Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Since I Laid My Burden Down: A Novel by Brontez Purnell

4 reviews

readingqueerly's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

It always makes for an interesting read when you are so very clearly not the target audience. But despite this I did think it was a necessary and enriching read. To me it's important to peek into the life of someone I share nothing except a community with on accident. 
I'm not sure how to describe how I felt about this book. There is a certain jarring feeling reading about all the nice memories and terrible things that happened to the main character in the same tone; and how the mc being a black, gay man from The South played into all of this was layered most likely beyond my understanding, but with my full attention.
I'm not sure I got it fully, but I also acknowledge this book was not written for me. Still though, I liked the writing style of the sort of stream of consciousness memories, the peek into someone's life I would not easily cross otherwise, and the need to reread this over time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault

beanwa's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Sexual violence

sarah984's review against another edition

reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

This was a pretty quick read and it's nice to read lgbtq+ fiction outside the super sanitized NA fluff that's popular online. Unfortunately I found the stream of consciousness memory hopping style a bit detached and disjointed and the child abuse content is a lot, especially since a lot of it is presented like it's a joke. There were some really great moments in this but it definitely won't be for everyone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer, Incest, Racial slurs, Slavery, Police brutality, Car accident, and Pregnancy

cheesepuppy's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Deshawn takes a roller coaster of a journey through his memories. This is one quick but very deep read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Drug use and Racism

Minor: Alcoholism