This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Things I Never Told My Father: Growing Up Gay as a Preacher's Son is a work of non-fiction in the memoir, slice-of-life, and LGBTQ+ genres. It is best suited to the mature adult reading audience owing to references to sex and sensitive subject matter including a suicide attempt. Penned by author Jeffrey L. Carrier, this heartfelt memoir chronicles his journey of self-acceptance and coming to terms with his sexuality while growing up in the Bible Belt of East Tennessee. Despite his father being a preacher who views homosexuality as a sin, Carrier grapples with same-sex fantasies from early childhood. Through moments of pleasure and guilt, he navigates his sexuality, finding support from influential figures like his grandmothers, an open-minded aunt, and a nurturing professor's wife. The memoir culminates in his acceptance of his sexuality amidst the backdrop of the AIDS crisis, leading him from Tennessee to Manhattan and eventually to a life intertwined with old Hollywood glamour.
Author Jeffrey L. Carrier holds nothing back when crafting this deeply moving and insightful journey into the complexities of sexuality and self-acceptance. There’s a candidness and heartfelt quality to the narrative flow of this immersive memoir that offers readers a poignant portrayal of the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly in conservative religious environments. This message is more resonant now than ever in modern society. Carrier's raw narrative skillfully captures the conflicting emotions of pleasure and guilt, as well as the journey of coming to terms with one's identity despite the voices and influences of others who seek to shame or change people. His depiction of the people who supported him along the way was filled with brilliant characterization and tender exchanges, highlighting the importance of acceptance and love in navigating personal struggles. The memoir's exploration of love, loss, and resilience in the face of societal stigma and personal hardship was both touching and inspiring too. Overall, Things I Never Told My Father is a powerful memoir that I would certainly recommend to one and all.
