Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

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

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

megodell's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

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

ebonyrose's review

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, Homophobia, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, and Racism