Title: Boy Erased
Author: Garrard Conley
First published May 10, 2016
340 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9781594633010 (ISBN10: 1594633010)
Rating: 3.62
Overview
A poignant and stirring memoir about love, acceptance, and the journey towards self-discovery. Boy Erased, now a major motion picture featuring an all-star cast, tells the moving story of Garrard Conley, the son of a Baptist pastor in small town Arkansas.
Struggling with his identity and terrified of his own sexuality, Garrard was forced to choose between attending a church-supported conversion therapy program or losing everything he held dear. Through harrowing challenges and a brutal journey, Garrard found the courage to break free and search for his true self.
In this powerful memoir, Garrard explores the complex relationships between family, faith, and community, and offers a testament to the power of love and forgiveness. Heartbreaking and triumphant, Boy Erased is a must-read for anyone seeking understanding and acceptance.
Editoral Review
Boy Erased by Garrard Conley is a moving and gut-wrenching memoir about one man’s struggle with his identity and his place in the world. First published on May 10, 2016, the book explores themes of religion, homosexuality, trauma, and self-discovery.
Conley grew up in a small town in Arkansas, where he was raised to be a devout Baptist by his parents, a pastor and a homemaker. As a teenager, he realized he was gay and struggled with his sexual orientation in a community that condemned homosexuality as a sin.
His parents eventually sent him to a conversion therapy program, hoping to “cure” him of his homosexuality. Boy Erased chronicles his experiences in the program and his journey towards self-acceptance.
Conley’s writing is deeply personal and raw, as he delves into the trauma and pain of his past. He paints a vivid picture of the conservative and religious culture in which he grew up, and the danger and isolation that came with being gay in that world.
Conley’s prose is poetic and evocative, pulling the reader into his experiences and emotions. The characters in Boy Erased are nuanced and complex.
Conley writes with empathy about both his parents and the staff of the conversion therapy program, showing the motives and beliefs that led them to enforce harmful practices. The relationships between Conley and his fellow attendees at the program are also explored, highlighting the support and camaraderie that can be found even in the darkest of circumstances.
While Boy Erased is a memoir, it also has cultural significance as it sheds light on the controversial and discredited practice of conversion therapy. Conley’s story illustrates the harm that can be caused by attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation and emphasizes the importance of acceptance and love.
Overall, Boy Erased is a powerful and timely memoir that will resonate with readers of all backgrounds. It is a deeply personal story that sheds light on larger societal issues, and Conley’s writing is both poetic and honest.
While the subject matter is heavy, the book offers a message of hope and resilience in the face of adversity. Rating: 4/5
