I've always liked his writing/memoirs/novels and I saw him speak once and he really has a great presence.



I am so saddened to hear that he suffered like this, people are horrible. I'm glad he was able to get help and had the courage to tell others so they can find solace in his words.

Reply

Thread

Link

he really is.



i went to a reading he held at the brooklyn museum a few years ago. he was so down to earth and magnetic.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Came here to say this. It really, really needs to be changed.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Exactly what i thought, should be changed ASAP

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

mte...not a harmless typo

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

i read it as raped as a child, but yeah. yikes.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I've seen some backlash about this piece on twitter, while I sympathize and understand what people are saying, I've also been a fan of his for the past decade and think he's actually been more candid and vulnerable in both his writing and his talks than most other men could be under similar circumstances. One of the hardest things to admit and come to terms with, IMO, is that we can still hurt other people because of our own pain.



I also met him last year and he was so warm and supportive (he mentioned having heard of my work which floored me) and it's kind of cemented the way I feel about his work.

Reply

Thread

Link

What's the backlash about?

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I think some backlash was the the fact he kept getting into relationships with women when he wasn't ready and would cheat/disrespect the women he was with.

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

It was specifically about the New Yorker piece, about how men can write about their trauma until they're healed but the women who bear the brunt of it never have the same chance. And I get that, but in Junot's specific case (I'm biased,) I don't think he's ever considered himself to be worthy of being forgiven for what he's done, more like he's wanted to be honest about the ways in which he's hurt people and understanding that it can't be undone.

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

I too am curious about what kind of backlash? In regards to how he writes?

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

I think backlash, the way it's usually meant, isn't appropriate, but this is far from the first time a dude has written how the expectation that women are empty vessels for men allowed him to use them to try to assuage childhood trauma, and it feels like a consistent refrain that even when men are hurt, it comes back on us. I don't think discussing that should take away from an empathetic response tho.

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

his writing is truly amazing but there are parts of this that really shows how men really need women (and in his case, dispose women) to really heal themselves.

Reply

Thread

Link

So much respect for talking about it and hope his story helps others as well.

Reply

Thread

Link

Sexual abuse is so fucking awful and so hard to get through.

Reply

Thread

Link

It’s like a ghost that haunts you.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

this

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

and it has different aspects, especially if you weren't believed.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

:( i'm so sorry to hear this. i watched him do a Q&A at my school a few years ago. he seems like a smart, interesting guy i hope he takes care of himself

Reply

Thread

Link

I was molested as a child and again as a teenager and I honestly feel a little jealous sometimes of people who have been able to get in relationships despite it. Like, reading his piece, I know he wasn't ready and hurt so many people as a result, but a piece of me feels like if I could even get to that point, it'd be an improvement.

Reply

Thread

Link

it can be pretty bad and destructive if you try to date before you've dealt with it, tho. it informs your entire perspective on relationships. but idk how to get over it and break shitty cycles i'm in.



Edited at 2018-04-11 07:22 pm (UTC)

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

same. I either get into abusive relationships or sabotage relationships that are good to me.

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

I just met him last week at a reading of the children's book he just wrote. It's really strange to have just seen him talking about his childhood through the lens of the children's book & then to read this piece just a few days later.

Reply

Thread

Link





I’m not okay after reading that junot diaz piece. not gonna write about it on here but I will say that I feel like there’s a lot less that I need to explain now that he’s done it. — Bedour Alagraa (@bedouralagraa) April 9, 2018







Edited at 2018-04-11 07:02 pm (UTC) I thought this was a good take (thread)

Reply

Thread

Link

This is completely horrible, but OP, I really think you should change the headline to say "AS a child" because at first I thought he was the rapist.

Reply

Thread

Link

ty, it's crazy how one word makes such a difference.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link