Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Punch Me Up to the Gods: A Memoir by Brian Broome

10 reviews

agnesjlopez's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

Moderate: Mental illness and Medical content

juliagongaware's review against another edition

dark inspiring sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

ash_ton's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.0

Broome has a great voice. I love when I can be immersed in a memoir, can envision it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, and Sexual content

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, and Alcohol

Minor: Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, and Classism

eicart_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Classism

Minor: Body shaming, Infidelity, and Terminal illness

remimicha's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Classism

honeyvoiced's review against another edition

dark reflective sad

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Racism, and Alcohol

Moderate: Racial slurs and Sexual content

Minor: Fatphobia and Death of parent

jrosebartoli415's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual assault, and Alcohol

Moderate: Misogyny

Minor: Fatphobia

Usage of the word f*ggot Body issues Detailed description of closeting

parasolcrafter's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Alcohol, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Fatphobia, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

megodell's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual content, and Alcohol

ebonyrose's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Racism, and Alcohol