Book Journey

In the 1980’s, in the heart of the outbreak of the AIDS epidemic, Elton John watched helplessly as friends too numerous to count, succumbed to this frightening illness.  It wasn’t until he was in a waiting room one day and read an article on Ryan White, the young boy born a hemophiliac, who contracted AIDS through blood transfusions and then was attacked by the school district and parents of students who did not want him to return to school and put (as they thought at the time) their own children at risk of contacting AIDS.

Elton John was furious about the treatment of Ryan White.  While working on cleaning up his own addiction to drugs at the time he conquered this and befriended White and his family.  This began Elton Johns campaign to help others move beyond the stigma of AIDS. 

Love is the Cure is about Elton’s work through The Elton John AIDS Foundation that has raised over $275 million dollars as of the date of this book to fight the disease worldwide.  Impressively, Elton’s campaign has done wonders in third world countries where AIDS is extremely high due to rape, and unprotected sex. 

I have huge compassion for people with AIDS.  I am a part of a local camp that raises money for AIDS awareness and have met wonderful people through this.  People that I am proud to call my friends. 

When I seen Elton’s book I knew I had to listen to it to hear his thoughts on AIDS.  For the most part, I liked what he said.   It was interesting to listen to this audio, narrated (BRILLIANTLY) by him, as he talked about the early years of AIDS his lack of attentiveness, and to now all that is being done around the world and what has yet to be done. 

Elton had and has powerful connections to Presidents, Musicians, and Actors.  I was impressed to hear all that Bill Clinton has done in the war against AIDS.  I was also saddened as Elton John talked about some of the brilliant people who lost that war, Freddie Mercury (QUEEN), Rock Hudson, Liberace, Anthony Perkins, Issac Asimov, Robert Reed, just to name very few…

Elton’s book is factual, and it is personal.  I am always stunned by the numbers, 34 million people as of 2010 who has been reported as having AIDS, that number is in fact considerably greater as some states to this day do not report AIDS cases and  many never seek treatment and go undiagnosed. 

An eye-opening look at the battle that while not as talked about as it once was, is still being fought to this day. 

While her sisters dream of love and romance and marriage, Louisa May Alcott dreams of freedom.  As the family packs up to move their home under their fathers guidance, Louisa is unhappy with the decision and can not wait until she can afford to move away on her own and become the writer she knows she can be.

When Louisa meets the handsome Joseph Singer, she finds him irritating and does her best to ignore him, but Joseph is made of stronger stuff then that and is not so easily led away, much to Louisa’s annoyance, and pleasure.  When she finally allows herself to give her heart to Joseph, she soon learns that she has been foolish and everything she always thought about love was spot on… something she certainly did not need in her life.

Louisa may find a way to physically head into the direction she wants for her life, but she finds it is not so easy to move the heart.

What a delightful read!  (See, a few hours caught up with this “Little Womenesk” type read and I even talk like them!)  The Lost Summer does give you a taste of the Little Women as is it a fictitious writing about the author of that very book.  Louise is my kind of character.  She is strong and independent to a fault.  She is determined and does proceed with the plans she had made for her life.  I love that!  Yes she also has a softer side and I find, I love that too.

If, as rumor has it Louisa May Alcott did develop the character of Jo (Little Women) after her own image, then this book is spot on.  (My goodness, I really am typing like they talk… perhaps I need a spot of tea?)

I found the book to be quite (eep! again!) enjoyable and an easy yet fulfilling read.  I have heard some say that this book reads like a YA book and I tend to agree, it does mostly center around Louisa and her sisters when they are in their teenage years, and reads like a secret diary.

Quick and fun, allow yourself to take a walk through this one with Louisa.