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A review by jdeets03
Memorial by Bryan Washington
4.0
Bryan Washington is one of my favorites. His short story collection - Lot - blew me away, and I love observing his life on Instagram (the food! the dog!). Therefore, Memorial was one of my most anticipated reads in 2020, and I pre-ordered it months ago.
Memorial is a story about a Black gay man and a Japanese gay man living in Houston who are at a crossroads in their relationship. The story is told from both perspectives and two very distinct voices.
This isn't a happy story, but a very realistic one. A couple that can't seem to effectively communicate their wants and needs who are also struggling with their familial relationships, particularly their relationships with their fathers. Benson is living with HIV, which I always appreciate seeing in books set in modern times. He may be living with HIV, but it doesn't become central to the story. Representation matters!
While I didn't love Memorial as much as Lot, I would still buy anything Washington writes. I love the way he tells a story and the complexity and fullness he brings to his characters. Plus, I'm a sucker for an anti-romance, romance.
Memorial is a story about a Black gay man and a Japanese gay man living in Houston who are at a crossroads in their relationship. The story is told from both perspectives and two very distinct voices.
This isn't a happy story, but a very realistic one. A couple that can't seem to effectively communicate their wants and needs who are also struggling with their familial relationships, particularly their relationships with their fathers. Benson is living with HIV, which I always appreciate seeing in books set in modern times. He may be living with HIV, but it doesn't become central to the story. Representation matters!
While I didn't love Memorial as much as Lot, I would still buy anything Washington writes. I love the way he tells a story and the complexity and fullness he brings to his characters. Plus, I'm a sucker for an anti-romance, romance.