Heavy

Kiese Laymon's memoir is about more than physical weight, but also of the heaviness of the things we carry inside us. A stark portrayal of growing up Black in the South, Heavy is often startling, often jarring, often difficult to read. The rawness and honesty, particularly when Layton outlines his struggles with gambling and eating disorder, makes this a heavy read; the discussion of family and how they shape you is weighty. This is not a memoir to be taken lightly, but it is one to read knowing you will learn, and feel, a lot.