Punch Me Up to the Gods: A Memoir | 
pickWhat a phenomenal, raw, moving memoir. Broome writes about his experiences growing up black and gay in Ohio, in a society rife with homophobia and racism, where everyone holds very specific, narrow ideas of what a Black male can and should be. It is heart breaking, moving, enraging, and sometimes vitally, purposefully uncomfortable.
Cont'd in comments
pickI‘ve had this for ages and follow Broome on FB (I‘m old!) so finally decided to listen. Broome narrates, and he‘s fantastic.
Great read, exploring the stereotypes of Black masculinity and how damaging that can be when one doesn‘t tick any of the required boxes.
pickBroome grew up gay & black in small town Ohio. As a straight white girl who grew up in small town Ohio I so appreciate this perspective which shines a light on my privilege. White girls are expected to do well in spelling bees, black boys aren‘t. But Broome loves spelling bees! (I tested up)
He feels the pressure from all sides to fit the toxic masculinity mold modeled by peers and his father but refuses to conform. A sad but wonderful memoir.
pickA look into Broome‘s childhood in Ohio, where he as a young black queer boy was met with hostility, ostracism, and racism. His adulthood in a bigger city was still fraught with self loathing, addiction. The writing is stunning in its skill and it‘s painful honesty. Looking back now with sobriety and experience, he speaks of toxic manhood, the devaluation of black lives, internalized homophobia, but also healing. Brutal at times but just fantastic.
pickPeople will tell you that times are different but only some love is granted public access. It‘s not that I want to display openly, but I‘d like the option. I highly recommend this book. It‘s heartbreaking but a story that needs to be told and voice that needs to be heard.
pickWow! This memoir by Brian Broome is a lyrical, beautiful punch in the gut. I am absolutely enchanted by the way Broome uses two narratives here. First, he discusses his own experience as a gay Black man growing up in small town Ohio in vignettes. Second, he watches a young Black boy and his father interact and extrapolates his experience to the greater issues of racism, homophobia, and toxic masculinity. Brilliant.
#ARC #Netgalley
Cont'd 3w
Highly recommend. And the audio is fantastic. 3w