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colormecaro's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Loved the Bowie references and the way the last chapter is summarises the main character Brian’s life in the style of a Bowie song. The writing in the rest of the book was good but didn’t particularly stand out to me. I did however appreciate the details like the sister’s fascination with whales.
The book definitely gripped me and despite the heavy topic it was an ‘easy’ read. As in, I wanted to keep on reading and almost read it in one sitting. There’s a somewhat superfluous romance subplot that I didn’t see the point of but it doesn’t significantly detract from the plot either. However, ultimately the ending ruined it a bit for me (see spoilers at the end of this review).
From the beginning, it is very obvious what’s going to happen throughout the book. The beauty lies in how it is told. Each chapter is told from the perspective of one of the main characters (except Brian’s grandma Lettie, but while reading I saw myself in her and I imagine her perspective is that of any sane and compassionate person who would read this book, so there was no need to include it) which is often infuriating in a good way, like when the mom is making excuses for her and her husband’s shitty behaviour.
Personally, I also didn’t like the way that the main character Brian’s thoughts were only narrated as video tapes he records. I liked it as a stylistic device but it seemed like there could have been more depth from his perspective and the video tape style created a certain distance and especially at the beginning it feels a bit forced. But then again, the last Brian video tape chapter was perfect.
Early on, I also took a closer look at the table of contents and was curious because the second to last chapter was going to be told from the (incredibly bigoted and emotionally stunted) dad’s perspective. I had high hopes for this but that chapter fell very flat for me and left a very sour taste.
The man behaved absolutely despicable towards his dying son up until the very end, but then we get a chapter where he acts like he understands now, but that lacks and depth. He references the Vietnam war he fought in and survived by chance, paralleling the AIDS epidemic and how it claims lives haphazardly. He has a revelation that he helped kill his son. Like no sir, I don’t want your half-assed redemption now, you failed your son. In the last chapter everything is summarised (beautifully!) in the style of a Bowie song and again, the dad gets a redemption in the very last sentence even though he has failed his dying son at every step of the way.
The book definitely gripped me and despite the heavy topic it was an ‘easy’ read. As in, I wanted to keep on reading and almost read it in one sitting. There’s a somewhat superfluous romance subplot that I didn’t see the point of but it doesn’t significantly detract from the plot either. However, ultimately the ending ruined it a bit for me (see spoilers at the end of this review).
From the beginning, it is very obvious what’s going to happen throughout the book. The beauty lies in how it is told. Each chapter is told from the perspective of one of the main characters (except Brian’s grandma Lettie, but while reading I saw myself in her and I imagine her perspective is that of any sane and compassionate person who would read this book, so there was no need to include it) which is often infuriating in a good way, like when the mom is making excuses for her and her husband’s shitty behaviour.
Personally, I also didn’t like the way that the main character Brian’s thoughts were only narrated as video tapes he records. I liked it as a stylistic device but it seemed like there could have been more depth from his perspective and the video tape style created a certain distance and especially at the beginning it feels a bit forced. But then again, the last Brian video tape chapter was perfect.
Early on, I also took a closer look at the table of contents and was curious because the second to last chapter was going to be told from the (incredibly bigoted and emotionally stunted) dad’s perspective. I had high hopes for this but that chapter fell very flat for me and left a very sour taste.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Pandemic/Epidemic, Death, Religious bigotry, Body shaming, Bullying, Grief, Fatphobia, Excrement, Medical content, Terminal illness, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Outing
Moderate: Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Vomit, and Suicide attempt
henrygravesprince's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I appreciate this book for a lot of things: not only the fact that it’s plain good writing. To begin with, its representation of a queer small-town Appalachian experience resonated with me, so much that I had to take breaks between reading chunks of it because the chord it hit, realizing how much my experiences existing here mirrors Brian’s experience, was a tender one full of complicated grief and reverence. Our lives and experiences are not the same, but a lot of the treatment of Brian, and the way all of his actions, and his mere existence in his hometown, become politicized, reminded me of the way I’ve been treated as a trans person in a similar setting. The derision from medical staff and nurses in particular hit home.
But, further, contrary to some people who seem to think all AIDS stories are the same story and there’s no need for more of them, I believe it’s imperative to have a dearth of representations of different experiences with HIV/AIDS and particularly of the AIDS crisis. While “a man returns home to die” is not an unheard of premise, I think this particular iteration of it is important; the AIDS crisis was not exclusively a “big city” epidemic, and demonstrating how people and families in other situations were affected by it is important.
I also think the fact that this book unflinchingly shows the less easily digestible symptoms, like incontinence, is important. I find that media likes to portray HIV/AIDS in a sanitized manner (not unlike the almost glamorized media portrayal of tuberculosis). While I understand that not every story or medium could portray a less sanitized image on account of censorship etc, it’s still a glaring issue in media representations of the virus, which is how a majority of people without personal connection to a topic like this will learn of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Medical content, Terminal illness, Death, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Grief, Excrement, Fatphobia, Bullying, and Hate crime
Minor: Classism, Racism, Alcoholism, Drug use, and Miscarriage
Evangelical indoctrination; Serophobialavenderviolin's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Grief, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Outing, Religious bigotry, Fatphobia, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, and Eating disorder
anniekayefic's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
While not a happy or uplifting book at all, still a well-written and edited one, and an important read. While I’m old enough to have been well aware of HIV/AIDS in the 1980s, still it’s only as an adult that I have come to understand the real stories of the men who were dying by the thousands, the discrimination they encountered, and those who cared for them - friends, boyfriends, lesbian friends, healthcare providers, and family. This story, while fiction, tells so many stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing, Grief, Bullying, Alcoholism, Terminal illness, Homophobia, Hate crime, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Eating disorder, Excrement, and Body shaming
Minor: Drug use
amandabcook's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Terminal illness, Bullying, Child death, Death, Grief, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Eating disorder
Minor: Miscarriage, Excrement, Alcohol, Body shaming, Drug use, and Suicidal thoughts
town_scar's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Death, Bullying, Drug use, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Outing, Medical content, Sexual content, Grief, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Hate crime, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Racism, Alcohol, Infertility, Fatphobia, and Miscarriage
Minor: War and Murder
remimicha's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Abandonment, Medical trauma, Blood, Vomit, Terminal illness, Infertility, Genocide, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Outing, Lesbophobia, Death, Grief, Excrement, and Chronic illness
mothumn's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Terminal illness, Cursing, Medical content, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Racism, Alcohol, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Outing, Alcoholism, Death, and Hate crime
Minor: Eating disorder, Excrement, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Miscarriage, Cancer, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Bullying, Child death, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
reading_and_roaming20's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow. Just wow. Centered around Brian, a gay man with AIDS in the late ‘80s, THE PRETTIEST STAR absolutely wrecked me.
After watching his boyfriend and the majority of his friends succumb to AIDS, Brian, who has contracted it himself, returns to his small midwestern town to live out his final days. From here, the multi-POV storyline provides a hard look at the widespread homophobia and misinformation at the height of the epidemic.
THE PRETTIEST STAR is honest and holds nothing back, including the brutal physical realities of having AIDS. (Keep this in mind if descriptions of the illness may be too much.) I appreciated that this book didn’t make Brian’s long awaited return home into any sort of fairytale. His family has a lot to reckon with when it comes to their own prejudice and the judgement and outright hatred of a community rich with homophobia and ignorance. It all felt very realistic and was truly heartbreaking.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom as there were certainly some aspects of hope and characters who bring goodness and light to Brian’s life. It makes you want to reach through the pages to give them each a big, long hug. My favorite was Brian’s grandmother, whose unconditional love and support is such a special aspect of this story. Reading about her brought me joy.
This book, this book, this book. It hit me deep in my soul and has stayed with me. The ending had me in the kind of puddle of emotion where you just have to sit in the quiet for a bit to take it all in. Just trying to find an appropriate conclusion to this review has me lost for words, as I’ve found myself back in that place of reflection. So I’ll just say this…I highly, highly, highly recommend you check out this book.
(I would also recommend that you look into content warnings prior to reading.)
After watching his boyfriend and the majority of his friends succumb to AIDS, Brian, who has contracted it himself, returns to his small midwestern town to live out his final days. From here, the multi-POV storyline provides a hard look at the widespread homophobia and misinformation at the height of the epidemic.
THE PRETTIEST STAR is honest and holds nothing back, including the brutal physical realities of having AIDS. (Keep this in mind if descriptions of the illness may be too much.) I appreciated that this book didn’t make Brian’s long awaited return home into any sort of fairytale. His family has a lot to reckon with when it comes to their own prejudice and the judgement and outright hatred of a community rich with homophobia and ignorance. It all felt very realistic and was truly heartbreaking.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom as there were certainly some aspects of hope and characters who bring goodness and light to Brian’s life. It makes you want to reach through the pages to give them each a big, long hug. My favorite was Brian’s grandmother, whose unconditional love and support is such a special aspect of this story. Reading about her brought me joy.
This book, this book, this book. It hit me deep in my soul and has stayed with me. The ending had me in the kind of puddle of emotion where you just have to sit in the quiet for a bit to take it all in. Just trying to find an appropriate conclusion to this review has me lost for words, as I’ve found myself back in that place of reflection. So I’ll just say this…I highly, highly, highly recommend you check out this book.
(I would also recommend that you look into content warnings prior to reading.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Medical content, Outing, Terminal illness, and Grief
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Hate crime, and Death
maiahhtratchh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book. Holy f*ck. It might be one of the saddest most upsetting but beautiful books I’ve ever read. I swear I haven’t cried as much reading a book as I did with this one. The characters each elicited such strong reactions from me. I’ve read a few comments saying that the point of view of the family made it harder to connect with Brian and I would disagree. I think that the altering points of view accomplished what they were supposed to, show the realities and complexities of family relationships and queerness during the early days of the AIDS crisis. And I was still able to connect with and understand Brian through his video diaries, his actions, and the love his family felt for him despite their ignorance. This book should be read with the understanding that the primary points of view are told through the mother and sister and feature a TON of familial homophobia in the prose. Would I read this book again? Good question. I would definitely recommend it but I would have to be in the right headspace to read it again because it’s just so intense. I’m SO upset with how it ended with Travis and Brian. I kept expecting and hoping he would BE THERE and he would tell Brian he loved him at the end ANYTHING. I did love how the last point of view was from Travis as I was thinking throughout it that I wanted to know what was going on in his mind and while the last chapter finally shed light it did not absolve his actions. The small poem at the end also hurt as it showed all Brian wanted was that love and acceptance from his parents- as every child does, specifically those who have been shunned. I understand why it happened that way. It was realistic of the time and story that not everyone would be able to put aside their ignorance or complex feelings at the end. I did find it interesting the similarities between Travis reacting to Brian throughout the book and how Brian recounted his reaction in Shaun’s last days.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Religious bigotry, Terminal illness, Homophobia, Bullying, and Grief
Moderate: Excrement
Minor: Miscarriage and Adult/minor relationship