Heavy // An American Memoir

In Heavy , Laymon writes eloquently and honestly about growing up a hard-headed Black son to a complicated and brilliant Black mother in Jackson, Mississippi. From his early experiences of sexual violence, to his suspension from college, to time in New York as a college professor, Laymon charts his complex relationship with his mother, grandmother, anorexia, obesity, sex, writing, and ultimately gambling. Heavy is a “gorgeous, gutting…generous” ( The New York Times ) memoir that combines personal stories with piercing intellect to reflect both on the strife of American society and on Laymon’s experiences with abuse. By attempting to name secrets and lies he and his mother spent a lifetime avoiding, he asks us to confront the terrifying possibility that few in this nation actually know how to responsibly love, and even fewer want to live under the weight of actually becoming free. Paperback: 256 pages Publisher: Scribner; Reprint edition (March 5, 2019) Language: English ISBN-10: 1501125664 ISBN-13: 9781501125669 Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.4 inches Shipping Weight: 8 ounces