Question the Silhouettes
Norma Burdett & Thomas Dwyer
(Reviewer - Donald D'Haene)
2003 Infinity Publishing
ISBN: 0741414368

AIDS & a Family in Crisis. A poignant & personal testimony of how one family dealt with living & dying.

Associate Reviewer Donald D'Haene writes:

Question the Silhouettes is about the life & death of Jimmy Burdett, who along with 140,000 other people succumbed to AIDS in 1997.

That in itself should make this story worthy of your attention, but its the unique perspective of Jimmy's mother that sets this tale apart.

Remember that old 60s show called Julia about the struggles a working mom (a nurse) had raising her son? Well cross that with The Donna Reed Show & you can imagine the tone set early on for the Burdett family.

Mother Norma is a nurse raising three sons with the help of her quiet, yet dutiful husband, Bruce. There is no question Norma is the star of this production. That is until she finds she must share top billing with her indomitable, spirited youngest son.

From temper tantrums to kindergarten desktop dances, Jimmy would command attention from an early age.

Recalling among other things Jimmy rummaging through her clothes, bobby pins, & jewelry, Norma, in hindsight, reflects, “Many signposts dotted the rocky landscape of his early years. Either we didn't see them, didn't recognize them, or simply ignored them, in any case, they now began to make sense.” (pg 5)

& how long would it take for the accumulation of these incidents to make sense? Not until Jimmy was 22 when his parents confronted him upon a late night return to the family home, & he confesses to having been to a gay bar! [That was early: my confrontation confession didn't happen with my mother until I was 25!]

With this “shocking” cat out of the bag, Jimmy's quest for independence was expedient!

Needless to say, Jimmy's lifestyle did not sit well with his parents, especially his mother & because of this, a chasm of communication gap of disapproval was created, Jimmy was unable to discuss his experimentation & experiences with his well-educated parents.

The fact that AIDS would raise its ugly head is not the unusual aspect of this heart-breaking story. It is Norma Burdett's unremitting honesty. She recounts her perspective when she is forced to face her prejudices. & then her commitment to helping her son as a nurse, mother, friend, & finally confidante.

It is this brutal honesty that sets this book apart from the pack of AIDS-related memoirs. Although I felt her son's homosexuality was dealt with a little too sparingly -- this is written from a retired mother's point of view, I had to remind myself -- I for one was relieved not to read of sexual experiences that are best left to one's own imagination, or not, as the case may be.

Question the Silhouettes is the wonderful tribute of a mother to her beloved son. It will stay with you long after you close your tear-dotted copy.

About The Authors:
Norma Burdett is a retired Registered Nurse. After several years in critical care nursing, she joined the faculty at Brevard Community College teaching clinical skills. She lives in Merritt Island, Florida.

Tom Dwyer is the author of several short stories & business articles. He earned his Doctorate in Education from the University of Massachusetts. He lives in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
(01/11/04)

Donald
2003©Donald D'Haene
A RebeccasReads.Com Associate Reviewer

Reviewer's Bio:
My most important work to date is my memoir, Father's Touch [Author web site: www.fatherstouch.com] Do check out Rebecca's Interview with me.

I have been freelance writing since 1988. My short stories can be found in The Good Life (2000) & Memories of Elgin and Middlesex(2000). I am also an actor with Armstrong Talent in Toronto, Canada.

A short film is being produced [Phat Puppy Productions] based on the first chapter of Father's Touch. It will submitted to film festivals around the world. As well, this fall, Canada's W Network will air a half hour segment of their series, Family Secrets, based on the author's life & story.

I live in London, Ontario, with my partner, Maurice, my mother, & our three Siamese cats, Kyle, Bach-Pierre, Maxine & a cockatiel, Jay.