Thursday Tunes: World Aids Day: Suggested Playlist

Review: Fade to Black by Alex Flinn

Title: Fade to Black
Author: Alex Flinn
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication Date: 23 Jun 2006

Source: Own/Bought





Synopsis: From GoodReads
Three perspectives -- one truth
The victim: After his windshield was shattered with a baseball bat, HIV-positive Alex Crusan ducked under the steering wheel. But he knows what he saw. Now he must decide what he wants to tell.
The witness: Daria Bickell never lies. So if she told the police she saw Clinton Cole do it, she must have. But did she really?
The suspect: Clinton was seen in the vicinity of the crime that morning. And sure, he has problems with Alex. But he'd never do something like this. Would he?

Review:
The book starts with a police report giving an instant and visually dramatic summary of events surrounding the main thread of the plot.

Written in first person narrative from alternating perspectives of the 3 central characters; Alex, the victim - Daria, the witness and Clinton, the accused. Daria's perspective is written in verse, distinctively separating her narrative voice from those of the male protagonists. Although at first sight they appear to be completely different it soon becomes apparent that they are all outsiders in one way or another.

The whole question of nature versus nurture is woven throughout the plot, taking into consideration economic and social backgrounds, parents attitudes reflected in those of their children. Racism/bullying/intolerance are shown as learned behaviour and I do agree with this to a certain extent; hopefully there are also outside positive influences to be able to balance the negativity. Showing how easily ignorance leads to intolerance in turn leading to violence, etc.

Loads of information about HIV/AIDS is woven into the story adding realism and great insight. I did find that the emotion was sometimes a little over dramatic, exaggerating the negative aspects of HIV developing into AIDS. Great medical advances have enabled those with HIV to lead relatively 'normal' lives. The way in which the disease is contracted and how it affects people's judgement of that person was brilliantly woven into the plot, reinforced by the way in which Alex was pitied but not befriended.

Both the male protagonists experience a tough journey of self-discovery via the plot, enabling them to understand themselves and each other better. I did find Alex slightly confrontational expressed by him deliberately wearing an AIDS charity t-shirt for his 'chat' with Clinton. The way in which they clashed reinforced this journey of self-discovery. Making both of them imagine what it would be like to be the other person. Alex is able to see that Clinton although ignorant to the real facts of the disease, cares for his family and in his own way is just trying to protect them. The effect it has on the whole family, both Alex's and Clinton's is thoroughly expressed within the narrative. While Clinton actually tries to imagine being in Alex's place, in essence being a biological time-bomb, a constant death sentence hanging over you. Adding impact to Alex's wish to be seen as a person and not just a disease. I could completely relate to that; don't we all want to be seen as the person we are not just someones wife/mother/daughter/sister; every person has their own merits yet are tied to the view people have of the people we are related to.

The way in which 'gay/fag' is used in teenage terminology for anything different/disgusting shows how inane the expression has become. Sometimes with its double meaning it can be taken as more negative than actually intended, although I will say that I still do not like it used for just that reason.

The most forceful point for me about this book is just how easy it is to think that it cant happen to you. Surely if it can happen then it could just as likely happen to you as the next person even if you are not in one of the 'high risk' categories. To think differently is just naive and stupid. The saying 'there but for the grace of God go I' kept popping into my head especially as I had a full blood transfusion when I had my youngest.

A compassionate and relatable account of how HIV/AIDS affects society as a whole, not something to be hidden under the carpet or ignored.  Alex Flinn's writing style helps make tough subject matter accessible to young adults and she should be commended for it.

Guest Review: Rent DVD

Actors: Taye Diggs, Jesse Martin, Rosario Dawson, Anthony Rapp

Directors: Chris Columbus

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

DVD Release Date: 14 Aug 2006

Run Time: 129 minutes


The film (based on the hit Broadway musical) has many themes including sexuality, drugs and money struggles with paying vast amounts of rent. However, the iconic topic to this film is the struggle of the community living under the shadow of AIDS and HIV. Several of the characters in the film are suffering with AIDS and HIV including;


Tom Collins (an anarchist philosophy professor),

Angel Dummott-Schunard (a gay drag queen street musician),

Roger Davis (an ex-heroin addict rock musician) and

Mimi Marquez (a heroin addict and nightclub dancer).

Although people may be turned off this film due to the subject matter, the musical numbers included in the film really explain the themes. Such musical numbers include;

“One Song Glory”- a song about writing one last song before dying of AIDS.

“Life Support”- defining the struggle of AIDS and the desire to live their last years to the fullest.

“Will I?”- questioning how their lives will continue now that they have AIDS.

All of these songs talk of the battle of living with AIDS and these songs truly touch the audience and give them a different view of people who live with the life-threatening disease that is AIDS. We eventually get to the harsh reality of this condition as one of the main characters who was suffering dies from the disease (I won’t tell you so not to ruin it ha ha!!!)

We see these characters over the course of a year and we see their struggles in their relationships, the hardship of living with AIDS and HIV and we see the battle of trying to pay vast amounts of money which they don’t have. Of course, just because of the main topic of AIDS, we shouldn’t forget the other characters featured in the film including;

Mark Cohen (A struggling Jewish filmmaker),

Maureen Johnson (a bisexual performance artist)

Joanne Jefferson (a lesbian Harvard-graduated lawyer)

Benjamin “Benny” Coffin III (an ex-roommate turned enemy)

If I was to rate this film, I would give it the best marks possible (not just because I’m a fanatic when it comes to musicals ha ha!!) due to the fact that it can change people’s opinions on a manner of the different themes given. This film is truly an iconic one and I hope that it will remain as a classic and it should never be forgotten.

I would like to thank Danni Year 12 for the wonderful review.

Trailer Tuesday: World Aids Day

Thanks to Caroline at Portrait of a Woman she has put together a list of YA books that deal with this sensitive, tough and harrowing subject.

HIV/AIDS in Young Adult Literature - A Bibliography

So in preparation of tomorrows review day for some of the titles mentioned in the bibliography I thought I would run some of the trailers.

Synopsis: From GoodReads - A girl's struggle amid the African AIDS pandemic.

"As soon as I get back from the shabeen, I go next door to see Mrs. Tafa. I have to ask to use her phone to let our relatives know about Sara. I'm nervous. Mrs. Tafa would like to run the world. Since she can't run the world she's decided to run our neighborhood."

So speaks sixteen-year-old Chanda, an astonishingly perceptive girl living in the small city of Bonang, a fictional city in Southern Africa.

While Mrs. Tafa's hijinks are often amusing, the fact is that Chanda's world is profoundly difficult. When her youngest sister dies, the first hint of HIV/AIDS emerges.

In this sensitive, swiftly-paced story readers will find echoes of To Kill a Mockingbird as Chanda must confront undercurrents of shame and stigma. Not afraid to explore the horrific realities of AIDS, Chanda's Secrets also captures the enduring strength of loyalty, friendship and family ties. Above all, it is a story about the corrosive nature of secrets and the healing power of truth.

Through the artful style of acclaimed author Stratton, the determination and resilience Chanda embodies will live on in readers' minds
 

 Synopsis: From GoodReads - Unforgettable novel about a girl struggling with HIV

Plus I just had to include these movie trailers: