Living And Dying in 4/4 Time [Paperback]

Paul Gallotta (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 8, 2000

Gallotta has written a long-overdue book about the AIDS epidemic from a previously barely examined perspective - that of the social worker. Originally a journalist interviewing heavy metal rock musicians such as Axl Rose, Sebastian Bach and Ozzy Osbourne and writing for mags such as "Circus," he started volunteering at New York City's GMHC soon after the organization was founded in the mid-1980s. At the time he was himself still struggling with "coming out" as a gay man while attempting to control his drug and alcohol intake. Today as a proud "out" gay man he lives in South Florida with his partner with whom he is raising a child while working as an AIDS case manager at Center One.

************** "Living and Dying in 4/4 Time" charts the changing demographics of AIDS and is told from the viewpoint of the case manager - the person all too often left to pick up the pueces when friends and family desert someone. The book is irreverent, honest, and sometimes hilariously funny. Anyone interested in AIDS and the reality of battling the disease, HMOs, and sheer blind prejudice will find this book invaluable.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"....a sometimes brash, sometimes heart-breaking, always funny look into the world of AIDS activism." -- Mark Rutherford, Express Gay News November, 2000

"...a beautiful book. It is a highly recommended book for everyone to read." -- AIDS Book Review Journal (July-August,2001)

"Living and Dying in 4/4 Time is nothing if not brutally honest." -- anonymous

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Upstart Pub (November 8, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970127480
• ISBN-13: 978-0970127488
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,802,064 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Reading (About Living & Dying) In 4/4 time, February 19, 2002

By 

"blood_stone" (Europe, via Canada & Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living And Dying in 4/4 Time (Paperback)

Though publicised as a 'gay' work of non-fiction, 'Living & Dying...' is really a chronicle drawn from the inside of the AIDS epidemic in the US, specifically New York and Florida. That just happens to be written by a gay man. A very smart, very wry, very compassionate, very irrascible, gay man. It's quick to read, in journal format, but at times difficult to get through, not because of its style but because of its content. A subsidiary thread of the overall book is a look at the heavy metal/alternative music scene in the late 80's/early 90's, from the view of a (closeted gay) music journalist. Very good account, worth a read just for Gallotta's (nail)biting style.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Living and Dying in 4/4 Time, December 29, 2001

By 

Steven Levinsky (Nesconset, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living And Dying in 4/4 Time (Paperback)

Like most people, I've lost friends to AIDS. Living and Dying in 4/4 Time addresses the issues of living with and dying from AIDS in the very real terms of everyday living. That Paul Gallotta has brought the light of his wry and often self-abasing humor to shine upon this dark topic adds a humane element to this inhumane killer.
The socio-economic impact of AIDS is brought home in terms of pain. The socio-political impact of AIDS spotlights how poorly our politicians have handled this crisis.
This inside view of Paul Gallotta's battles with his own demons while fighting to help those who live with the sands of their life's clocks rapidly pouring away will touch upon your soul.
A book for all people, a book for the ages.
By the way - for those who do not recognize the reference to "4/4 Time", Mr. Gallotta was a journalist, of no small repute, who specialized in Rock and Roll, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal music. His transition to care giver was a loss to one world and a giant gain to another.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book That Tells The Truth, December 15, 2000

By 

"latin007" (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living And Dying in 4/4 Time (Paperback)

I bought a copy of the book and read it with interest. My former partner died of AIDS. This is one of the first books that I have read that actually gets all the things about living with AIDS right. The battles with bureaucracies in hospitals, city and state agencies, the friends who disappear then reappear at the funeral crying elephant tears, as well as the unsung heroes who do exist. I have been depressed with the result of the election. I only hope that whoever is appointed to oversee AIDS reads this book so that they can really appreciate what is going on out there..

I almost forgot to say that it is only Gallota's sense of humor and honesty that makes it possible to be reminded of the death of loved ones and yet want to finish the book.