Reviews

The Normal Heart by Larry Kramer

thereistime's review

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5.0

This play is legitimately one of my favourite things that exists in the world, it doesn't let up at all and really hits home just how awful the beginning of the AIDS crisis was, and just how much the gay community has struggled.

emmamarks10's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

ebutton11's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

rcampbell311's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective tense fast-paced

4.5

sfletcher26's review against another edition

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4.0

Blistering and heart rending in equal measure.
Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart is a play I’ve been aware of for a number of years. It first came to my notice about 6 years ago when I was reading Randy Shilts’ “And The Band Played On” but it wasn’t until I read David France’s “How to Survive a Plague” earlier this year that I really thought I should try to find it and read it.
Set in the 80s at the height of the AIDS epidemic in New York, Kramer’s play, which is part polemic and part personal apologia, tells the story of a group of activists and their nascent lobby and support group for those suffering with AIDS.

astridmark's review against another edition

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5.0

this play is absolutely heartbreaking.
i don't even know how to put my feelings for this play into words. it's beautiful and ugly, and so so powerful. definitely a must read!

daisyrichoverall's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

fjcookie's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

oh god the ending crushed my little heart. 

literatureaesthetic's review against another edition

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Read for Uni

I don't feel comfortable rating this. It deals with topics that are so distant from my reality, that I kinda read this for "educational" purposes. Idk it's just not my place to rate a story like this.

I definitely recommend it to people who enjoy reading plays, and are interested in reading a story about the AIDS epidemic from the perspective of the Gay community.

emersona7's review against another edition

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3.0

Sobbing at 2am kinda book