Welcome to Litsy!

A behemoth of fine journalistic writing. Shilts was a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle when AIDS first began to ravage the city. The disease soon shone a spotlight on the stunning health disparities in the US as the federal government, scientific and public health institutions as well as blood banks refused to initially take seriously what they condescended as “the gay virus.” Shilts later succumbed to AIDS, seven years after publishing.

Bk3 of #JumpStart2023 is finally done! This is over 31hrs long, but so worth it. About the beginning of the AIDS crisis, it infuriated me, made me think & most of all made me so sad. The infighting & bullshit from gov, doctors & the gay community is just unfathomable. The fact it hit them first complicated the issue unnecessarily & caused so many needless deaths.😢 #BookspinBingo #Booked2023 #AboutAPandemic #NonFictionBingo2023 #IWillSurvive👇

#JumpStart2023 Spent today trying to sort through all my 2023 Challenges for my bujo(why do I do this to myself every year??🤦🏻‍♀️)and listening to this NF audiobook about the start of the AIDS crisis 40yrs ago. It‘s making me so mad it‘s getting harder to concentrate. I knew the first years were bad, but the apathy of the government, doctors & even the community it hit the hardest is just unfathomable. Prolonged deaths by the thousands😠

Got some #audiojournaling done today,finally! I only just got my new journals, auspost is really doing a great job lately.Not.😠At least they‘re here now.Do you like my new journal? Special edition with my name on the cover. I love it!Totally worth the extra money. I‘ve been meaning to read the tagged book for years, finally getting to it for the 40th anniversary of the start of the AIDS epidemic.So infuriating and so so sad🏳️‍🌈🫶 #JumpStart2023

“Everybody subsequently agreed that the news media should have offered better coverage of the epidemic much earlier, and that the federal government should have done much, much more. By the time everyone agreed to this however it was too late. Instead people died. Tens of thousands of them.”

Hard hitting, comprehensive & tragic. Over 600 pages but it read fast.

Read for #Booked2022 - About the AIDS epidemic. Also works for #NonfictionNovember

This book is absolutely gripping. It was also completely infuriating to read, not only for what happened during the AIDS epidemic, but how literally every single mistake is being repeated now with Covid (and monkeypox). Everyone should read this book, if you didn‘t read it back when it came out in 1988.

This book about the AIDS epidemic was a powerful read in its own right, but absolutely infuriating when read against the backdrop of everything we‘ve gone through in the past two years. I was under the gun to get this finished for a work book club- I will come back to it in a few years for a more careful read.

This was a better week. I got in some good workouts at the gym, and had some much needed time off for a ski adventure with the kiddos at the end of the week. I was a little more consistent with my journaling.

I‘ve been listening to the tagged audiobook while I work out, and wow, the parallels to today are frustrating.
#BFC2022

4 🌟 🎧 A good introduction to the AIDS epidemic but I should have found out a bit about Harvey Milk before I started. Also #ownvoices #integrateyourshelf @ChasingOm @Emilymdxn

#booked2021 #hear #here #audiobook #setwhereyoulive (audiobook option for me) #spring @Cinfhen @4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliophage

#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

#nonfiction #readingwithmaja @maich

Listening to this right now - it's over 31 hours long and I've got 20hrs 25mins left!

It's beginning to make me angry - the doctors and politicians etc are not taking this seriously enough!

The CDC is reminding me of my nursery though as it has the same initials for the abbreviation!

#integrateyourshelf @ChasingOm @Emilymdxn

#12Booksof2020

Made it to Christmas staycation! Here are the books I‘d like to finish before kissing this crappy year to the curb. I like starting with a clean reading shelf when the calendar turns that page.

Let‘s see if I can do this.

#integrateyourshelf @ChasingOm @Emilymdxn

Being a huge fan of Queen & Freddie Mercury 💔, it's no surprise that I want to read this book. AND it's currently £3 on Audible!

160pts #teamreadnosedreindeer #wintergames2020 @StayCurious

Thanks to @squirrelbrain for the tag! #Two4Tuesday

1. The tagged book is amazing and everyone should read it. Which is what I tell everyone when I‘m recommending it to them.
2. I‘m pretty clear on what I like and don‘t like, so I don‘t often ask for recommendations. Usually people come to me for suggestions instead.

Tagging @CarolynM , @Tanisha_A and @Ruthiella !

Kinda topical to read this during a pandemic. This book goes through the AIDS epidemic starting before we even had a name for it and goes through the politics and people surrounding it all. A lot of details here, almost anything you‘d want to know about the epidemic.

I read the book about a year ago, now I‘m watching the movie on HBO Max.

#integrateyourshelf @ChasingOm @Emilymdxn

Litsy has been such a positive influence for my intentional intersectional reading habits! I‘m glad to re-energize these choices since I‘ve been less focused on #diversevoices lately.

58 books in 2020
6 Black
5 Other POC
6 LGBTQIA+ (could be more ... not all authors put that front and center)
0 Indigenous 😰

2 Black authors in my currents reads as well

Five stars. Gripping investigative journalism. A very emotional read for me having lost friends and come of age in the late 80s. More comments in the #nonfictionnerds Goodreads group which I highly recommend.

I‘m reading this and Pale Rider about the Spanish Flu epidemic. Perhaps not the wisest decision for my mental health, but fascinating. So many parallels with our current pandemic. Politics chosen over prudent policies. The push & pull between individual libertities vs. safety of the general public. I‘m taking the threat seriously but live in a community where not everyone is. Things start opening up on Tues. & I‘m bracing for the 2nd wave.

This is 600 pages of intense details, drawn from thousands of interviews with 900+ people. Despite being published in 1987, it remains one of the most definitive books on the history of AIDS and the gay community. The public health and epidemiology parallels with today are strong, as are the moments of political wrangling and protest. 5 stars

Full review http://www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2020
#nonfictionchallenge2020 #somethinglgbtqia

Meticulously researched and excellently written account of how AIDS became an epidemic and its medical, social and political ramifications. This is a masterpiece of investigative journalism. Highly recommend. Looking forward to the discussion in the Goodreads #NonfictionNerds group.

We‘ve got two monthly reads for May! Join us for one or both. I‘ll be reading the tagged book. #NonfictionNerds

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1061034-nonfiction-nerds

Well, here‘s my week. Cooking. Closing my office up and moving stuff to storage. Hopefully temporary. New book on audio and in print. It‘s 600 pages-ish so this way I hope to finish it sooner. And tonight listening to live music on Crowdcast from my favorite local speakeasy.

I‘m reading a book about the AIDS epidemic; Hubby just started a book about smallpox. Because the family that reads about infectious diseases together in the middle of a pandemic ... are, well, probably a couple of weirdos. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Reading about the early days of AIDS research. This is happening in 1983. Yeah. It‘s THAT Dr. Anthony Fauci. Dude‘s been around infectious diseases a long time. I think he knows a few more things than the current occupant of the White House. 🙄😖😷

Enjoying —or should I say inhaling? — some fresh air and sunshine on my front porch. Thank goodness the weather is getting warmer and we can do some of our quarantining outside.

My goodness, how great is this book? I‘ve had it for forever and finally buckled down to read it. The writing is wonderful—I‘ve been mesmerized since page 1.

I'm re-reading this book about the early days of the AIDS epidemic; it's so well done, and damning of the lack of action early on. I saw the miniseries years ago, and can't believe I forgot Sir Ian McKellen was one of the main characters. I want to see this again, when I'm in the right frame of mind. #nonfiction #AIDS

This is a huge book but compulsively readable. It's been on my TBR for awhile now and I'm glad i finally got to it for my Fall - Politics challenge. Very well-written and researched early history of AIDs in the US up to 1987.

Wow was this book a ride. I know that the AIDS epidemic happened in the 80s but this book did such a great job of getting me so caught up in the times. I fell in love with these people and cried when they were diagnosed. I recommend this book so much!

My dad recommended this to me to explain how terrifying it was to be a doctor during the AIDS epidemic. Patients were dying for unknown reasons and a diagnosis was basically a death sentence

Took me three days to finish as work has been bonkers and I haven‘t had much time to read. I was determined to power through tonight. Politicians - I am so angry at the organised bigotry and hatred that led to so many deaths, or even just the apathy that meant people with power generally didn‘t care. 💔💔💔 A book that will stay with me.
Thanks @Reggie for recommending.

This book is so good, but so bloody frustrating and heart breaking.

Lovely mail to return home too.
Tagged book due to @Reggie recommendation.
Lovely notes and postcards from @Itchyfeetreader @miralunasbooknook @Melissa_J thank you 😘

Some lovely mail to come home too!
Brought the tagged book due to @Reggie recommendation (this was 1p and Qa postage!) can‘t remember why I got the other book - probably someone‘s recommendation!!
Lovely mail from @Itchyfeetreader @miralunasbooknook @Melissa_J
I forgot to take addresses on holiday - so things will be in the post the next couple of weeks!

‪Post-op Xander is not opposed to being used as clickbait for such a good cause. Last chance to support Team Pride Portland in the annual Southern Maine AIDS Walk! http://support.peabodycenter.org/goto/kgriffith

At over 600 pages, this one is a commitment to read. But it‘s so freaking good and holding my attention much better than most fiction lately! I like non-fiction but don‘t find myself reaching for it too often. This one is well written and a very interesting topic. Loving it so far! #bookandabath

🎉🎉🎉🎉🏆🏆 I started at 8 PM Friday night and finished 24 hours at 7:45 PM Sunday!! 🏆🏆🎊🎊🎊🎊📚📚

I spent a fair bit of time listening ATBPO today. This book is so amazing. Other readathon highlights are finishing the new Al Franken and Perfect Days (highly recommend both), and I'm also close to finishing Pretty Is and The Throwback Special in print! I've also read three short stories from two collections. Keep at it everyone! #24in48

PSA: Everyone! Make sure you're making screen shots of your stopwatch often. My stopwatch just reset itself sometime in the 27 minutes since I took this 😱😱 (I know it's 27 minutes because I posted it to Twitter.)

I also won a prize at hour 30 for my late-night munching. 🎉🎊🎊🎉 I shared Henry's snack choice as well: Royal Canin Mini Special. I've reading lots of familiar names, so be sure to check!

Keep on reading! #24in48 #readathon

It's been a reading goal of mine to finish this book. I immensely enjoyed the HBO adaptation from roughly 20 years ago, so now I'm listening to the #audible edition. I've gotten through two chapters while eating dinner and doing some #audiowalking with Henry. #24in48 #readathon #audiobook

"'Oh, my God,' Weisman gasped, 'It's true. It had to be a virus. It could be all over the place now.'"
?
"Listening to this frightening tale of a new virus, Cleve Jones thought about gay sexual mores-hell, his own sexual exploits. His face turned white. 'We're all dead' he said.'"
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I've always wanted to learn more about the AIDS epidemic because it's part of queer history.
#bookworm #booknerd #bookgeek #bookfreak #bookdragon #books #AIDS

Book whose title starts with "A" for #ALEXGIVEAWAY from @Liberty ! Crossing my fingers ... ??

It's a Litsy pairing - the fiction book belongs to me because of #litfluence. I got the nonfiction book at a library book sale - something that I wouldn't even thought of doing without Litsy.

AIDS isn't an easy subject, but as a Lyme disease patient I'm hoping I gain ideas that help me be more of an activist for Lyme patients. #fightLyme

#fictionnonfictionpairing #seasonsreadings2016

Here are the interesting books on my shelves with #textonlycovers. Four of them are recent acquisitions. #booktober

I don't have many books about politics, but this is one of the few and it is great. I had to read it for a class in high school, and it was the first time in my rather sheltered upbringing that I really remember realizing that our modern political system can deliberately ignore and demonize an entire group of people. It turned my world upside down. #politicsandbooks #augustphotochallenge

Woke up an hour ago while it was storming, scared & angry after getting fired by my biggest client yesterday. The storm has stopped but I can't fall back to sleep. I guess I'll just do some not-so-light reading instead.

On 6/5/1981, the CDC reported a series of cases of rare pneumonia - later known as some of the first AIDS cases. Randy Shilts tells this story in an amazing book everyone (but especially young Americans) should read. I also threw in a couple of legendary plays inspired by the epidemic. (Angels FTW)

The definitive history of the AIDS epidemic. Another book that changed my life as a teen; it was safe to read without having to make statements about who I was, and it gave me a sense of community when I was isolated. Still relevant today.