From Publishers Weekly
Having told the highly praised story of his lover's death in Borrowed Time , Monette portrays the anguish of AIDS survivors in this sad and moving novel. Travel agent Steven Shaw has been holding weekly gatherings for AIDS widowers, but he "can't take care of them anymore." Unfortunately, however, he is put in situations that require him to do just that, while simultaneously wrestling with his grief and fear of death. Widower Dell Espinoza requires particular attention; his threats to pour AIDS-tainted blood in a public reservoir and his vandalism of an anti-gay ministry have made him a fugitive. Meanwhile, oversexed Sonny is perpetually searching for a new "oasis." Far more serious-minded, Steven seeks a relationship with a TV producer, realizing that all he can hope for is a day-to-day existence with his lover. A heterosexual woman in his employ shows that there is hope for kindness in the sea of homophobia, but Dell doesn't see it that way, and meets a tragic, if predictable, demise. Sonny finds a strange, but strangely plausible, resolution to his obsession--whose details may put off straight readers. Nonetheless, the story rings poignantly true. Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
After dealing with the subject of AIDS autobiographically in Borrowed Time (LJ 8/88, and an LJ "Best Book of 1988") and through poetry in Love Alone ( LJ 4/1/88), Monette turns to fiction. Three men lose lovers to AIDS in the same week and hospital, creating a bond via their common grief and their own AIDS-positive status. Steven withdraws from life, making it difficult to connect with the new love being offered in the person of Mark. Dell is full of rage and plots against a homophobic evangelist. Sonny, the golden boy, simply denies both his grief and his illness, trusting in New Age mysticism to save him. The portrayals of Dell and Sonny border on caricature, but Steven's slow journey to wholeness is as satisfying and real as fiction can get. Highly recommended.-James E. Cook, Dayton & Montgomery Cty. P.L., OhioCopyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

ANNOTATION

"Paul Monette writes about love, loss and yearning better than anyone else in America today. . .Deceptively popular writing that packs a revolutionary wallop.", raves Susan Brownmiller. Afterlife tells the story of three gay AIDS widowers who met at the L.A. hospital where their lovers died. The book relates how they begin to drift apart down widely divergent paths.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

/Paul Monette Set against the big-city backdrop of Los angeles, Afterlife is a powerful novel of three AIDS widowers, all of whom lost their lovers in the same week--and who now must

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Having told the highly praised story of his lover's death in Borrowed Time , Monette portrays the anguish of AIDS survivors in this sad and moving novel. Travel agent Steven Shaw has been holding weekly gatherings for AIDS widowers, but he ``can't take care of them anymore.'' Unfortunately, however, he is put in situations that require him to do just that, while simultaneously wrestling with his grief and fear of death. Widower Dell Espinoza requires particular attention; his threats to pour AIDS-tainted blood in a public reservoir and his vandalism of an anti-gay ministry have made him a fugitive. Meanwhile, oversexed Sonny is perpetually searching for a new ``oasis.'' Far more serious-minded, Steven seeks a relationship with a TV producer, realizing that all he can hope for is a day-to-day existence with his lover. A heterosexual woman in his employ shows that there is hope for kindness in the sea of homophobia, but Dell doesn't see it that way, and meets a tragic, if predictable, demise. Sonny finds a strange, but strangely plausible, resolution to his obsession--whose details may put off straight readers. Nonetheless, the story rings poignantly true. (Mar.)

Library Journal