A review by readingqueerly
Since I Laid My Burden Down by Brontez Purnell

emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

It always makes for an interesting read when you are so very clearly not the target audience. But despite this I did think it was a necessary and enriching read. To me it's important to peek into the life of someone I share nothing except a community with on accident. 
I'm not sure how to describe how I felt about this book. There is a certain jarring feeling reading about all the nice memories and terrible things that happened to the main character in the same tone; and how the mc being a black, gay man from The South played into all of this was layered most likely beyond my understanding, but with my full attention.
I'm not sure I got it fully, but I also acknowledge this book was not written for me. Still though, I liked the writing style of the sort of stream of consciousness memories, the peek into someone's life I would not easily cross otherwise, and the need to reread this over time.
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