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The Great Believers
448 pages, 2019
fiction
1382 booksIn 1985, Yale Tishman, the development director for an art gallery in Chicago, is about to pull off an amazing coup, bringing in an extraordinary collection of 1920s paintings as a gift to the gallery.
Yet as his career begins to flourish, the carnage of the AIDS epidemic grows around him. One by one, his friends are dying, and after his friend Nico’s funeral, the virus circles closer and closer to Yale himself. Soon the only person he has left is Fiona, Nico’s little sister.
Thirty years later, Fiona is in Paris, tracking down her estranged daughter, who disappeared into a cult. While staying with an old friend, a famous photographer who documented the Chicago crisis, she finds herself finally grappling with the devastating ways AIDS affected her life and her relationship with her daughter.
The two intertwining stories take us through the heartbreak of the eighties and the chaos of the modern world as both Yale and Fiona struggle to find goodness in the midst of disaster.
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai takes us back to the 1980s, during the height of the AIDS epidemic. The book explores the devastating impact of the disease on the gay community in Chicago. It's a stark reminder of a dark period in history that shouldn't be forgotten.
In this book, Makkai beautifully portrays the power of friendship. The characters lean on each other during the most challenging times, showing us that friendship can be a lifeline in the face of adversity. It's a heartwarming aspect of the book that will make you appreciate your friends even more.
The Great Believers emphasizes the importance of remembering and learning from the past. It shows us that the past, no matter how painful, shapes who we are and how we see the world. This book will inspire you to look into your own past and understand its influence on your present.
Rebecca Makkai's book also explores the struggle for acceptance that the LGBTQ+ community faced during the 1980s. It's a poignant reminder of the fight for equality and acceptance that continues to this day. Reading this book will give you a deeper understanding of these struggles.
Despite the hardships and tragedies that the characters face, The Great Believers highlights the resilience of the human spirit. It shows us that even in the face of adversity, people can find the strength to carry on. This book will inspire you to find your own inner strength during tough times.
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The Great Believers is a page turner... provocative and constantly surprising
Michael Cunningham - Pulitzer-winning novelistAn absorbing and emotionally riveting story about what it’s like to live during times of crisis
Andrew Sean Greer - Pulitzer-winning author