Novel Sarker 

Professor Dalton

Eng 20100

September 21st, 2021

The author of Heavy, Kiese Laymon, has written many books and articles that revolve around race and how it affected him throughout his life. I am most interested in reading the book, “Heavy” because I believe that this book will talk about how Laymon grew up in such a racist environment, and he somehow overcame those impossible odds. It will also allow me to have a better understanding of what he went through from a personal perspective. Many articles I’ve read usually have a third person perspective. This would be an opportunity for me to read about an individual’s own life with racism and what he specifically had to deal with throughout his life. I’ve read about all the racial differences from the past but a memoir will acknowledge even the smallest details regarding racism. When we read Laymon’s other articles we get a sense of what his writings will be about. This is also an opportunity to learn the similarities between what we have going on in today’s world that revolves around racism and compare these real life events to the text. 

  The difference between a third person perspective and a first person perspective is that the author gains their information through sources and recounts historical events to back up their claim. First person experience recounts only what the author has been through and this memoir is all about that. I believe that the evidence that comes from Laymon will give me details I’ve never read before in articles or texts. In the story, ‘Quick Feet’, Laymon recounts events from his childhood with a white family whom his Grandma once cleaned the house for. I remember reading about his experience with the Mumford boy. The boy would make indirect statements and questions, such as ““Naw,” I told him. “My mama won’t let me shoot squirrels in the head. I’m not allowed to shoot guns. I’m good.”. “But all yall do is shoot guns in jackson ” (Quick Feet). This is an example of a personal perspective on racism and this part interested me into reading more from the book because the book should have similar instances.

Jennifer Key was an author who wrote a detailed review of Laymon’s memoir, Heavy. She stated that, “From his first sentence, Laymon establishes his intention to set the record straight on a complicated and compelling personal narrative. He is uninterested in creating a false sense of progress or improvement. Rather, he is driven by the pursuit of truth, no matter how devastating it may be.” (Key) This statement proves that not only is Laymon writing a personal and detailed review recounting his life, but also the truth and the truth only. Laymon has never brought up situations in the past and he believes that hiding that fragment of his life is wrong. “But the cost of concealing lies and living a split existence proves too steep for Laymon to keep burying the past. Heavy shows that keeping a tight reign on your secrets might give you the illusion of power when really it’s the secrets that control you. Laymon painstakingly narrates that quicksilver transition from being in control to being controlled” (Key) He has gained control over his past and his secrets and delivered them in his writings.

I believe that this book will answer many of my questions regarding racism and give me a new insight of what this man has dealt with in his past. It can be relatable to the situations I’ve faced in the past as a minority as well. Key’s article gave us a short summary of what to expect from the author of the book. I believe that this story is one of a kind and will keep me engaged.

J. Key, (12/18/2019) Heavy, by Kiese Laymon, Review https://muse.jhu.edu/article/743908/summary