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Love Is Overtaking Me by Arthur Russell
Love Is Overtaking Me by Arthur Russell
2008 | Rock
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"The first time I heard this was in 2012. I remember we were driving down the Great Ocean Road in Australia, the sun was out and hearing this, it was such an amazing song. And subsequently learning what it was about, or so the story goes, I don’t know whether it’s true or not but it’s an affecting story, which is the line ‘I couldn’t say it to your face, but I won’t be around anymore’ is about him either telling a lover or a friend that he’s HIV Positive and that his days are numbered. “Aside from it being an amazing song, I always think as a lyricist you want to be having conversations that you can’t have, that you’re too scared to have. If you’re making yourself uncomfortable then you’re doing something right, because there’s an incredible catharsis that comes with that. It really puts my issues into perspective, it is all relative, but it’s an amazing song and I think to be that honest and to be that authentic is an amazing thing and that’s when I always connect to music, when it’s doing that. “In the last few years Arthur Russell has had a real resurgence and that interest in him has snowballed. He had a million clubby projects and there’s a lot of his stuff that I don’t connect with, but the more direct, vulnerable stuff I really like. There’s the Love Is Overtaking Me compilation, it feels like a ‘Best of"

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The Great Believers
The Great Believers
Rebecca Makkai | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, LGBTQ+
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A truly touching depiction of the AIDS epidemic.
I loved this, really loved it. It’s one of those books where you turn the last page and there’s that empty feeling, knowing that there’s no more of it to read.
There are two timelines: the mid-1980s and the emergence and devastation of the AIDS epidemic amongst a group of gay friends; 2015, and one of the characters from the 1980s is travelling to Paris to try and find her estranged daughter. She meets up with one of the characters who was also in Chicago in the 80s.
This is such a heart breaking story, particularly the earlier timeline. The panic, disbelief and sorrow of the men as they and their friends contract AIDS (such was the speed of their deaths after they found out they had the virus, I can’t remember there being any mention of HIV) was described so well, and Fiona, who is in both timelines, was there for those who needed her starting with her own brother. That seemed like such a huge responsibility to me, and she’s such a strong character: we do see the repercussions of those years though, in 2015.
This is definitely a book to read with a box of tissues to hand, but it’s worth every tear. I can see this being one of my favourite books of the year.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this. And yes, it’s a completely honest review!