Seasons of Grief and Grace: A Sister's Story of Aids

Be the first to write a review

Overview

Susan Ford Wiltshire and John Ford grew up in the Texas Panhandle, "taking the long view of things, where there was lots to think about because there was nothing to see except the horizon twenty-five miles away." The four Ford children were taught the value of learning and hard work by their father, a cowboy with a serious love of poetry, and their mother, a Texas woman whose rural roots did not prevent her from mastering Latin or reading all of Shakespeare. Susan became a noted classics scholar, while John's ...
See more details below
Available through our Marketplace sellers.
See All Options
Other sellers (Hardcover)
  • All (17) from $1.99   
  • New (2) from $7.99   
  • Used (15) from $1.99   
Close
Sort by
Page 1 of 1
Showing All
Note: Marketplace items are not eligible for any BN.com coupons and promotions
$7.99
talley's books
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(14)

Condition:

New — never opened or used in original packaging.

Like New — packaging may have been opened. A "Like New" item is suitable to give as a gift.

Very Good — may have minor signs of wear on packaging but item works perfectly and has no damage.

Good — item is in good condition but packaging may have signs of shelf wear/aging or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Acceptable — item is in working order but may show signs of wear such as scratches or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Used — An item that has been opened and may show signs of wear. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Refurbished — A used item that has been renewed or updated and verified to be in proper working condition. Not necessarily completed by the original manufacturer.

New
Nashville 1994 Hardcover First New/Very Good 0826512615 As New.

Ships from: Kress, TX

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$19.95
TOUCH POINT's
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(17)

Condition: New

Ships from: WEBSTER, TX

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
Page 1 of 1
Showing All
Close
Sort by
Sending request ...

More About This Book

Overview

Susan Ford Wiltshire and John Ford grew up in the Texas Panhandle, "taking the long view of things, where there was lots to think about because there was nothing to see except the horizon twenty-five miles away." The four Ford children were taught the value of learning and hard work by their father, a cowboy with a serious love of poetry, and their mother, a Texas woman whose rural roots did not prevent her from mastering Latin or reading all of Shakespeare. Susan became a noted classics scholar, while John's work in Republican politics led to his appointment as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Agriculture in the Reagan Administration, from which he resigned in frustration to become active in the American Farm Movement. Just two weeks before his death, he was given the Heroes of American Agriculture Award. When disaster struck and John was diagnosed with AIDS, Susan began writing a work reminiscent of May Sarton's journals, Madeleine L'Engle's Two-Part Invention, and Jessamyn West's The Woman Said Yes. Drawing on the force of family bonds and her humanistic training in classical studies for comfort and guidance, she shows us two siblings sharing an agonizing but special journey, finding opportunities rather than resignation, commitment rather than withdrawal, and strength instead of defeat. This is, in short, a good and inspiring story - one that will help point the way for the millions of others - those who are HIV positive as well as their friends and families - who bear the emotional wounds this disease is inflicting on ever-increasing numbers of us.

When disaster struck and her brother John was diagnosed with AIDS, Susan Ford Wiltshire and her brother began an agonizing but special journey together. This is the story of that journey--a story of finding possibilities rather than resignation, of finding strength instead of defeat. Wiltshire's memoir gives voice to all family members touched by this terrible disease.

Read More Show Less

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
This intensely personal, inspirational story by Vanderbilt Univ. classics scholar Wiltshire (Greece, Rome, and the Bill of Rights) narrates her ``vigil'' with her younger brother, John Ford, a former Department of Agriculture officer who was diagnosed with AIDS in 1986 and died in 1993. The author, whom John called his ``most important friend,'' uses excerpts from her journal to trace the patient's spiritual odyssey and the involvement by the West Texas extended family in the ``enormous social calamity'' as members of the AIDS community. Photos. (Oct.)
Whitney Scott
This is a sister's story of her much beloved brother--her "other wing" and "littermate"--as they moved through childhood together and then as she journeyed into his adult life when she first learned he was gay, then, later, that he was HIV-positive, and then, yet later, that he had full-blown AIDS. John Ford moved to the Southwest with his life partner, only to find that his real estate holdings in Washington, D.C.--his well-planned hedge against future medical expenses--were unsalable. As his finances crumbled, his fevers soared, and his T-cell counts plummeted, John distanced himself from his sister, not telephoning during increasingly frequent bouts of illness. Susan tried coping with her grief, rage, and fear by limiting crying bouts to specified times, writing many letters, praying, and reading every available account of the AIDS crisis. Her book includes perhaps too many of those letters as well as a list of books she found helpful.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780826512611
  • Publisher: Vanderbilt University Press
  • Publication date: 10/28/1994
  • Edition description: 1st ed
  • Edition number: 1
  • Pages: 216
  • Product dimensions: 5.76 (w) x 8.75 (h) x 0.91 (d)

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
( 0 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(0)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
Sort by: Showing 1 Customer Review

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 9, 2003

    A brave struggle!

    I live in Lubbock, Texas, where much of this story takes place, and I happen to know some of the people Dr. Ford mentions. But that was hardly the only reason I wanted to read this compassionate biography. Dr. Ford shows how her brother bravely faced AIDS and the bigotry related to it. Despite its subject matter, this book is never depressing. Instead, Dr. Ford captures the inspirational aspects of her brother¿s life and how it touched the lives of people around him. I found her poems about his struggle especially touching and hope she¿ll share more of those in another book.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Sort by: Showing 1 Customer Review
If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)