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1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
A Remarkable Memoir Mar 08, 2008
I guess while I was living my own life, Ms. Wagman was out there doing amazing things! There are a few things that I found really remarkable about this book. First, her memory is incredible. How can she remember such details about things that happened so long ago? They must have really made an impression on her to be able to so eloquently express them with such voice and empathy.
Also, I was very impressed by the organization of the book. I'm sure it mirrors Ms. Wagman's emotions as she was experiencing all of this. I really did feel as I was reading a certain sense of "I'm excited to be able to help" then a sense of disillusionment, and then a realization of what an intensely personal situation it is to experience a life with AIDS.
Finally, what a wonderful relationship Ms. Wagman had with her son! I hope that as my children grow, I can be able to experience the deep sensitivity that the two of them shared. She shared a lot of "woulda's" and "coulda's" but I believe that through her actions, she did send those messages to him. And he received them. I feel for Ms. Wagman for having the regrets that she spoke of -- but in no way should she ever feel that she did or didn't do all she could.
This is a touching book that allows us all to understand how all people deserve patience, dignity, and compassion.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Snippets of Humanity Feb 15, 2008
Being a mother myself, my heart broke at the end of the book, but was in the process of breaking from the beginning - knowing what the inevitable outcome would be. This said, I still found it so very uplifting, considering how this book shows the only way possible to deal with such a tragedy. The many, many stories, given in snapshots throughout the book - remind us that there is no such thing as a "personal and private" story, but that we all share in the human condition. Ms. Wagman gives us enough background to understand what the conditions were, enough personal insights to feel what she was going through, and enough other view-points to realize how universal her story is - all within one book that is knit together so well that it feels like a series of letters from a close friend.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Snippets a must-read Feb 02, 2008
I was so very overwhelmed by this compelling narrative of the scourge, AIDS epidemic. I was reminded of the Bubonic Plague and what people suffered in those horrific years.
What a wonderful and empathetic soul the author is and so giving to others in desperate need of love and care. The account of the saddening travails of her own son, Gary, brought me to tears. Perhaps only a mother can feel and understand what those people were (and are) going through and what looms in their futures. This is truly an important true story. We have much to learn from Ms. Wagman's wide experiences with a variety of young people who had one tragic thing in common -- a war with AIDS.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
My Snippet From San Francisco.... Jan 31, 2008
This book will make you shake your head, laugh, cry and ponder over what has happened during the last 20 years of the AIDS crisis. It is a story of a mother who has to come to terms not only with her son's illness but her fierce protection of his feelings. Beautifully written, you learn how fragile and random life can be.
The strength that grows when you open your heart and mind helps us heal from losses life deals all of us. Revealed is a generous soul who has her prized possession taken from her and can only deal with it by giving back to others around her.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 An inspiring true story! Jan 29, 2008
As the father of an HIV positive gay man, this story had a huge impact on me. I realized that we have almost slipped into the mindset that AIDS, with the current cocktails of medications, has become a "chronic" disease. Of course it's not. Even though we now see many long-term survivors, 15 years or more, we know that the ultimate outcome of this incurable disease has not changed.
This story of passion and hard work for the AIDS cause and for those who became infected is the story of a volunteer angel, doing her best in the face of knowing that the odds are all against her. Living through each individual tragedy and still being able to help is a mental and physical challenge that few people could manage. This part of the story will give others the courage to persist and assist.
The other part of the story, the personal relationship with her son Gary, is simply inspiring. Freda's description of her recognition, her adjustments, her life modifications is one that must have taken rare courage to put on paper. It will cause many of us to review and revise our own relationships and our own lives. Her book will give us the insights that we need for our life as family and friends of the AIDS community.
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