Look Away Silence reminded me of the movie 'Philadelphia'. I remember the scene between Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks as they shake hands and then Hanks says he has AIDS and needs help. Denzel's reaction? He looked at his hand, like am I contaminated?? What do I now?
Most folks don't know how to react to someone who has a disease, much less something like AIDS.
Look Away Silence is a love story - Martin Powers hasn't had much luck with relationships. It seems he's gotten into a "Christmas crisis cycle" - finds someone around Christmas and by New Year's the relationship is gone - Until...he sees Matt Kiefer walking around Martin's department in a major department store.
Matt and Martin meet for coffee, and it seems that the friendship could be solid, and had possibilities. Martin's mother is a spit-fire - a tell it like it is lady, who deeply loves her son; Matt's parents and family are openly supportive of his son being gay and seem to be delighted he has found a good partner.
Sounds like a wonderful love story.
But there is an elephant in the room - in the timeframe of this book's actions, AIDS is almost certainly a death sentence.
Misunderstood by the public, even the medications that folks positive with AIDS are a horror to take.
Matt always insisted in safe sex with Martin. Matt tells Martin of his lover who died.
The relationship proceeds like any other relationship, straight or gay, dealing with family, work, friends etc.
Then Matt gets sick - He has AIDS.
Matt's former lover had AIDS.
Matt's former lover is dead.
Look Away Silence is a beautiful love story told in a horrid time where ignorance and misunderstanding was as hard as a time to try to fight the disease.
Doesn't matter the gender.
This is a love story that has been experienced many times over by 'everyman'. Beautifully written by amazing author Edward C. Patterson, based on his experiences volunteering in community service and personal friendships, this novel is dedicated to the 'Hyacinth AIDS Foundation, the NAMES Project and to the angels who fell during this time.
It is a powerful read. You don't care what sex the folks are - you go on their jourmey of love and tragedy and it hits you hard.
Much progress has been made on AIDS - many with the virus live normal lives due to the medical advances, but is the stigma of AIDS still there? How far have we progressed?
So sweetly written, so very sad - such a wonderful love story.
Another amazing read by Edward C. Patterson. He can put us in ancient China, he can take us to heights of history and he can write a heart wrenching classic love story.
Bravo.
ellen george
Look Away Silence by Edward C. Patterson, ISBN 10: 144861921, CreateSpace Publishing, in paperback as well as Kindle version, review by ellen george
