SuitabookLike a Love Story
Abdi Nazemian
- Reading
- Read alongside a calm conversation about the difference between historical stigma and current understanding of HIV/AIDS. Pause after upsetting scenes and discuss consent, pressure, language and the ways characters support or fail one another.
- Themes
- Identity, fear and self-acceptance: Reza is attracted to men but fears that being gay means illness and death; the story follows his movement from repression towards greater confidence. The book presents this favourably.
- AIDS, activism and community: Stephen, who has AIDS, connects the teenagers with ACT UP, and the characters become involved in advocacy during the late-1980s crisis. The book gives informational and historical attention to AIDS politics, safe sex, medical inequality and the legacy of queer activism, while portraying illness and loss as devastating.
- Love, friendship and consent: Judy and Art are both attracted to Reza, and Judy and Reza date while Art and Reza have strong chemistry; one account raises concern about repeated unwanted sexual pressure. Romance is treated as emotionally significant but complicated, with friendship strain and imperfect negotiation of sexual relationships rather than a wholly idealised model.
- Worth knowing
- Pay particular attention to grief and loss.