After Midnight, AIDS in Hollywood: The Life and Death of My Husband Brad Davis

Sheds light to Brad Davis who suffered through abuse by his parents at very young age. Unfortunately, the abuse was what set the stage that made him at times, an insufferable family man who was struck with the disease known as AIDS. Seriously, Brad Davis had a mystique which is conveyed through his work but apparently he knew all this, and rarely remained humble; in fact, he took advantage of it whenever he could. You had to feel for the wife, but her incessant devotion to Brad, despite her knowing of Brad proclivities made me feel that at least in part; she deserved to be treated as the doormat that she had become to define. There was so many countless "if only" scenarios in this book that it left for me a deep impression. A sincere, straight-forward book, I give it five stars.

The movie, Midnight Express is my all time favorite movie. Brad Davis' performance was electrifying! The book was well written by his wife. I work in the mental health field and witness similar tragedies as Mr. Davis' every day. From drug and alcohol abuse to sexual abuse and self mutilation. How heart breaking a life this man had. He had to sleep with his mother till the age of 16. No human being can ever come out of such an experience and not be traumatized. He was turning his life when he was diagnosed with HIV. I often think of what he could have done with his career had he bbeen aloud to live longer? Hopefully he is in a better place now then when he was alive!

This week I picked up 'After Midnight' at the library, and read it in less than 24 hours. It was riveting, poignant, honest (from Susan's standpoint), sad, horrific, very darky comical, and ultimately redeeming. Irony of ironies, I finished it yesterday, September 8th, the 13th anniversary of Brad's death. I wasn't even aware of what day it was. As for what Susan wrote, she wrote it from her point of view, and she knew things about Brad and had experiences with him that others didn't know about. Just as others knew things about him and had experiences with him that she didn't know about and still doesn't. So, it isn't fair to judge her and say 'Oh, she was just in denial'; maybe she was/is, but that isn't the point. She was trying to write the history about a relationship of a man and a woman over a roughly 20 year time span. Hopefully, one of these days, more people will come forward, and we will be told their true stories about Brad as well, in order to better understand him.

I bought this book because I loved Midnight ExpressOne of the best movies I have seen. I had no idea whathell Brad went through. I was shocked when I heard hehad AIDS. His wife Susan wrote a great book. Even ifyou had not heard of him, its a great read. Yes, I didhave tears in my eyes at times. In the end AIDS killedhim but Hollywood killed him long before that. May he be at peace, as well as his daughter and wife.

Susan Bluestein Davis is an amazing woman. While allowing the reader a no-holds barred account of her husband's life, she tells the story with a love and dignity that is rare in "Hollywood" stories. This book made me appreciate life a little more and made me realize how much of a struggle this couple went through and ultimately triumphed with true love.