Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

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

4 reviews

imchelsi's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective

4.0

I don't read very much nonfiction but this was a heartwrenching and critical look at what it means to be black and gay, the the concept of masculinity as a whole. I really enjoyed the format and the culmination was very effective. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

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

kalifer's review against another edition

challenging reflective medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexism

sara_m_martins's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

"we learn that white boys are people and Asian boys are exotic and Hispanic boys are luxurious and Black boys are for sex."

Punch Me Up to the Gods is a raw, powerful memoir that explores the ideals of Black masculinity, and that intersection with the queer identity, and what it is to be a queer Black man in the USA. It is brutal, powerful and superbly honest.
The memoir comes as a collection of essays about moments throughout Brian Broome's life, glavanized (and organized for us) through a shared bus trip between narrator and a small Black boy named Tuan. I found this really interesting, and this starting point made me reflect and approach the essays in such a different way.
This book talks of racism, homophobia, physical/emotional/sexual abuse, toxic masculinity, misogyny, family, addiction/alcoholism. With humour and a great writing style (felt almost poetic at points), one feels saddened but still wants to keep reading. 
I really appreciate the realness and unsanitized depictions. This is seen in other themes too, but Brian talks about being queer while not being a "good queer" - ashamed, denial, hidding, wishing it away; cowardice sometimes feels forbidden to queer stories.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Death of parent