Christian S. (kinglsey) reviewed And the Band Played On : Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic on
Helpful Score: 1
Very detailed account of the AIDS epidemic. I found it to be a rather fustrating book to endure, not due to the writing style, but more over the lack of response by the many differnt agencies and the US goverment to mobilize against AIDS. The one thing I can say about the book it sticks to the facts rather than opinion. There is no party (GLBT Community, science and goverment) left out of its responsibility for the spread of the epidemic. It is sure to be a great source of debate amoungst all who read.
John O. (buzzby) -
Helpful Score: 1
Good book, several stories developing at once, including the work that doctors did in the early years of the crisis, the efforts to close the gay bars in San Francisco, the rivalries of scientists working on a cure, and "Patient Zero", who may or may not have been responsible for the spread of AIDS across the continent. Like someone said before, reads like fiction, but it isn't (although the effect of Gaeton Dugas, patient zero, is highly speculative).
Helpful Score: 1
How great is this book? It is one I have read again and again. Really gives the feel of a horrible era in the US, and if you didn't live through it, maybe it won't have the same impact as it does on me. The story of the AIDS crisis: young, healthy people were dying in droves from a brand new, totally unknown illness, and the political implications were complicated and disturbing. Taken from Randy Shilts' newspaper columns of the time (although it does NOT read like journalism, more like fiction although it is not). Really absorbing. Nothing like the lightweight film made with Matthew Modine. No film could capture all the stories and personalities in this book. Highly recommend this.
