Reviews with content warning for Drug use - Punch Me Up to the Gods

This was such a beautiful memoir. Broome writes about his life growing up as a queer Black boy in Ohio and his coming of age story in Ohio and Pittsburgh. The way he details his specific emotions throughout these different life experiences was really powerful. The theme throughout was really one of trying to be what everyone else wants you to be, striving to meet those expectations (spoken or unspoken), and finally resolving to rest confidently in himself as he is. "I knew I could never be what they all needed me to be" was such a turning point and really resonated with me. In addition to that section, there were two moments in the story that really stood out to me and made me tear up: earlier in the novel, Broome tells a story about a coworker named Denise who supported him and she's one of several in "the mosaic of Black women who have saved my life." It was beautiful to hear him reflect back on his life to see the women that were important throughout his life even if he didn't necessarily see their significance at the time. My favorite part though was his short description of laughing when crying. It was poetry and very emotive: "laughing through a deep ache," the mix of joy and sadness.

Would definitely recommend this memoir, and the audiobook was great.

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nadia's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.25

This was a really powerful memoir and I especially recommend the audiobook, read by Broome himself. Broome vividly portrayed the harsh struggles around growing up as a black boy in America, and one who knows he is different in more ways than one, not fitting in to the role society expects him to play.

I particularly appreciated the discussion around black parenting and how the way love and care is demonstrated may manifest itself in different, seemingly strange and punishing, ways, born out of a necessity to survive in a country that doesn't want to accept you.

Perfect for lovers of memoirs that explore themes of identity, sexuality, race in America, masculinity, addiction, motherhood, and fatherhood, the latter especially in black families!

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parasolcrafter's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

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chambersaurusrx's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

4.25

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mpruter's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny sad medium-paced

4.0

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mitzybitzyspider's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

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paigeisinabook's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

A memoir about Blackness, masculinity, sexuality, colorism, and addiction. A letter to Black men, young and old.

Following Brian Broome (with a special chapter from his mother’s POV), we see how he was raised to enact toxic masculinity and compulsory heteronormativity. Every other chapter is dedicated to the initiation of a young boy, Tuan, to the world of being a stereotypical man. The cycle continues.

This book is very good. Many lines stood out as strong and impactful and I wish that I had read it to highlight these beautiful words. Broome is a poet and it shows.

Nothing in this book lagged. Nothing was out of place.

5 out of 5 Would recommend

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ebonyrose's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

There is a category of memoir I've discovered in recent years that have completely challenged my understanding of the genre, books that stretched and pushed the genre and what it could or should be. Books like Hunger by Roxane Gay, Heavy by Kiese Laymon, In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado and Know My Name by Chanel Miller. Memoirs which so brilliantly and bravely bear the souls of the writers in a way that I could not have ever imagined. Memoirs that changed me in some fundamental way, just for having had the privilege of experiencing them.

I consider Punch Me Up to the Gods in that category. Brian Broome wrote the hell out of this book. This memoir plays with style and form, discarding traditional expectations of linearity, and tells the story of Brian's life as a gay boy and man in rural Ohio (and later, Pennsylvania). Brian's difficult family life, poverty, struggles with substance abuse and deep reflections on black life made for a beautiful, tender, sad, and sometimes joyful read. I loved it.

Highly recommend.

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