Mississippi Sissy (Abridged) Audiobook

" truth is perhaps the most painful and necessary thing we have "

" Highly recommended. A memoir of a gay boy growing up in rural Mississippi during the Civil Rights era. Insightful and moving, yet fun and bitchy. What more could you ask for in a gay memoir. "

" A wonderful story of the deep south during a very difficult time, and in spite of everything, a fascinating gathering of creative minds found each other.... "

" Growing up gay in rural Mississippi is tough. Following this story brought back memories from my own struggles. "

" A little disturbing. I liked the idea of the book but it seemed like his sexual exploration was the focus of the content of the book. I would have thought that his life would have been more than just that, although maybe that was the aspect he wanted to focus on. Just not for me. "

" A book of tangents but I think that was the point. The writing was engaging and seemingly honest. Summed up well in the last reference of a book full of references -- those were the two topics his digressions always came home to. "

" Extremely entertaining in both a tragic and comic sense. Makes you long for days gone by as well as make you happy that we live in the society we do today. A couple of decades can really make a difference. "

" The author had me until the last third, where some overly graphic scenes and once-too-many repeated thoughts/themes eroded the book somewhat. Still - a gay orphan growing up in Mississippi in the 50s and 60s? He's entitled to write his memoir. "

" One of the best autobios I've ever read. You will laugh, cry, empathize, and become angry; you will thoroughly enjoy, and want to meet, this author. "

" good read, a little sad at times "

" I liked this book. The story moved at a nice pace. An interesting childhood. Not unlike a lot of gays. "

" Continuing my obsession with southern literature, "Mississippi Sissy" is a funny and very sad memoir about growing up gay in Mississippi during the 60's. Better than most novels, this is a book I will probably read multiple times. "

" This started out promising, but ended up being a bit too quaint and repetitive. Even though he was describing horrible things that happened to him, the language he used to describe them reminded me of a script for a Lifetime movie. "

" Just didn't care for this writing style. "

" Outstanding memoir, by journalist Kevin Sessums of growing up in Mississippi and losing his parents during the years of upheaval in the 1960s. "

" I really enjoy reading southern authors like Dorothy Allison and Flannery O'Connor. They have a great way of exposing the dirty darkness of human nature. So I picked this up, but I am very disappointed with the flow of the book. It wasn't "dirty" enough and was obviously trying to be. "

" This got really good reviews, but I was disappointed by it. The narrative was obviously constructed to save the "juicy revelations" (all of which are horrible and tragic) for the end, rather than to reveal Sessums' emotional journey. I still don't have any sense of who he is. "

" Half-way through. This author writes long sentences and puts together long paragraphs. I like it, though. "

" I loved this book. It made me laugh/cry/gasp/look away/peek through my fingers. Fine Southern writing. So what if the level of detail is sometimes unappetizing? So are Hazel Motes, Flem Snopes, and Mrs. Dubose. Not for the squeamish--not for sissies?--this scabrous honesty. "

" Listening to Kevin Sessums reflections on growing up gay in the deep south added to my enjoyment of the book. Hearing his breathless, southern-gothic style narrative in the various accents of his family and loved ones gives it another layer of pathos. "

" A well-written memoir of growing up gay in Mississippi in the 60s. Somehow, I just couldn't get into it. I found the authorial persona remote. Perhaps this would appeal more to gay men who grew up in the South. "

" What a great read--it was tough to put down. I love the vivid details--I could see everything and hear the conversations. His experiences in the 60's were tremendous. There are some difficult parts, since it's a memoir. But, I would label this a must read!! "

" Born to a steel magnolia and basketball coach, Kevin Sessums memoir of growing up as a gay orphan in the South is a study in resiliency. And the Eudora Welty stories are pretty good, too. "

" We are defined in what we do, not in what we are. I loved the book. It's a pageturner of a memoir. His childhood resembles close to mine but mine is yet to come. One of the best since Mary Karr, & Jeanette Walls memoirs. I love it! Two thumbs up! :) "

" I picked this one up from the bargain shelves at Barnes and Noble. I found it interesting and entertaining, well-worth the $6 I paid for it. "

" Wonderful title and a most fetching cover photo of the author at age four. So I had to read it. It was interesting until he hits adolescence and the books sinks to the level of pure pornography. I know it's a memoir, but does his memory have to be THAT accurate? Yuck! "

" Great telling of an unusual upbringing. Loved this book. "

" Pretty self indulgent. 3 year olds don't remember the things he claims to. I was disappointed. "

" Outstanding memoir, by journalist Kevin Sessums of growing up in Mississippi and losing his parents during the years of upheaval in the 1960s. "

" Beautifully written memoir about growing up queer in Mississippi in the 1960s. <br/><br/>I listened to the audio book. The author read it. I highly recommend it.<br/> "

" This started out promising, but ended up being a bit too quaint and repetitive. Even though he was describing horrible things that happened to him, the language he used to describe them reminded me of a script for a Lifetime movie. "

" Well-written book that holds your interest, but very troubling and difficult to handle at times. This is not a story for the faint of heart. "

" An honest, unflinching look at growing up gay in the 1960s deep south. "

" Sessums quotes a passage from 'Alice's Wonderful Adventures in Wonderland&quot; that sums up my advice about this important and insightful memoir that is at turns wonderful and haunting. &quot;Begin at the beginning, and go on until you get to the end: then stop.&quot; "