Reviews tagging 'Fatphobia'

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

6 reviews

remimicha's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

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

pucksandpaperbacks's review against another edition

CW: Domestic and emotional abuse, f-slur, racism, racial slurs, death of a parent, grease + house fire, child abuse, drug use (cocaine), alcohol, alcoholism, misyogny, toxic masculinity, religious bigotry, homophobia, bullying, sexual harassment, internalized racism, internalized homophobia, fatphobic comments

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Blood, Fatphobia, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual harassment

honeyvoiced's review

dark reflective sad

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Sexual content and Racial slurs

Minor: Death of parent and Fatphobia

jrsmith415'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: Sexual assault, Homophobia, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Racism, and Alcohol

Moderate: Misogyny

Minor: Fatphobia

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

parasolcrafter's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

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

dramaqueentears's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.0

When I saw the glowing review that Kiese Laymon wrote for this memoir, I immediately added it to my TBR and it did not disappoint. Brian Broome’s memoir is incredible. 

I think it was an incredible picture of how homophobia and anti-Blackness intersect. He writes of his upbringing in northeastern Ohio and how he eventually ended up in the big city of Pittsburgh hoping that his trauma wouldn’t follow him, but unfortunately it did. He had a lot to say about the toxic masculinity that his father enforced, the racism he experienced in the gay dating scene, and the experience of searching for love because he felt like it was missing from his life. 

This memoir is written in essays that jump around various points of his life. I also liked the essays that he wrote comparing parts of his time growing up to experiences he had as an adult. 

I have mixed feelings about the parts of the book following Broome’s observations of a young Black boy on the bus in Pittsburgh with his father. On one hand, I understand the point of what he was trying to do, but sometimes it felt like projection. I very well acknowledge I could be wrong though. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, and Sexual content

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Fatphobia