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A review by eriknoteric
Nights in Aruba by Andrew Holleran
4.0
Because of the ravaging effects the AIDS crisis had on the cultural contributions of and in the gay community, so few books exist that accurately and emotionally portray the complexities of aging while queer. Holleran's early aughts reflection on aging, queerness, and family - "Nights in Aruba" - provides a much needs and complicated portrayal of all of these.
Told from the perspective of a gay man who grows up in Aruba, moves with his family to the Florida panhandle, and then, as he begins to understand - and accept - his own sexuality, moves to New York City, this book tracks the emotional journey as this man grows to understand the complications that exist between a gay man who can't discuss his sexuality with his family and his family. What makes the story so rich, though, is the broad take it has on the lifespan in general - speaking to how these complications don't disappear but only become more complicated as our parents age and geographical distances between gay spaces and our hometowns make us more aware of these tensions.
Unfortunately, in a typical Holleran style, he spends too much time taking a condescending tone and providing problematic commentary on gay male sexuality. This seems to be Holleran's tripwire in every book he writes and if he could only get himself away from the incessant demand to shame gay men for their robust sexual lives, his other social commentaries - on aging, family, and AIDs - would stand out as so much richer.
Nonetheless, Holleran's book stands out as a remarkable reflection on a topic too infrequently discussed: how to age, love, and be loved as a gay man.
Told from the perspective of a gay man who grows up in Aruba, moves with his family to the Florida panhandle, and then, as he begins to understand - and accept - his own sexuality, moves to New York City, this book tracks the emotional journey as this man grows to understand the complications that exist between a gay man who can't discuss his sexuality with his family and his family. What makes the story so rich, though, is the broad take it has on the lifespan in general - speaking to how these complications don't disappear but only become more complicated as our parents age and geographical distances between gay spaces and our hometowns make us more aware of these tensions.
Unfortunately, in a typical Holleran style, he spends too much time taking a condescending tone and providing problematic commentary on gay male sexuality. This seems to be Holleran's tripwire in every book he writes and if he could only get himself away from the incessant demand to shame gay men for their robust sexual lives, his other social commentaries - on aging, family, and AIDs - would stand out as so much richer.
Nonetheless, Holleran's book stands out as a remarkable reflection on a topic too infrequently discussed: how to age, love, and be loved as a gay man.