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A review by melissagopp
Ten Bridges I've Burnt: A Memoir in Verse by Brontez Purnell
funny
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
As a memoir connoisseur, I was curious about this collection of autobiographical poems. The poem that sold me: I’m Bloody by Nature, Not ‘Cause I Hate Ya. With humor and stark confessions, Purnell uses blood as a metaphor to examine human behavior and the idea of fault. Basically, it’s complicated.
Ten Bridges in the title symbolizes the 100 bridges he’s built versus the ten he’s burnt that stick in his critics’ minds. Perhaps one of those burnt bridges was Tommy Chin? A poem by the same name describes a spectacular altercation at the San Francisco Young Gay Poets Luncheon. Point Nemo contains an achingly beautiful perspective on what it might feel like to be in the midst of a depressive episode. If I Had a Time Machine, I Would Kill My Parents… addresses the complexity of family dynamics and intergenerational trauma with plenty of wit thrown in. New words that will forever stick in my mind: guy-o-logical clock and pre-traumatic stress syndrome.
This was a great introduction to a new-to-me, accomplished writer. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
Ten Bridges in the title symbolizes the 100 bridges he’s built versus the ten he’s burnt that stick in his critics’ minds. Perhaps one of those burnt bridges was Tommy Chin? A poem by the same name describes a spectacular altercation at the San Francisco Young Gay Poets Luncheon. Point Nemo contains an achingly beautiful perspective on what it might feel like to be in the midst of a depressive episode. If I Had a Time Machine, I Would Kill My Parents… addresses the complexity of family dynamics and intergenerational trauma with plenty of wit thrown in. New words that will forever stick in my mind: guy-o-logical clock and pre-traumatic stress syndrome.
This was a great introduction to a new-to-me, accomplished writer. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.