Reviews

Love is the Cure: On Life, Loss, and the End of AIDS by Elton John

evelynkenwood's review

emotional hopeful informative medium-paced

5.0

silvermarie's review against another edition

3.0

Interesting

A very interesting read, full of facts about this devaststing epidemic. It focuses not only on the epidemic here, but in other countries, where it's out of control.

tashalostinbooks's review against another edition

4.0

I received this book free from Goodreads' first reads.

I entered to win this book because it was written by Elton John, and I LOVE ELTON JOHN! I don't know anyone with AIDS and know no more about it than the average person. This book was eye opening.

The first chapter made my cry. Really hard. I was unsure about the book after that because I don't really like to cry, and I didn't want to read a depressing book. And while this book was sad at times, it was mostly hopeful and inspirational. I learned so much. I learned that AIDS is not the death sentence it once was. Also, unlike other major diseases today, it is possible to completely eradicate even without a cure or vaccine. We just need to care enough. Hence "Love is the Cure."

rachelshattuck's review against another edition

5.0

Love Is the Cure: On Life, Loss, and the End of AIDS by Elton John 5/5 ⭐️ - I was obviously going to like this book, written by one of my favorite artists about one of the topics I find most interesting. It tells the story of how Elton John’s friendship with Ryan White and his family inspired him to get involved in the fight against AIDS, to get sober and go to rehab, and to eventually start the Elton John AIDS Foundation. While giving a thorough recounting of the history of the AIDS epidemic, it is very much in his voice and is incredibly knowledgeable on the topic. He emphasizes the fact that we need to focus on marginalized groups the disease disproportionately affects, and that it will take all actors in society to address this epidemic with finality - governments, drug companies, religious institutions, and non-profit organizations. Testifying before Congress helped him realize, “History is made by the people who stand up to make it.” And as the title extols, love is the cure. We can’t overcome AIDS without caring about each and every person who has the disease, no matter who they are or how they contracted it. In fact, love may just be the cure for many of the world’s ills. #rachels2020readinglist

ella_reads_books's review

challenging hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

eternity21's review

4.0

Very informative about the AIDS crisis and his foundation for AIDS. It is narrated by Elton himself which was quite well done.

ninetyonepct's review

5.0

Fantastic and heartbreaking look at the AIDS epidemic and how it still destroys people’s lives now. Required read

secrethistory's review

3.0

Three stars is almost unfair. I would have enjoyed this book a lot more had it not been for a few tiny things that annoyed me throughout the book. Before I talk more about it, I'd like to say I am completely behind Elton John on everything in this book. The missing two stars does not represent the facts or the proposed solutions in this book--they are all spot on. With that settled...

Love is the Cure is part memoir, but mostly an essay on the history and current state of AIDS. The memoir bits are actually related to the essay bits, so it does not come across as an egotistical celebrity talking about himself instead of the issues at hand. For instance, the hands on treatment Elton John was given in rehab, and the compassionate way he was treated made him believe this was the best way to help anyone. The entire book is extremely personal--indeed that's the point of the book: to go beyond the statistics of HIV/AIDS and give real stories of real suffering. The effect is as intended--I was moved to tears, and was occasionally angered reading these individuals' stories. It really makes you feel connected.

Elton John is not a writer. I realize this. But the repetition in his writing really kept me from enjoying this book. "My dear friend," "dignity they deserve," "compassion," "As early as." The list goes on. "My dear friend" was almost always followed by a celebrity, and while I don't doubt he really is friends with many celebrities it seemed a bit name-droppy. "As early as" to me should imply that the following is the earliest date at which something could have happened. Elton John uses it obsessively to mean, "Wow, guys! Can you believe it happened this early?" The date is usually exact.

One small thing I really admired was that Elton John gives credit where credit is due. He admires the actions of men he really disagrees with on nearly every score--Republican Senators, corrupt foreign Presidents, U.S. President George W. Bush. He acknowledges their huge contributions to the fight against AIDS. Even pointing out the flaws of certain programs, like President Bush's abstinence only education, he appreciates the things that work.

I learnt a lot from this book. I thought I was fairly knowledgeable about AIDS--I wasn't. And even if you are, reading what is essentially a compilation of deeply personal, real stories of people living with HIV/AIDS will make you want to leap to action. I feel so much more connected to this cause than I did before, and I'm grateful for it. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is, as John explains, curable as long as we are willing to show kindness, love, and ignore the stigmatization of marginalized groups. Elton John is clearly very proud of his foundation, as he well should be. They're fighting to save lives, and that's a beautiful thing.

krys's review

2.0

Content warning: alcoholism, addiction, codependency, eating disorders (bulimia), drug use (cocaine), rape (related to spread of HIV, discussions surrounding the context before imfection could be triggering to some), stigma due to HIV/AIDS.

This was alright. I enjoyed the first few chapter where the author describes his personal (however vague) life. He was brilliant in setting up his life is related to HIV/AIDS. This philanthropy is also a pillar in his sobriety (though it's not in a selfish way). He describes how his friends and those close to him succumb to this disease (the Freddie Mercury story felt particularly heart breaking).

Later on in the book, he talks in great detail about the achievements his foundation made and the collaborations that resulted in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The book did start to get repetitive (how many times can you say my foundation did such and such) and the driving home message was that compassion was the cure was repeated many times.

He also describes the later stages of AIDS as "full-blown AIDS", which I didn't particularly like.

While I think this was a good personal, anecdotal story, I expected a little more. Perhaps more on the research side of things? I really do appreciate all the work Elton John is doing with this foundation, and this book was a slice of what the foundation does.

evila_elf's review

4.0

I listened to this on audiobook. It was around 5 hours. Loved Elton John's reading voice - very smooth. I imagine it was hard for him to keep an even tone when talking about some of his past struggles and how hard things were in the early days of AIDS.

I did find he spent a little too much time wishing he had acted sooner. It felt a bit repetitive. Could have been also due to me finishing reading his autobiography a few weeks prior.