-breaking, sexy, brilliant, exciting, and totally punk rock. It feels nostalgic and illuminating at the same time. Purnell whiplashes the reader between heartbreaking moments and wild, amazing insights and adventures.
So many books like this would be beloved because the story is so good but this is actually well-written too. I've read a lot of small press, queer teenagers journeying to adulthood, rationalized identities, and self-acceptance kind of books. And this. I re-read a lot of pages just because they were so good. I laughed out loud. I cried. I hugged it when I finished it.
I immediately added it to my "favorites" shelf, making it only the third book of the 1,001 books I've read since I left college to have that distinction. I am so happy that this was my 100th book of 2019. It's just fucking perfect. Brontez Purnell is a genius. Read this goddamn book.
So many books like this would be beloved because the story is so good but this is actually well-written too. I've read a lot of small press, queer teenagers journeying to adulthood, rationalized identities, and self-acceptance kind of books. And this. I re-read a lot of pages just because they were so good. I laughed out loud. I cried. I hugged it when I finished it.
I immediately added it to my "favorites" shelf, making it only the third book of the 1,001 books I've read since I left college to have that distinction. I am so happy that this was my 100th book of 2019. It's just fucking perfect. Brontez Purnell is a genius. Read this goddamn book.