All That Heaven Allows: A Biography of Rock Hudson Book Review

Depending on your age, Rock Hudson can be one of several things. If you came of age in the 1950’s and 1960’s, he was your matinee idol. Tall, handsome, with dark hair, a strong jaw and a compassionate nature, he was Hollywood’s version of the All-American boy. If you are a member of the LGBTQ or the medical community, he is the first major celebrity to die from HIV/AIDS, putting a face on a disease and a community that in the early 1980’s was vastly misunderstood.

This year, writer Mark Griffin published a new biography of Rock Hudson entitled, All That Heaven Allows: A Biography of Rock Hudson.

Born Roy Harold Scherer, Jr in 1925 in Illinois, the future Rock Hudson knew hardship at an early age. His father abandoned his family, his stepfather abused him and his mother was not the most maternal of women. Having an inkling that he was attracted to men at an early age, he learned to hide his sexuality. As an adult, he became the biggest name in Hollywood, but he was living two lives. In spite of the rumors and the potential scandal that threatened his career multiple times, Rock Hudson became the go to leading man for a generation of movie fans.

Containing interviews with colleagues, romantic partners and family members, this book is a must read for any movie fan. It draws back the curtain on the movie star to reveal a man who was deeply conflicted and living in a time when being who you were meant risking everything.

I absolutely recommend it.

P.S. If you have never seen a Rock Hudson film, I recommend that you start with Pillow Talk (1959). Hudson stars opposite Doris Day in what is one of my favorite romantic comedies. Granted, certain elements of the film are dated, but overall, it is a fantastic film.

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C Is For Compromise, Not That He Would Understand The Concept

If compromise is not the spice of life, it allows all of us to keep going, especially when we do not see eye to eye with another person.

The problem is that a certain person does not understand the concept of compromise.

The government shutdown due to the disagreement over the border wall continues into its 4th day. Hundreds of thousands of government workers are working without pay or on furlough. At this point in time, it is still up in the air as to when the shutdown will be over.

From my perspective, the Democrats have done everything they can to work with you know who and the Republicans. But he does not want to compromise. There is a way to keep our borders safe without wasting billions of American tax dollars (not Mexican tax dollars) on a border wall, but he doesn’t care.

Any seasoned politician will tell you that we, the voters of this country, have a long memory. That memory extends to elections. The stock market is on a free fall, people’s jobs/financial futures are on the line and another Guatemalan child has died in the custody of the government.

When it comes to government, compromise will always get you somewhere. The only place arrogance and thinking that you know it all will get you is losing an election. But he has not figured that out yet and probably never will.