For June, we will be discussing Saeed Jones’ award winning memoir How We Fight for Our Lives. Jones tells the story of a young, black, gay man from the South as he fights to carve out a place for himself, within his family, within his country, within his own hopes, desires, and fears. Through a series of vignettes that chart a course across the American landscape, Jones draws readers into his boyhood and adolescence—into tumultuous relationships with his family, into passing flings with lovers, friends, and strangers. Each piece builds into a larger examination of race and queerness, power and vulnerability, love and grief: a portrait of what we all do for one another— and to one another—as we fight to become ourselves. An award-winning poet, Jones has developed a style that’s as beautiful as it is powerful—a voice that’s by turns a river, a blues, and a nightscape set ablaze. Jones’ memoir is winner of the 2020 Stonewall Book Award and considered one of the best books of the year by The Washington Post, NPR, Time, The New Yorker and many other reviewers.
We will discuss the book using ZOOM conferencing on Tuesday, June 16th at 8:00 p.m. For details on joining the discussion, e-mail Steve Rushton at steve@rushton.com. All are welcome! (Note: If you are having trouble accessing your local library or bookstore, you can order a paper or Kindle ebook copy from an online vendor.)