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notspacemanlee's review
5.0
To be fully transparent, I know Andrew - but this doesn't affect my rating.
The book's summary is very accurate so I see no need to rehash it. Singled Out is thoroughly
researched, but extremely accessible to YA readers. It's examination
into the LGBTQ+ history and culture surrounding Glenn Burke's life is age-
appropriate. It should foster discussion in classroom settings.
I was curious if the book would be a hagiography, but Maraniss also details character flaws
that did not serve Burke well in his minor league ascent and inability/indifference to putting in effort in the classroom or finding gainful employment once his baseball career ended.
Even as an adult reader who already knew about Burke's baseball career, importance, and struggles after baseball - I found myself learning quite a bit due to Andrew's research. I'd recommend to adult baseball readers who aren't familiar with Glenn Burke as well.
My only point of contention was Andrew's narrative about the eventual backlash to disco music. I do not believe there were racial or homophobic undertones to it. The music craze had run its course. As the fans chanted in unison on Disco Demolition Night at the White Sox game "Disco sucks, Disco sucks!"
5 stars.
The book's summary is very accurate so I see no need to rehash it. Singled Out is thoroughly
researched, but extremely accessible to YA readers. It's examination
into the LGBTQ+ history and culture surrounding Glenn Burke's life is age-
appropriate. It should foster discussion in classroom settings.
I was curious if the book would be a hagiography, but Maraniss also details character flaws
that did not serve Burke well in his minor league ascent and inability/indifference to putting in effort in the classroom or finding gainful employment once his baseball career ended.
Even as an adult reader who already knew about Burke's baseball career, importance, and struggles after baseball - I found myself learning quite a bit due to Andrew's research. I'd recommend to adult baseball readers who aren't familiar with Glenn Burke as well.
My only point of contention was Andrew's narrative about the eventual backlash to disco music. I do not believe there were racial or homophobic undertones to it. The music craze had run its course. As the fans chanted in unison on Disco Demolition Night at the White Sox game "Disco sucks, Disco sucks!"
5 stars.
jgintrovertedreader's review
4.0
Glenn Burke played in the 1977 World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He also invented the high five that season. He wasn't out to the public at that point, but he was also the first openly gay player in Major League Baseball.
He was a man who lived his life out loud. When he was angry, everyone around him knew it. When he was happy, either for himself or on someone else's behalf, no one outshone him. But he was a gay player in a ball club that prided itself on being squeaky clean "All Americans." He had to walk a line between being true to himself and remaining in good standing with his managers.
Glenn's story is heartbreaking. Apparently everyone the author interviewed loved Glenn. He was unforgettable. He lit up any room he entered. But because of a fundamental part of who he was as a person, most of society shunned and reviled him. He sank lower than most of us can even imagine. He's almost been forgotten.
I loved the story behind the invention of the high five. In typical Glenn form, he didn't invent it as a celebration of one of his own achievements but to celebrate a teammate. I've loved sharing the story with my family members since finishing the book.
But what's really eye opening is just how hard life was for gay people back in the day. I know things are still way more difficult for the LBGTQIA+ community than they should be, but it was so much worse in Glenn's lifetime--which overlapped with mine for about a decade. I wish everyone could read this book and walk a virtual mile in Glenn's shoes. Who cares who loves who? Isn't the important thing just that they're loved? Why do we have to be in someone else's business, judging and condemning?
I highly recommend this. Everyone should meet the charismatic Glenn Burke in these pages and gain some compassion for our fellow human beings.
He was a man who lived his life out loud. When he was angry, everyone around him knew it. When he was happy, either for himself or on someone else's behalf, no one outshone him. But he was a gay player in a ball club that prided itself on being squeaky clean "All Americans." He had to walk a line between being true to himself and remaining in good standing with his managers.
Glenn's story is heartbreaking. Apparently everyone the author interviewed loved Glenn. He was unforgettable. He lit up any room he entered. But because of a fundamental part of who he was as a person, most of society shunned and reviled him. He sank lower than most of us can even imagine. He's almost been forgotten.
I loved the story behind the invention of the high five. In typical Glenn form, he didn't invent it as a celebration of one of his own achievements but to celebrate a teammate. I've loved sharing the story with my family members since finishing the book.
But what's really eye opening is just how hard life was for gay people back in the day. I know things are still way more difficult for the LBGTQIA+ community than they should be, but it was so much worse in Glenn's lifetime--which overlapped with mine for about a decade. I wish everyone could read this book and walk a virtual mile in Glenn's shoes. Who cares who loves who? Isn't the important thing just that they're loved? Why do we have to be in someone else's business, judging and condemning?
I highly recommend this. Everyone should meet the charismatic Glenn Burke in these pages and gain some compassion for our fellow human beings.
maryehavens's review
3.0
I’m not likely to read very many sports biographies but this one appeared for free as part of the SYNC Audiobook series and it didn’t focus on just stats. There were quite a few parallels in the rise of Glen’s career and the rise in gay rights and the spotlight on that movement. And just like AIDS halted the momentum of gay rights, Glen’s career tragically ended.
If you are interested in baseball and/or gay athletes, especially the discrimination of these athletes, I think this book would be interesting. I learned a lot about both and it’s a complicated history. But I felt the author stayed true to both histories without covering up any of the not so great bits.
If you are interested in baseball and/or gay athletes, especially the discrimination of these athletes, I think this book would be interesting. I learned a lot about both and it’s a complicated history. But I felt the author stayed true to both histories without covering up any of the not so great bits.
haileyannereads's review
4.0
Trigger Warning: Racism, homophobia
This book. I had never heard of Glenn Burke before and that is a shame. His story is impactful, but heartbreaking. It took me a long time to get through this because I could only handle so much at a time. He was an excellent athlete whose life was ruined by homophobia.
There is a lot of baseball jargon in here, so if you aren't familiar with that it could be confusing. But you don't have to be an expert. I'm a casual baseball fan and I understood most of it.
Overall, this is a good book about a very important person. More people need to know his story.
This book. I had never heard of Glenn Burke before and that is a shame. His story is impactful, but heartbreaking. It took me a long time to get through this because I could only handle so much at a time. He was an excellent athlete whose life was ruined by homophobia.
There is a lot of baseball jargon in here, so if you aren't familiar with that it could be confusing. But you don't have to be an expert. I'm a casual baseball fan and I understood most of it.
Overall, this is a good book about a very important person. More people need to know his story.
invaderday's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5
imagine having the impact of being both the first professional baseball player to come out as gay and the inventor of the high five. what an incredible and tragic life </3
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Homophobia and Racism
kharms's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.0
julessssss's review
3.0
honestly surprised by the amount of history (especially queer history) addressed in this book
with that though, I literally couldn't care less about sports, especially baseball, so that was frustrating for me reading this (obviously)
overall though I would say this is decent (and I'm interested to look at this author's other work)
with that though, I literally couldn't care less about sports, especially baseball, so that was frustrating for me reading this (obviously)
overall though I would say this is decent (and I'm interested to look at this author's other work)