Lot
By Bryan Washington
Genre: Short Stories, LGBT Literature
Publisher: Atlantic Books
*Gifted*
The Breakdown
'Lot' is jigsaw pieces coming together in the form of stories exploring a community in the city of Houston. It is really hard to believe that this is the author’s first book and that this book is actually fiction.
The first introduction into the community is through the eyes of a young man, Black on his mum's side and Latin on his dad's, who throughout the book directs readers around the city whilst at the same time trying to find his place within his community.
From his and his families experiences you learn about the division between minorities, the scars of broken family ties, and the ongoing fight to not be defeated. The community naturally have a voice too, and this is told through various individuals.
You learn about the different pockets of Houston through a drug delivery man and his young sidekick, a Pimp who breaks his numero uno house rule by contracting HIV, a ride or die teenage baseball team, and a night of adventure with a sighting of the chupacabra, a mythical creature.
Favourite story
'Alief' is my favourite chapter, it's really powerful in showing how your community shares your indiscretions, pain, jokes and burdens. If I had to rename this title I would call it "chatty patty in full effect". Neighbours really do be in up in your business for real. As a reader you become one of the nosy neighbours, wanting to know how it ends but at the same time holding your breath because you aren't sure how things will play out.
So the gossip is that Paul's woman, Aja, is having an affair with James who also lives in their apartment duplex (In the UK it's a block of flats... small-small difference). But yeah... everyone knows about it except for Paul. Don't be surprised if you start crying at the end of the chapter. I cried for Paul. In the Black community part of being successful is to do better than the generation before you did, to take a step further and Paul ended his journey just like his mother.
It Hit Me When
When the main storyteller admits his sexual preference being men, in confidence to his older brother, who then responds by punching him in the face. Reading that made me feel like I'd been completely blind-sighted and punched as well. It's always hard when those closest to you refuse to accept you for who you are.
Is That How You're Feeling Yeah!?
This book makes you drip in compassion. It's well written and demands your attention right from the start. But most importantly doesn't drop the ball. I smell tick boxing activities from a mile away but can we just pause. We are reading about a young Black and Latin male in the US, who likes males amongst an array of other diverse stories. C'mon, Bryan did that!
The book feels very authentic and gives transparent and unrestricted access to a community that many would never know about, combining the good, the bad and the ugly. I think this has a lot to do with the fact that the author is from the city and has really tapped into realistic, unforgettable and compelling characters. Being from the UK, media coverage about people who fall into these demographics in the US often comes across as judgemental and one-sided and it's refreshing being introduced to these people from a completely different angle.
I love it when books swing into dual languages so I was smiling whilst writing out various Spanish words in my notebook to later translate. A lot of them are cuss words, but you never know when they might come in handy!
Now and again you come across a book that you didn't know you needed, but will never forget! In 2019 this is for sure the book that has done that for me.
Before this book the only Houston reference I had in my mind was Beyonce. But now I'm happy to say when I hear Houston I'll think of the stories that came from this city and the banging author and writer that is Mr Bryan Washington.
Seasoning Level
CO2 | Salt | Pepper | Mixed Herbs | All Purpose Seasoning
The Big Quote
"Your eyes will show you what they want to, or whatever they think you should see."
*Book gifted by Atlantic Books