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4.49 AVERAGE
4.49 AVERAGE
dark
informative
slow-paced
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
The first thing that struck me was how reading this book felt similar to reading something in a second language that you're starting to get more fluent in. All the new vocabulary of the last 2+ years is found in this story: contact tracing, monoclonal antibodies, geometric curves, Anthony Fauci etc. This was a frustrating read -- not because of the writing, which was compelling, but because I knew what was going to happen and how it all would end and that I would be heartbroken. This book is still very much worth anyone's time. I hoped that at least one of the people profiled might've at least survived the 1980s, but, well, no spoilers, I guess... Gary Walsh sounds like a true angel. May they all rest in peace. Reading this, after what has transpired in the past two years, has put into even sharper relief some uncomfortable truths about American culture and how we allegedly value human life (something we love to accuse other nations/cultures of not doing). But I will muse on those thoughts privately.
It's amazing how many people were allowed to die due to ignorance, stubbornness, and downright stupidity. Everyone is at fault here, from politicians not wanting to get involved with a "gay disease," to gay leaders refusing to preach safe sex because it's contrary to the civil rights that they've fought for. Even the doctors are at fault for blatantly lying to congress and saying that they had sufficient funds to study AIDS, even though they were struggling to the point where they couldn't even afford a textbook on retroviruses. It's well-written and a fantastic glimpse into what was happening in the early 80s when AIDS started to spread.
informative
reflective
slow-paced
It’s interesting to read something that was written at the time of the aids epidemic, it’s also illuminating to look at how far science and social information has come since then as there are a number of points the books rests on which are no longer accurate (r.e Gaetan Dugas)
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
very insightful and illuminating. dense, but fast-paced and engaging. definitely a must-read classic in investigative journalism, and a part of history that everyone should learn about
medium-paced
Easily one of the most important and profound reads to me.
challenging
informative
medium-paced