The Great Believers

THE GREAT BELIEVERS
by Rebecca Makkai

 Awards: Carnegie Winner 2019, LA Times Winner 2018

 Nominations: Dublin Longlist 2020, National Book Finalist 2018, NY Times Finalist 2018, Pulitzer Finalist 2019

 Date Read: June 7, 2020

 The Great Believers is a novel about the early AIDS epidemic in Chicago, following a gay community that is largely wiped out due to the disease. These men already carry the prejudices of society on their shoulders and the AIDS crisis almost seems to reinforce that shame. While society has progressed significantly with acceptance, there is still a long way to go, particularly with the trans and non-binary communities.

 As Yale, Charlie and the intimate community that surrounds them try to come to terms with a terrifying virus that, at the time, meant a death sentence, their suspicions about the early tests sound so similar to the antivax sentiment today. Further on, as AZT is presented as an early medication, the discussions about affording it are appalling but realistic. I was glad that Makkai brought in this aspect, which I consider an ongoing moral issue. I will never cease to be disgusted by the profits reaped through healthcare, off the backs of sick people at the mercy of their insurance companies.

 As one after another of these beautiful characters are infected and die, a community full of friendship, support, and of course, drama is slowly and tragically broken apart. As a reader, I was incredulous that Yale, after the turmoil he endured to get tested, makes so many wrong assumptions about Roman and becomes absurdly careless. Perhaps, though, that's the point. Humans make absurd choices all the time.

I also found Claire's bitterness towards her mother, Fiona, a little difficult to accept as well. Her rage at her mother carried through into adulthood is based on Fiona saying "...when you came here from heaven, you left the door open so he could go out," referring to Claire's birth and Yale's passing within mere hours apart. While a child could interpret this as blame for carelessness, one would think that as Claire aged she could reappraise this for what it actually was, a beautiful gift being given at a grievous time.

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