Question the Silhouettes: Aids and a Family in Crisis

Rating:
Summary: A unique perspective
Review: The story of Jimmy Burdett, who succumbed to AIDS in 1997 is told from the unique perspective of his mother - a point of view quite unlike other turgid tomes of this genre.

Mother Norma is a nurse raising three sons with the help of her quiet, yet dutiful husband, Bruce. Early on, her indomitable. spirited youngest son, Jimmy, would prove a handful.

Recalling kindergarten desk top dances and Jimmy rummaging through her clothes, bobby pins, and jewelry, Norma couldn't make sense of the many signposts. That is, until Jimmy was 22 and confesses he had been to a gay bar!

With this "shocking" cat out of the bag, Jimmy's quest for independence was expedient!

Jimmy's lifestyle was not well received and unfortunately, because of the huge communication gap this disapproval created, Jimmy was not able to discuss his experimentation and experiences with his well-educated parents.

The fact that AIDS would raise its ugly head is not as surprising as Norma's unremitting honesty as she recounts how she was forced to face her prejudices as she committed herself to helping her son as a nurse, mother, friend, and finally confidant.

It is this brutal honesty that sets this book apart from the pack of AIDS related memoirs. Although I felt her son's homosexuality was dealt with a little too sparingly - this is written from a retired mother's point of view, I had to remind myself - this book is a poignant and personal testimony of how one family dealt with one member's living and dying with AIDS.

Rating:
Summary: A poignant and personal testimony
Review: Written by retired registered nurse Norma A. Burdett with the assistance of author and retired businessman Thomas F. Dwyer, Question The Silhouettes: AIDS And A Family In Crisis is the true and moving story of a family with a gay son. From their son's decision to come out and tell them the truth about himself, to his death from AIDS over ten years later, Question The Silhouettes is a poignant and personal testimony shaded with the ups, downs, and confusions of daily life. Question The Silhouettes is especially recommended reading for anyone having to deal with homosexuality, high risk sexual behavior, AIDS, or other forms of terminal illness within their own lives and families.