# And the Band Played on, book review

Category: book Nook

## Post 1 by TexasRed (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Sunday, 17-Apr-2011 16:36:01

THIS IS NOT A BOOK ABOUT SEX!!! okay, now that I have your attention, read on;
Title;And the Band Played On
written by Randy Shilts
Read by Ray Hagen
Reading time 29 hours 30 minutes
DB26042
Medicine and Health
The author, a reporter for The "San Francisco Chronicle," has been covering The AIDS epidemic full-time since 1982. He presents The apathy and politics displayed by The government, The media, The medical establishment, and The gay community before They realized The magnitude of The crisis, as well as The tragedy of The disease's human toll. Bestseller.
My comments;
This is an extremely powerful book. The way it focused on the political and the medical aspect of the issue really blew me away. I am ashamed that all of this happened and I took no notice until a friend told me he was dying of AIDS. Even then, I wasn't aware of all of the complex issues involved. It is amazing just what it takes to declare a disease an epidemic, much less a pandemic. If you haven't read this book, read it. It has been recommended in so many different ways, not just a medical book, but a human book. Enough said.
Carla jo

## Post 2 by Blue Velvet (I've got the platinum golden silver bronze poster award.) on Monday, 18-Apr-2011 0:34:22

This is truly a fascinating and disturbing book. Anyone who is old enough to remember the early 1980's when AIDS was first called the gay cancer and heard stories in the news of people being afraid to go anywhere near people with AIDS should read this. Anyone who has ever known anyone who is HIV positive should read this. The story of how the author believes this virus came into being and spread is fascinating, and the horrible way gay people were treated is important for us to hear about.