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A review by ciaraflorence
Holding the Man by Timothy Conigrave
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
5.0
This is my favourite book of all time. Not only was this the first creative non-fiction novel I have read, or the first Melbourne-set one either, this book convinced me I had two friends in John Caleo and Tim Conigrave. This was not a regular story-telling. I felt as if Tim and I were sitting at a cafe in the shade on a sunny day and he was recounting his entire life story to me. Timothy Conigrave, while infuriating most of the time during the book, has filled my absolute heart with his love for John.
The fact it was set in Melbourne was also a bonus - at one point I was coming into Flinders Street Station just when Tim mentioned it in the book. It was nostalgic to remember my own times at the 'Myer Windows' and also gravely eerie to work in Southbank myself at the time.
I think this book is an important snapshot of the time, the attitudes, the injustices, the hope. And it honestly with never leave my heart.
The fact it was set in Melbourne was also a bonus - at one point I was coming into Flinders Street Station just when Tim mentioned it in the book. It was nostalgic to remember my own times at the 'Myer Windows' and also gravely eerie to work in Southbank myself at the time.
I think this book is an important snapshot of the time, the attitudes, the injustices, the hope. And it honestly with never leave my heart.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia, Death, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Medical content, Religious bigotry, and Lesbophobia