A review by rhiannonmcgovern
Memorial by Bryan Washington

emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

this book was surreal. a really heartbreaking commentary on loss and love and the constraints we put on ourselves. i felt uncomfortable when reading this, i was anxious for the characters and so desperate for answers i never got. this is part of why i loved the book so much - washington has such a magnificent writing style that just guarantees an emotional reaction. i feel a little incomplete after reading this, yet i feel like it allowed me to let out a breath i didn’t know i was holding.  i feel very strongly that that’s the whole point. as humans we can’t know everything, and so we must live in the moment and surrender to love and connection.