Reflections

From an acclaimed memoirist and National Book Award winner: Three groundbreaking works of nonfiction put a human face on the AIDS epidemic. Paul Monette’s searing memoirs of growing up, coming out, and losing his beloved partner to AIDS are now available in a single volume.  Becoming a Man: This National Book Award–winning memoir follows Monette’s childhood. Growing up all-American, Catholic, overachieving . . . and closeted, Monette wrestled with his sexuality for the first thirty years of his life, priding himself on his ability to “pass” for straight. This intimate portrait of a young man’s struggle with his own desires and journey to adulthood and self-acceptance through grace and honesty is witty, humorous, and deeply felt.  Borrowed Time: Chronicling Monette’s relationship with Roger Horwitz, this tragic true story follows Horwitz’s fight against and eventual death from AIDS. A “tender and lyrical” memoir (TheNew York Times Book Review), it remains one of the most raw and human tales of the AIDS era—a “searing, shattering, ultimately hope-inspiring account of a great love story” (San Francisco Examiner).  The Last Watch of the Night: Compiling work from the last two years of his life, this collection of essays documents Monette’s reflections as he slowly succumbed to AIDS. Ringing with humor, rage, and passion, his words provide a breathtaking view from inside the AIDS scourge.   Brutal, funny, and startlingly honest, this comprehensive volume brings together some of the most important stories of the AIDS era.