I approached the novel expecting some romance, I would have accepted even drama, instead, I got family drama; the worst kind of family drama, the slow kind 'your father is dying' trope vs inheritance conflict. To be fair full disclosure, I took up reading the book out of desperation for a very specific interracial gay dating / relationship story. Had I known the novel was more about familial drama than gay romance, then I would have never read the book. To boot, the novel did a disappointing treatment of the interracial gay relationship. The story was generic enough that any interracial combination would suffice, so broad that the story fits even heterosexual relationships. Benson being Black was neither necessary nor intrinsic to narrative development; likewise, Mike. A quib about race and the coming out story does not entreat what was particular about this gay dual.
I'm reading Memorial right now, I'm not very far in but what struck me first is that the tone of the book is so different from the tone the blurb/summary projects. That's why I decided to watch your review before finishing the book - to see if I was misunderstanding/missing something, but it looks like I'm understanding it just fine. Also, based on your review I'm def going to be paying more attention to the themes of intimacy, identity and platonic relationships in the book. I read a couple gay romance novels just before starting Memorial, so that gave me a bit of a whiplash too lol I had to readjust my expectations.
I agree the blurbs / summaries did curb my expectations too! But in a way somehow worked in its favor for me?? Haha, maybe as my sense of surprise reading something is usually not as common, so I think Memorial was a nice little diamond in the rough of my contrast to overall gay fiction I’ve read, but unfortunately only within that genre, and a bit underwhelming across the board of fiction. I hope it’s a rewarding read in the end for you!! 💫
Great Review! I read Memorial in December and I liked it a great deal. Having listened to your review I realize that I missed a lot. In reflecting on it I think it was really just about the difficulty of establishing and maintaining intimacy in any relationship - Mike and his dad, Mike and his mom, Mike and Ben, Ben and his Dad, Mom, Sister, Mike’s mom- but I didn’t bring that out in my own review. I thought Washington did a good job showing how Mike and Ben were each afraid of intimacy -for different reasons, though they both craved it from one another.
Thanks Brian! I would have loved if Washington made it either about only Mike and Ben or also about Mike and Ben’s families exclusively, but maybe even if that did happen I would wish differently too haha. I think I read in an interview he started Memorial as a short story, which sounds plausible based on my reading experience
I approached the novel expecting some romance, I would have accepted even drama, instead, I got family drama; the worst kind of family drama, the slow kind 'your father is dying' trope vs inheritance conflict.
To be fair full disclosure, I took up reading the book out of desperation for a very specific interracial gay dating / relationship story. Had I known the novel was more about familial drama than gay romance, then I would have never read the book.
To boot, the novel did a disappointing treatment of the interracial gay relationship. The story was generic enough that any interracial combination would suffice, so broad that the story fits even heterosexual relationships. Benson being Black was neither necessary nor intrinsic to narrative development; likewise, Mike. A quib about race and the coming out story does not entreat what was particular about this gay dual.
Alex, you a total gem! Even if many books you review I don’t like, I still watch every time.
Thank you 😭💫
I'm reading Memorial right now, I'm not very far in but what struck me first is that the tone of the book is so different from the tone the blurb/summary projects. That's why I decided to watch your review before finishing the book - to see if I was misunderstanding/missing something, but it looks like I'm understanding it just fine. Also, based on your review I'm def going to be paying more attention to the themes of intimacy, identity and platonic relationships in the book. I read a couple gay romance novels just before starting Memorial, so that gave me a bit of a whiplash too lol I had to readjust my expectations.
I agree the blurbs / summaries did curb my expectations too! But in a way somehow worked in its favor for me?? Haha, maybe as my sense of surprise reading something is usually not as common, so I think Memorial was a nice little diamond in the rough of my contrast to overall gay fiction I’ve read, but unfortunately only within that genre, and a bit underwhelming across the board of fiction. I hope it’s a rewarding read in the end for you!! 💫
Great Review!
I read Memorial in December and I liked it a great deal. Having listened to your review I realize that I missed a lot. In reflecting on it I think it was really just about the difficulty of establishing and maintaining intimacy in any relationship - Mike and his dad, Mike and his mom, Mike and Ben, Ben and his Dad, Mom, Sister, Mike’s mom- but I didn’t bring that out in my own review. I thought Washington did a good job showing how Mike and Ben were each afraid of intimacy -for different reasons, though they both craved it from one another.
Thanks Brian! I would have loved if Washington made it either about only Mike and Ben or also about Mike and Ben’s families exclusively, but maybe even if that did happen I would wish differently too haha. I think I read in an interview he started Memorial as a short story, which sounds plausible based on my reading experience
You inspired me to start my own channel!
Finished the novel and immediately headed to this review. You sum it up perfectly!
Great review! loved the book
Woah this was a stellar review. Saw the book being mentioned a few times but this review really made me want to check it out :)
Thank you!! : )
Mitsuko HIIIIVE! In all seriousness, another amazing review. How do you do it?! Haha
😳👉👈 thanks Jaylen! 😭
love this review so much
I am 24 as well we are the some age
Didn't really like the book.