|
By E. Lynn Harris
Doubleday /266 pages / Hardcover
ISBN: 0385502648
Ê
THE BROKENHEARTED CAN SURVIVE, DREAM, AND MOVE
ON!!
In an
emotional, heart-pulling introduction and first chapter, we are given an
in-depth look into the real world of E. Lynn Harris, not the glamorized life
many of his fans will assume he leads. What Becomes of The Brokenhearted
is the highly acclaimed and much anticipated release of the summer. A
tell-all on the life of an award-winning author who started out
self-publishing and has continuously reached new heights writing about
relationships between gay and bi-sexual men. We are now able to learn more
about the young child and man prior to what we believe or hear today and
have read in the bios accompanying his books.
Opening
with his suicide attempt in 1990, Harris immediately shows us that his life
is by far very different from the wealthy characters he writes about. He
tells of how even at a time in which he was ready to give up living, he was
able to come back from “rock-bottom” through his faith in God as well as the
support of friends and family. Without delay, he grabs the reader’s
attention and then takes you back in time as he shares childhood experiences
and growing up in Little Rock, Arkansas.
The first
incident he shares is Easter 1964. He is dressed up in his new jacket and
is excited about giving his Easter speech before the church congregation.
His happiness is quickly shattered when his father Ben rips apart his new
jacket, verbally demeans him and calls him a sissy. This is just one of the
scenes he shares about life at the hands of his physically abusive father.
He spends much of his childhood in fear of Ben, wondering how a father can
be so cruel to his own son. He becomes cognizant of his differences and
believes there is something terribly wrong when it comes to his physical
make-up,which sets the stage for a low self-esteem and a need to begin
pretending.
What
Becomes of the Brokenhearted takes us from the time Harris is a child
through his young adult life. He shares his fears, his desire to be in a
loving relationship, and the realization of his preference for men over
women; despite his attempts otherwise. Through his candid and honest
recount of those times in his life, we learn of his fight with depression,
the abusive relationships he’s had the misfortune to suffer through and the
make-believe world he built around himself to not only hide his poor
upbringing, but also his sexual preference.
His job
after college working with IBM and the success he attained in a position
that not many other black men held, showed his tenacity and perseverance to
attain the dreams of success he put in place from childhood in Arkansas. In
spite of this, Harris was often left with a broken heart falling into
depression, alcoholism and the continued closet-lifestyle of a gay, black
man unable to reveal his true self.
While
reading this insightful and poignant book, What Becomes of the
Brokenhearted, I was saddened to learn that an author whom I revere,
suffered such hardship and heartache. However, it brought me joy to read of
the important and valuable lessons he chosen to pass on to others. In his
memoir, we’re able to see Mr. Harris in a more human light; no longer
comparing him to his characters. The lessons he shares should do well in
showing others the importance of appreciating yourself, being strong in your
faith, valuing friendships, being secure in who you are as a person—even if
it is different from the role society tries to place you, and knowing that
your life is yours to live without pretense or being ashamed of your past.
I’ll sum it up by saying…the brokenhearted can survive, dream, and move on
to claim not only success, but happiness.
Tee C. Royal
is the founder of RAWSISTAZ.com, an online book club for both readers and
writers interested in AA literature. She is also the editor of several
African American literary newsletters and resides in the Atlanta, GA area. |