Thank you for writing your memoir and letting me read it. It’s had a profound impact on me.

I loved reading this book!

This is the realest thing I have read in a while, maybe ever. I’m still trying to figure out what to do with all it’s showed me. I want to read everything this guy has written.

The book was sad with no resolution. The generational addiction and sexual trauma was never resolved or healed. It was a continual downward spiral. The author never fully acknowledged his eating disorder and addiction to food for what it was. So much raw emotion without guidance. I wanna hear about where the generational trauma ends not continual blame.

This book reminded me,of me & my mother growing up, she is an educator / Principal I didn’t go in her pathway as an educator but I am a fireman for the city of Chicago, so mama did a great job raising me & making sure I didn’t “get shot out the sky”.

I, I, wanna say this, Heavy. Makes me want to be honest. Read over 3 more times. Apologize to my sons. Give protection to me daughters. This is Truth. You have made my life Better !!

The author grew up in Mississippi with his mother who was working towards her PhD. HEAVY is a memoir about family and about a body. Sometimes this body was abuse by his mother, sometimes it was abused by himself. The memoir starts when Laymon is 12 years old and continues until he is a professor himself. He describes gaining weight, losing weight, addiction, and abuse. It’s hard to write a review of a memoir, unable to critique the plot and the characters which are not invented but real life. The writing here is excellent, many times powerful and poetic. I listened to the audiobook and the inflection and emphasis from the author created a very rich experience. There were funny moments, but novel was mostly sad. I was blown away by the honesty of this book, the introspection, the contrition. These stories are such a powerful tool to see the pain and injustice towards black bodies when we don’t feel the same oppression. I hope others read this book and gain empathy for people who don’t look like them. ★★★★★ • 🎧 Audiobook • Nonfiction - Memoir • Published by Scribner on October 16, 2018. ◾︎