Last Night in Paradise

 Last Night in Paradise by Katie Rophie

1997

Weight: 9.7 oz

Method of Disposal: Donating

Do I love everything that Rophie has put out in the world? No.  Do I love most of it?  No.  Did I buy this before I knew much about Rophie?  Yes!  Was I disappointed when I found out more?  Definitely.  Did I still read it?  Absolutely!  Did I hate it?  I did not!  It took me too long to read it for sure but, when I did, I felt transported to a time when AIDS had been around long enough that people realized it was not a "gay disease"  but not so long that people were not still terrified.  I really enjoyed Katie's voice and perspective, and I did not feel like I was holding a mirror up to my own feelings, memories, and opinions, which can be a real positive experience. I do not read to find out what I already think.  I do think it was even better to have read it so many years after it was written.  Living in the moment but being so young and getting bits and bobs of the news and pop culture, buying into some of the fear tactics, and then later living during Covid and looking backwards and then looking to where we are now, it brought some pieces together and made for good retrospection.

That being said, I do think it is possible to cross a line into not being helpful and into being proactively hurtful.  I could live the rest of my life without needing to read anymore of her thoughts on date rape, sexual harassment, and #metoo.