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bumblemee's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
5.0
[I hope this review is readable, I'm writing it way past my bedtime, but had to write it down before I can go to sleep.]
This book will stay with me forever, I think. And with it the names and stories of many men it tells you about, as well as Ruth herself.
I don't even know how to find the right words for this book. I'll start by saying that Ruth is a very impressive person. She just keeps going and going and going, she just does not stop, no matter the obstacles she's presented with. She's really good at reading people and finding out how to approach them - no matter if it's someone whose help she needs or people she wants to inform about safer sex practices when she knows they won't to listen if she doesn't do it right. Her resourcefulness had me stunned more than once.
As someone who wasn't alive during the events of this book, it feels like it's very good at transporting the reader to that time period. - I watched an interview with Ruth on YouTube and she said she thinks people are thankful that she's sort of a vessel for the stories of people that would've been forgotton without her. This is very true for me. I am thankful she let Kevin Carr O'Leary into her life/memories and write them down, because this was an important read for me and I think it is for others, too.
There's a lot of pain within these pages, it hurt a lot to read this book. The way Ruth and especially her guys (as she calls them) were treated was brutal. I know this was the reality then and it therefore didn't shock me, but that didn't take away any of the anger and rage it made me feel. Or any of the sadness. This book made me cry within the first 15 pages and a few times after that. - Because of the contens, of course, but also because the words that transported said contents.
The writing style feels just so appropriate, the voice is so clear. It has beautiful words, but it doesn't sugarcoat anything. Sometimes tragic things are delivered within a short sentence, somewhere among all the other sentences, which makes so much sense, because this new tragic thing was normality for Ruth, it happened all of the time. But this kind of writing does not take away any of the impact, instead adding to it in my opinion.
It isn't all sad though. There's also wholesome moments, drag shows and people with a lot of love for one another. Also, Ruth has a lot of wit and her voice can be very entertaining.
I liked how you get to know different individuals better and how all of them were treated with a lot of love. You get to know them trough Ruth's eyes and can tell how special each of them was, which is why I said in the beginning of this review that some of the names will stay with me.
All in all I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn something about these years of the epidemic in the USA and how it impacted the queer community. In my opinion this book is written with a lot of care. I must say though that it isn't an easy read, at least to me it really wasn't. I would recommend to read this when you're in a good headspace.
Oh, one last thing: This book centers on Ruth and her work and while it does deal with political issues, it doesn't go beyond Ruth's life and perspective. So if you want there to be a broader context and reflection on "the bigger picture", this isn't really the book for you as it stays very personal.
This book will stay with me forever, I think. And with it the names and stories of many men it tells you about, as well as Ruth herself.
I don't even know how to find the right words for this book. I'll start by saying that Ruth is a very impressive person. She just keeps going and going and going, she just does not stop, no matter the obstacles she's presented with. She's really good at reading people and finding out how to approach them - no matter if it's someone whose help she needs or people she wants to inform about safer sex practices when she knows they won't to listen if she doesn't do it right. Her resourcefulness had me stunned more than once.
As someone who wasn't alive during the events of this book, it feels like it's very good at transporting the reader to that time period. - I watched an interview with Ruth on YouTube and she said she thinks people are thankful that she's sort of a vessel for the stories of people that would've been forgotton without her. This is very true for me. I am thankful she let Kevin Carr O'Leary into her life/memories and write them down, because this was an important read for me and I think it is for others, too.
There's a lot of pain within these pages, it hurt a lot to read this book. The way Ruth and especially her guys (as she calls them) were treated was brutal. I know this was the reality then and it therefore didn't shock me, but that didn't take away any of the anger and rage it made me feel. Or any of the sadness. This book made me cry within the first 15 pages and a few times after that. - Because of the contens, of course, but also because the words that transported said contents.
The writing style feels just so appropriate, the voice is so clear. It has beautiful words, but it doesn't sugarcoat anything. Sometimes tragic things are delivered within a short sentence, somewhere among all the other sentences, which makes so much sense, because this new tragic thing was normality for Ruth, it happened all of the time. But this kind of writing does not take away any of the impact, instead adding to it in my opinion.
It isn't all sad though. There's also wholesome moments, drag shows and people with a lot of love for one another. Also, Ruth has a lot of wit and her voice can be very entertaining.
I liked how you get to know different individuals better and how all of them were treated with a lot of love. You get to know them trough Ruth's eyes and can tell how special each of them was, which is why I said in the beginning of this review that some of the names will stay with me.
All in all I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn something about these years of the epidemic in the USA and how it impacted the queer community. In my opinion this book is written with a lot of care. I must say though that it isn't an easy read, at least to me it really wasn't. I would recommend to read this when you're in a good headspace.
Oh, one last thing: This book centers on Ruth and her work and while it does deal with political issues, it doesn't go beyond Ruth's life and perspective. So if you want there to be a broader context and reflection on "the bigger picture", this isn't really the book for you as it stays very personal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Pandemic/Epidemic, Terminal illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Medical content, and Grief
Moderate: Drug abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Suicide
Minor: Car accident
shamelesslyash's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Death, Medical content, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Domestic abuse, Blood, Addiction, Alcohol, Bullying, Drug abuse, Car accident, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Murder, Outing, Fire/Fire injury, and Hate crime
bexh's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Violence
house_of_hannah's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
This book just grips your heart, and does not let go. It is absolutely horrible how human beings can treat each other, and the tears wanted to come within the first few chapters. Being bisexual, and in love with the drag community, I've heard stories of those people lost to HIV. However, I never truly realized how damning the situation was, and how terrible the public response was. It's just so heartbreaking.
The only issue I have with this book is the way the chapters are setup. Often there would be a complete scene change that would confuse me for a few sentences before I realized what was going on. Sometimes it just didn't feel like we were done talking with one person before a different situation was being talked about.
I 100% believe everyone needs to read this book. It will open your eyes to some of the horrors of life, but also it's love, compassion, and determination.
The only issue I have with this book is the way the chapters are setup. Often there would be a complete scene change that would confuse me for a few sentences before I realized what was going on. Sometimes it just didn't feel like we were done talking with one person before a different situation was being talked about.
I 100% believe everyone needs to read this book. It will open your eyes to some of the horrors of life, but also it's love, compassion, and determination.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Grief, Homophobia, Medical content, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Blood, Car accident, and Drug abuse
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