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A review by buer
Boy Erased: A Memoir of Identity, Faith, and Family by Garrard Conley
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Garrard Conley's searing memoir Boy Erased is a beautifully written look at a painful series of chapters in his life. Conley finds his gay identity in direct conflict with his Baptist upbringing and his loving family, which leads him to enter the "Love In Action" (LIA) program, which aims to help him get rid of his "sin" of gay attraction and be pure once again.
Conley describes his experience with Love In Action, illustrating the inexperience and hostility of the staff, the likelihood of lengthened stays in the program, and the way that participants are taught to police each other throughout the program. He also wrestles with his love for a family that cannot accept his queer identity, his desire for a god that loves him, and his struggle to reconcile who he knows he is with who he wants to be. This is an incredibly nuanced look at a young man struggling to find himself and Conley tells the story beautifully.
I read this as an audiobook, which I would recommend. Although it is not read by the author, I found that it was easier to navigate the sometimes spiraling visual cues that lead to internal monologues that, in turn, lead to distant memories that then circled back to the past.
I would recommend this book for Christians and people in the LGBTQ community who want a deeper understanding of programs like LIA can do to a person and for people who like really visual, introspective storytelling.
Conley describes his experience with Love In Action, illustrating the inexperience and hostility of the staff, the likelihood of lengthened stays in the program, and the way that participants are taught to police each other throughout the program. He also wrestles with his love for a family that cannot accept his queer identity, his desire for a god that loves him, and his struggle to reconcile who he knows he is with who he wants to be. This is an incredibly nuanced look at a young man struggling to find himself and Conley tells the story beautifully.
I read this as an audiobook, which I would recommend. Although it is not read by the author, I found that it was easier to navigate the sometimes spiraling visual cues that lead to internal monologues that, in turn, lead to distant memories that then circled back to the past.
I would recommend this book for Christians and people in the LGBTQ community who want a deeper understanding of programs like LIA can do to a person and for people who like really visual, introspective storytelling.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Rape, and Sexual content