Customer Reviews

The Whole World Was Watching: Living in the Light of Matthew Shepard

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When I first read that Romaine Patterson and others had done the number with the angels at Laramie, it sounded like just another passive gay event and not nearly confrontational enough. After having read and seen THE LARAMIE PROJECT and having read Ms. Patterson's account of what happened, I see that I was wrong and that this little bit of theatre did work. Anyone who could shut down Fred Phelps and his crowd is to be commended. The phrase that comes to mind about him is the banality of evil.

This book is certainly worth reading and needed to be done. Ms. Patterson was one of Matthew Shephard's closest friends, and his life and death captured the hearts of America, at least for a short time. I don't expect these kinds of narratives to be well-written; this one is. Ms. Patterson, in addition to discussing her friendship with Matthew Shepard and his effect on her life, also writes about growing up in rural Wyoming, as a teenager coming out as a lesbian with the accompanying problems and the deaths of both her brother from AIDS and her father from cancer.

Everyone who knows Ms. Patterson, including Judy Shepard who bears witness in her foreword, seems to think that the writer is above all else honest. I'm not sure that she isn't too honest. For example, she tells us that on two separate occasions she took a thousand dollars, one for an interview and the other for the sale of a photograph of Matthew. Additionally it appears that she was at times used by the media. Her account of being wired and going to the infamous fence with reporters in order that they could record her reactions has circus written all over it. On the other hand, she was what, 20, 21, and was emotionally fragile from a lot of events: Matthew's death, the death of her brother, her relationship with her girl friend. In short, let's not crucify her for trying to tell the truth.

I did not learn a great deal about the life of Matthew Shepard from this book. His parents may be the ones to write the definitive story of his life if it needs to be written. On the other hand, it really doesn't matter who he was or whether or not he was depressed or used drugs or was HIV positive. What matters is that he was a decent young man who didn't deserve what happened to him. In a strange way, Matthew became everyone's kid brother and many of us were traumatized in a way we did not expect by his death. After all, homophobia is not a new evil. Anita Bryant is now ancient history, but Matthew's death-- and do I have a right to call him by his first name?-- went to the very soul of America-- and the whole world as well. Of course for the most part legislators did not rush to state capitols to pass hate crimes legislation. As Ms. Patterson writes, the citizens of Laramie would like to forget about this case and get on with their lives. Of course, this sort of violence toward gay people or anyone who is different from the perpetrators will happen again, not necessarily in Wyoming, but around the world.

Romaine Patterson and Patrick Hinds use to the point language in this memoir of Romaine Patterson's life before and after the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard. I am a self admited nosy person and I love reading about the lives of others. I picked up this book at the local library not knowing who Romaine Patterson was. When I read the cover I was intrigued, because I did know who Matthew Sheppard was from the blips I saw on the news years ago. The book stands on its own as a memoir of Romaine, without having to use or exploit Matthew Sheppard as a selling point. Romaine remains true to herself and her friendship with Matthew Sheppard as she shares her story. Romaine uses the written word to captivate the reader and I felt as if I really knew her and her family when she spoke of her childhood. I cried when I read about the Angels, as I didn't know that such a thing had occured. The book absolutely does not delve into persuading the reader to be "pro gay" and I appreciated that. It would have spoiled the message that I think Romaine wanted to get across- that it is about LOVE not HATE in our world. I really enjoyed reading this book and I would encourage others to read it. It brings the reader back to LIFE, to reality, and it gave me knowledge and and inside look at the tragic death of Matthew Sheppard- but focused on his life and those that he touched. Romaine you are an awesome writer and I hope that you are able to write more of your stories to share with us.

The world shall not easily forget the memory of Matthew Shepard. Wyoming college student, so senselessly murdered on a cold October night, left to die alongside a fence with prarie lights visible in the distance, so close to help, yet so far. Much has also been said about the people in Matthew's circle; Laramie residents, all affected whether they knew him or not, and his friends and family, who formed a net to catch this falling star, only, not in time. One of these friends speaks in her frank and earnest memoir, "The Whole World Was Watching" by Romaine Patterson.

It would be too easy to see Romaine just through the eyes of the Matthew Shepard story, although it's obvious she will forever be associated with him. Romaine works to expand her own self by allowing us to see her grow up first. With three other gay siblings in her family, a new life opens up to her when she discovers her own sexuality. She writes fondly yet honestly about her older brother Michael's fight with AIDS. By the time Matthew enters the story, she's our friend and ally, as well as his.

Then Matthew comes and goes in the story, almost too quick. Perhaps we want to hold on to him, to protect him, but life must go on. Romaine is thrown into the media melting pot of instant celebrity-hood, and successfully manages to learning the ropes rather quickly.

The heart of the story comes with Romaine's decision to protect Matthew's somewhat distant parents at the trial of Russell Henderson, when a "he-who-shall-not-be-named" preacher planned to visit and protest. In a moment of inspired brilliance, the Wyoming Angels are borne, and with a few feet of PVC pipe, a cross-section of people, and hearts of gold, one of the greatest acts of peace was born. Romaine tells the story, downplays her role in it, and realizes how it becomes a defining moment in her life.

The book then becomes a journal of what happens after "the end"; a somewhat surprising and honest journey that Romaine takes, still the celebrity, yet still just a normal girl trying to grow up. She realizes she must find her own feet, and walk her own path; and what twenty-something doesn't realize that at some point? Her journey I must say was interesting, if not all too honest.

Romaine's journey is far from over, and after reading this book, I only wish her a few years of contented peace. In the meantime, I think I'll start a letter writing campaign. It seems that at least one of the angel costumes should be in the Smithsonian. And maybe some people in Sweden ought to have considered the brave actions of this girl when awarding their little peace medal.

I had contemplated giving this book five stars, but there are a few too many difficulties to allow me to do that. The book does not end with any proper resolution, but that reflects a basic truth. I don't think the author has resolved the issues she tries to explore. I might have some other criticisms, but it remains a very honest book by a young woman making her own difficult way through life.

There are three quite different stories here. The first is Romaine Patterson's own story. That has its own value, and it should be taken on its own merits. Part of the story is that, willingly or otherwise, she became a public figure by virtue of having been a friend of Matthew Shepard's, and having made the decision to tell his story, rather than the story of an idealized icon being manufactured after his dying and death.

His story, so far as she is able to tell it, is the second story. The third is livng with the reaction to his death.

As to the second story, there have been divided opinions. Certainly, some of Mr. Shepard's friends have felt it is better simply to remember him as they do, and not discussing him. Others have felt that the man who existed has been buried beneath both an unrealistic idealization, and an unrealistic denegration. That is the considered opinion of his family, and Romaine shared it. They have felt, and rightly, that he holds up well under the scrutiny of truth, even in his imperfections. Knowing those imperfections makes his virtues shine that much brighter.

I don't very well know how she could avoid telling the story of his coming into her life and being blown out of it. He was one of several severe losses she had to endure, and this loss was one she found unable to bear privately. It is possible to argue, as another reviewer has, that she should have done so. I think, though, that if she honoured the man she knew in life, she was right to tell us about the real individual, and not a plaster saint who never was. She serves him well.

She was better prepared for this than were many others, but anybody who has ever been in the public light will understand her feelings about the media sympathetically. If you're not careful, they can eat you alive, not because they are evil, wicked or iniquitous, but have a job to do by their standards. It is not difficult to make some errors of judegment, and Ms. Patterson faces the internal doubts that she has had about some of her actions and reactions. That allows some to find fault where she considers, after the fact, that she did make some. But that is a measure of the honesty of this book.

I repeat that those of us who have had to be in the public light will have shared a lot of her feelings and reactions, and also her misjudgements. And we may reminded of a few she managed to avoid, but which others have made. But, as a newspaper editor in my corner of the world wisely wrote: "All the world's a stage where the audience sits and chucks things at the actors."

The book does not have a satisfactory ending because the author has not yet worked out a number of things in her life, including the direction of her career in the future. It will include some form of political activism, but she is searching for the kind which will fit her nature and ethics best.Her (satellite) radio show fills her need not to become an imaginary angel either. Perhaps she overdoes the "bad angel" part, but that's another issue. If she found that she was rushed through some stages of maturing faster than most of us, it has been at the cost of overlooking other points of personal development. It is better, I think, to leave the book in the state it is, given that there is a lot she remains to write in her own life.

This is an honest and revealing book. It is also one of the necessary sources for an understanding of Matthew Shepard. Not a complete source, but a necessary one. And we're richer for her having written it.

Matthew Shepard is looked upon as part of a context. The technique is really very interesting. For one would think that Matthew's story would be narrated in the usual manner, starting from the beginning and ending at the end. But this book is nothing like this. The book is about Matthew Shepard as much as it isn't. It is the story of an emergent identity (that of the author) precisely because of Matthew's tragic end. In this sense, Matthew's murder is an end but also a beginning. And this book warmly and objectively commemorates the former, and beautifully celebrates the latter. It avoids making Matthew an object of mere curiosity, and nor an icon. It keeps him true and warm and personal. A truely sensitive tribute.

As a listener of the Derek and Romaine Show on Sirius Satellite Radio I heard about this book for quite a while before it was acutally published. While I hear people describe the book as being depicted in thirds, that is correct and if you ask Romaine that is the way she wanted it. As far as those of you who are condeming her for telling it third person and for not getting into the Matthew Shepard life realize Romaine did this book with Judy Shepard's permission. I have heard Judy Speak on the radio show and know that there is a dynamite bond between Romaine and Judy. To those of you who feel this book ends abruptly without wrapping everything up in a neat package, grow up...realize Romaine is still living life and enjoying every minute of it, it would be dishonest to herself to wrap everthing up in a neat package, that is just NOT Romaine. Please know that Romaine worked hard on this book and those who are regular listeners to the show know that, she struggled more than most of us know to put this book out. By far I recommed it to any one who wants to know what it was like to be there and to deal with it.

Such a wonderful book with such heart. I loved this book the first time I read it and was so happy when I was able to buy it at such a great price from amazon. It is a book I will read again and again.

I more than enjoyed this book 5 or 6 years ago when I read it. Would read it again and would reccomend to anyone. It's journalistic without being a "poor me" story. Written very well, loved it, just loved it.

Romaine Patterson has a nice way with an anecdote, though the book might be just a little too much about her own peregrinations for most readers. Her story would be an interesting one even if she had never met the young Matthew Shepard at school, but there's still way too much of it. She and her girlfriends have bigger and better breakups and makeups than most people have hot meals, and each time she meets a new girl it's almost like a little gift from heaven. She's adorable in her own way, but the tangles of her family life (she is one of seemingly dozens of siblings, all of them pretty much interchangeable except for Michael, who dies of AIDS early on in the narrative) are complications to a courageously simple life. I kept thinking, if only Kelly Clarkson could act, she would be the perfect one to play Romaine in a movie. (Unfortunately for her, she was played by none other than Christina Ricci, the poison dwarf, in the film version of THE LAEAMIE PROJECT. Ricci went on to act out some of Romaine's personality crises in a subsequent project, MONSTER, in which she played the love interest of Aileen Wuornos.)

She has been criticized for detailing Matthew Shepard's peccadillos in a matter of fact way. One does come away from this book not liking him much, though Romaine reports an astonishing turnaround in his final months. But before that, the drug use, the torpor, the way he spent money like water then mooched from working class friends, nothing was attractive about him. Did the rape in Morocco ever really occur? From Romaine's tone you get the hint that perhaps it was, not a fantasy of Matt's, but maybe an alibi? Nevertheless when she hears about his attack in Laramie, she rushes to his side, and when the trial begins and Judy Shepard is pestered by Fred Phelps and his band of insane rightwing creeps, Romaine comes up with a once in a lifetime plan to separate them from Judy by playing angels in huge dress up costumes, which catches the eye of the network news and becomes one of the most telegenic displays of our age.

Patterson also is able to diagnose what upset us about Matt's murder is a simple, yet logical way. "The brutality of his murder," she explains, "brought people together in an unprecedented way, and once they saw that they were united in their shock, they realized it might be possible to do something about it, to stop it from ever happening again." God bless her and the angels who, unrelenting, work night and day in invisible ways to one day rid our beautiful land of hate.

I didn't know who Romaine Patterson was until very recently and I didn't see the Laramie Project or anything. When "The Whole World was Watching"; I wasn't. I heard Derek and Romaine (Sirius OutQ 106) on the radio first. I knew about Mathew Sheppard, but didn't know much about it and certainly didn't know Romaine at all.
SO - I found the book interesting on many levels. Romaine seems extremely earnest and honest in this book about herself, her family, Matt - everyone; no B.S., but that's her personality; she'll tell you like it is. Romaine's self reflection throughout the book is really captivating, maybe even now still having to explain her motivations to be in the media. Also, the book forces the reader to ask his or herself, "What would I have done?" Was it youthful idealism or naiveté or somehow was Romaine prepared for this `role' through her unusual wonderful family dynamic, own self possession and survival skills? Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you really do realize that Romaine could have been me and Matt could have been my friend. As big a story as it became and as much as Matt is now a symbol of 'hate crime victim'; he was still a friend, a son and a brother - an ordinary person as beautiful and flawed as me or you. And Romaine was a good friend; a brave friend with interesting growing up stories of her own. Read the book.