Challenge Corner discussion

The beloved author of Don’t Cry for Me and Perfect Peace returns with a poignant, emotionally exuberant novel about a young queer Black man finding his voice in 1980s Chicago—a novel of family, forgiveness and perseverance, for fans of The Great Believers and On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous Isaac is at a crossroads in his young life. Growing up in Missouri, the son of a caustic, hard-driving father, he was conditioned to suppress his artistic pursuits and physical desires, notions that didn’t align with a traditional view of masculinity. But now, in late ’80s Chicago, Isaac has finally carved out a life of his own. He is sensitive and tenderhearted and has built up the courage to seek out a community. Yet just as he begins to embrace who he is, two social catalysts—the AIDS crisis and Rodney King’s attack—collectively extinguish his hard-earned joy. At a therapist’s encouragement, Isaac begins to write down his story. In the process, he taps into a creative energy that will send him on a journey back to his family, his ancestral home in Arkansas and the inherited trauma of the nation’s dark past. But a surprise discovery will either unlock the truths he’s seeking or threaten to derail the life he’s fought so hard to claim. Poignant, sweeping and luminously told, Isaac's Song is a return to the beloved characters of Don’t Cry for Me and a high-water mark in the career of an award-winning author.

This one was just as heavy as I thought it would be but I'm still really liking it. They are fast chapters and that seems to make it somehow a little easier to read

Through Day 12

(view spoiler)[ it's tough - this breakdown between raising your kids like how you were raised and trying to raise the kids in a world you don't know and try to catch up and teach them to be safe and happy.

I feel for Isaac - I can't imagine not accepting my kids exactly how they are but I can also see his dad was scared for him - and thought he wasn't "teaching him to be a man". We know so different now but we didn't then.

But that doesn't excuse how cruel his father was at times. And I'm sad about his mom's drinking.

I'm glad he's finding happy memories with his dad - and will maybe be able to let go of his father's judgement. I'm not saying forgive him but at least not let it haunt him.

I love that he found the piano. I'm sad his story won and he had no one to tell. (hide spoiler)]

Through Day 13

I THOUGHTI could start this yesterday but with hubby being off and us leaving for a trip on Monday, we had too many things to get done. I just started it this morning.

(view spoiler)[I totally agree. It also reminded me of a time when my dad did something very similar to what his dad did by not kissing him good night. One time my sister and I were arguing and Dad wanted us to "kiss and make up" but we didn't want to. Rather than insisting her allowed us to not say worry and make up, but that night when he came in to tuck us in etc. he didn't kiss us good night nor actually tuck us in like usual. When we told him he'd forgotten, he said something like, "No, I didn't forget. But if you don't want to kiss and make up with each other, then I don't want to kiss you good night and tuck you in." I obviously don't remember his words but it was a lesson learned for sure. I remember feeling crushed and I have never forgotten that night and how I felt!!! And missed opportunities...yes! Great way of saying it. (hide spoiler)]

Through Day 25

(view spoiler)[I was glad that his dad at one point was actually proud of him! That made me happy. This was way back in the 80's at a time when the word "colored" was used and calling gay people F_ _ _ _ _. So disgusting. I know people are far more accepting today but not 100%. But living back then as a gay black man would've been so difficult. I love that his dad seems to be accepting him and his sexuality and ways he chooses to live his life. I hope that continues and he fully loves his son unconditionally. (hide spoiler)]

I have both the e-ARC and audiobook from NetGalley and at times they don't jive, so it's gotten me a bit confused but not bad. For example, somewhere around 12 or 13 a day was skipped in the audio. From that point on every time the ebook said, Day 20 it would say the next day on audio, so it would say Day 21. But the text was the same. Just now it skipped Day 28 in the ebook AND audiobook and went right to 29 so right now they are the same. lol (Not sure if that made total sense or any sense at all.)

Side note: When I was in college, I took an African-American lit class and it was SO interesting! My professor was Tommy Ware, a black man who was the oldest of 13 children, had worked in the cotton fields and been in prison. But I was introduced to most of the names mentioned in this book. My favorite author and one of my all time favorite books still is Native Son by Richard Wright. It was that class that got me totally into African-American history.

Through Day 35

(view spoiler)[Wow, the historical events such as Rodney King and others mentioned brought back such awful memories. I SO remember that video of his beating and how horrible it was. I was incensed when I saw it.

I am glad that he's understanding more of his own sexuality and being a black man in America. I've either never heard of microaggressions before or it never stuck, so I had to look it up. It makes me sad to know that this takes place and, not only towards black people, but other groups such as the LGBTQ community. When will people EVER judge people based on their character: are they a kind person, good to others, accept differences, tolerant of differences, and so forth? Will it ever happen? Who cares about one's sexual orientation, if they dress differently than you would ever dress, if they're a different skin color or religion entirely. Jeez, one of my best friends is Buddhist and I'm Christian. We love each other because we accept each other and love and share our differences. I personally LOVE variety and differences in cultures, traditions, facial appearances, skin tones, and so forth. I think my world would be so boring if everyone was white and no skin colors and all people in the world believed everything the way I do. Vive la difference! (hide spoiler)]

Finished

(view spoiler)[This book was really good. I felt like I was reading a good memoir. It seemed as though he was truly telling the story of his life and it didn't feel fictional.

I love that his dad left him all those letters and he was able to understand his dad better. And learning that he never fully knew his parents and they'd lived things he never knew about was also very telling. I think that's probably true of most people...we never know them 100%.

I can only imagine just how much it must've meant to Isaac when he told him, "be your unapologetic self"! Such a great place to be. We all can take that advice to heart and I'm so glad his dad reached that point. I knew from the beginning he loved Isaac even though he seemed so hard and judgmental of his "girly" ways. But he did have reasons for what he did. And he gave Isaac just about everything he wanted (like the tricycle and piano) in my opinion because he did love him. I think he just was misguided in how to guide him to become a man, which means so many things to different people. (hide spoiler)]

through Day 25

(view spoiler)[ Yeah, I'm glad he's seeing both sides to his parents and he's analyzing both his love and dislike in different ways for each parent.

I'm glad he acknowledged all his mom did for him. and yeah, I'm glad he's talking to his dad and they are talking about things (hide spoiler)]

through Day 35

(view spoiler)[ ugh, this book is so heavy for me right now. I feel like the world has taken such huge steps back - especially for the LGBTQ community AND for any race other than Caucasian.

I am so just so sad about it right now

this was a tough part to read - I agree, it was really awful to remember those historical events.

I'm glad he's coming more into himself too (hide spoiler)]

and done

this was a very good but tough read for me
(view spoiler)[ I did like that the father finally came around

I know this felt like a memoir - I read one similar to this by this same author about a letter from a father that was dying that tried to explain to his son why he had been so hard on his son growing up - because of the way he'd been raised

so this one felt similar

but Ugh, it was tough to read (hide spoiler)]