caelysium's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Homophobia, Pandemic/Epidemic, Terminal illness, and Death
Moderate: Hate crime and Medical content
Minor: Child abuse and Religious bigotry
6boo2's review against another edition
5.0
6 word review: AIDS - beauty, conflict, joy, dissonance, resolution.
enzopilarta's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
One part intertwined lives in a big city. One part gay coming-of-age. One part AIDS historical fiction. Painful. Hopeful. Loved every single bit of it.
allisonz6's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
noahleetodoelrato's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
eszterkozma's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
maximebelley's review against another edition
4.0
as a gay young adult living in 2023, this book transported me back in time to the heart-breaking AIDS epidemic in 1990 in new york. i can see so much of myself in the main characters (adam and ben), and can't believe only three decades separate us.
many times while reading, i thought to myself "how can this be real", "why did no one act sooner". this reality is unimaginable and unfathomable to my 21st century brain, and i have nothing but empathy for the victims (and loved ones) of this horrible pandemic.
many times while reading, i thought to myself "how can this be real", "why did no one act sooner". this reality is unimaginable and unfathomable to my 21st century brain, and i have nothing but empathy for the victims (and loved ones) of this horrible pandemic.
callenlovex's review
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
louismunozjr's review against another edition
4.0
Rating a 4, but maybe more a 3.75 book.
An often beautiful book. Set in 1990 New York, it captures that year, the city, and the times very well, especially the terror and tragedy of AIDS. The two MCs, Adam and Ben, were quite likeable young men, both 18 during most of the year during which this book takes place. The book toggles back and forth between their two stories, and although I can usually very easily shift gears with that structure, here, the format didn't quite work for me, and I found myself wondering who was Adam and who was Ben. And without giving anything away (much), these two separate tracks and lives do occasionally intersect, making me more confused in those moments, unfortunately.
By the way, there is also a third MC of sorts. While Adam and Ben's stories are told in the third person, there is a third person speaking in the FIRST person, looking back at pivotal turning points in his childhood. We're never told who that person is, although I think I know who he is meant to be. In fact, I have TWO theories about who he is meant to be, but this is a spoiler-free zone, so I'll keep those out of this review. (Happy to exchange theories with you, though!)
There is devastating anguish in these pages from Tucker Shaw, but also a lot of hope and beauty and love. To quote from the Author's Note at the end of the book: "'When You Call My Name' is fiction. It represents only the tiniest sliver of the continuing experience of HIV/AIDS. None of its characters existed in real life, not exactly... [Many of the places depicted didn't exist] in real life, not exactly. But you exist in real life, and I exist in real life, and that means hope exists in real life. Find it and hold it tightly, because hope will grow in your grasp." Love that.
Finally, there is this: "The HIV epidemic is not over, not by a long shot. There are still so many stories to be told and heard. We must tell them and hear them. There is still so much to learn. We must learn it. There is still so much work to do. We must do it. We can't let go. Please don't let go." Thanks, Tucker Shaw, and I look forward to future stories from you.
An often beautiful book. Set in 1990 New York, it captures that year, the city, and the times very well, especially the terror and tragedy of AIDS. The two MCs, Adam and Ben, were quite likeable young men, both 18 during most of the year during which this book takes place. The book toggles back and forth between their two stories, and although I can usually very easily shift gears with that structure, here, the format didn't quite work for me, and I found myself wondering who was Adam and who was Ben. And without giving anything away (much), these two separate tracks and lives do occasionally intersect, making me more confused in those moments, unfortunately.
By the way, there is also a third MC of sorts. While Adam and Ben's stories are told in the third person, there is a third person speaking in the FIRST person, looking back at pivotal turning points in his childhood. We're never told who that person is, although I think I know who he is meant to be. In fact, I have TWO theories about who he is meant to be, but this is a spoiler-free zone, so I'll keep those out of this review. (Happy to exchange theories with you, though!)
There is devastating anguish in these pages from Tucker Shaw, but also a lot of hope and beauty and love. To quote from the Author's Note at the end of the book: "'When You Call My Name' is fiction. It represents only the tiniest sliver of the continuing experience of HIV/AIDS. None of its characters existed in real life, not exactly... [Many of the places depicted didn't exist] in real life, not exactly. But you exist in real life, and I exist in real life, and that means hope exists in real life. Find it and hold it tightly, because hope will grow in your grasp." Love that.
Finally, there is this: "The HIV epidemic is not over, not by a long shot. There are still so many stories to be told and heard. We must tell them and hear them. There is still so much to learn. We must learn it. There is still so much work to do. We must do it. We can't let go. Please don't let go." Thanks, Tucker Shaw, and I look forward to future stories from you.