In the heart of 1980s Chicago, a group of friends grapples with love, loss, and the impact of the AIDS crisis. The narrative oscillates between past and present, revealing secrets and connections that transcend time and tragedy. A mother’s quest to find her estranged son intertwines with the haunting memories of an unforgettable era. Makkai's lyrical prose delves deep into the resilience of the human spirit amid unimaginable grief. 'The Great Believers' is a poignant exploration of art, friendship, and the lingering shadow of history that challenges us to remember.
By Rebecca Makkai
Published: 2019
"You can’t know the weight of someone else’s grief until you carry it yourself."
PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST A NEW YORK TIMES TOP 10 BOOK OF 2018 LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE WINNER ALA CARNEGIE MEDAL WINNER THE STONEWALL BOOK AWARD WINNER Soon to Be a Major Television Event, optioned by Amy Poehler “A page turner . . . An absorbing and emotionally riveting story about what it’s like to live during times of crisis.” —The New York Times Book Review A dazzling novel of friendship and redemption in the face of tragedy and loss set in 1980s Chicago and contemporary Paris In 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. Named a Best Book of 2018 by The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, NPR, San Francisco Chronicle, The Boston Globe, Entertainment Weekly, Buzzfeed, The Seattle Times, Bustle, Newsday, AM New York, BookPage, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Lit Hub, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, New York Public Library and Chicago Public Library
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“You can’t know the weight of someone else’s grief until you carry it yourself.”
The Great Believers
By Rebecca Makkai
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Rebecca Makkai is an acclaimed novelist and short story writer, known for her insightful exploration of complex themes such as memory, trauma, and human connection. Her notable works include 'The Great Believers,' a Pulitzer Prize finalist that delves into the AIDS crisis in the 1980s and its lingering effects on survivors, and 'Music for Wartime,' a collection of short stories that showcases her skill in weaving together history and personal narrative. Makkai's writing is characterized by its rich character development and an ability to convey deep emotional truths, often set against the backdrop of significant historical events.
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