PERSONAL DISPATCHES: Writers Confront AIDS

by John--Ed. Preston ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 20, 1989

Courage, grief, and fear shimmer through these essays--half original, half reprints--mostly by gay writers on the toll of AIDS. Editor Preston, writer-in-residence of the Portland (Maine) AIDS Project and himself AIDS-positive, sets the tone with a powerful introduction explaining how, although commissioned in 1986, many of the pieces arrived late: ""the disease was eating us up, taking away our energy."" But the writers came through, delivering such strong articles as Andrew Holleran's exploration and indictment of ""The Fear"" of AIDS; Laurence Tate's episodic, poignant account of working for an AIDS hotline (""The Epidemic: A San Francisco Diary""); Craig Rowland's ""The Examination Table"": and Steve Beery's sentimental memoir of a lover (""Steve"") dying of AIDS. Overall: brave reporting from a devastating front.

Pub Date: Nov. 20, 1989

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: St. Martin s

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 1989

Categories: NONFICTION