Holding the Man

By: Timothy Conigrave

Narrated by: Stephen Phillips

Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

The mid-'70s: at an all-boys Catholic school in Melbourne, Timothy Conigrave falls wildly and sweetly in love with the captain of the football team. So begins a relationship that weathers disapproval, separation and ultimately death.

With honesty and insight, Holding the Man explores the highs and lows of any partnership and the strength of heart both men have to find when they test positive for HIV. This is a book as refreshing and uplifting as it is moving - a funny and sad and celebratory account of growing up gay.

©2009 Timothy Conigrave (P)2016 Audible, Ltd

simply beautiful

A beautiful love story told in a almost perfect way. The reader did a wonderful job.

The most beautiful love story

I first saw the movie and was so moved that I wanted more of the intimate story of John & Tim.

Reader from NYC

I can not say what made me choose this particular book, however I can proudly say, I'm glad I did. Tim had me on a emotional roller-coaster. All these emotions I had inside of me, suddenly came to surface. I've always respected the LGBT community, now I have a new deep respect for all of LGBT. The bravery and awareness of everyday issues that isn't mentioned daily and should be. We are all human and we can't help who we love, we can only choose, how.

Beautiful, heart-wrenching

Beautiful, heart-wrenching, candid, true. So glad Tim was able to finish this before he passed. The movie was wonderful, one of my lifetime favourites now, but it's better to read/hear the details of what was going on in Tim's mind. This story will linger in your mind.

in my feelings

extremely touching extremely sad unconditional love between two men extremely young very emotional very sad I'm still crying to this day. this kind of love that they had between each other most people never experience in their life. I will not be the judge of the lifestyle they lived, I believe with all my heart God makes no mistakes. Tim seem to be a very Gifted Man and John he had this unconditional love, most of us will never experience this In Our Lifetime. I will admit I'm disappointed in the movie because it show Tim as a totally different person and Tim had feelings the book was just different than the movie, Tim story was real the Hollywood movie is just an ordinary Hollywood movie. I hope everyone reads this book and don't judge who are we to judge we are not God we are not their creator.

One of the most real and honest books I've read!

Tim and John's story is beautifully crafted. I was captivated by the narrative and transported to my own experience as a boy at so many places in the story. A tragic yet magical ending. I wish I had had the opportunity to know Tim and John, but thanks, Tim, for sharing so transparently your harsh yet beautiful experience. It is one I will definitely re-read. I saw the movie first and was pleased to find the book on Audible.

Breathtaking

This story is devastatingly honest. Listening to this book felt like sitting next to someone as they told you a painful story. So raw and real, you wish you could reach out and give comfort.
Now that Tim and John have obliterated my heart, I am going to go bury my broken feels in chocolate. Rest easy boys, together.

I haven't been so moved in a long time.

This love story in the time of AIDS is a real tearjerker, but worth every drop. It captures the joy of being and loving, building friendships and dealing with the issues we still have to face today. It is not maudlin like so many stories of the era, but rather a joyous celebration of finding and loving your soul mate. While the movie was very well done, the book, with this superb reading, is the best way to experience the story. Watch the movie afterwards, and learn more about the author. This is a great autobiographical story.

Beautiful and heartbreaking

This is a wonderful example of a great love. The trials they went through because of the times, being gay and of course AIDS are deeply conveyed by the author. Interesting how Tim really portrayed himself as being insensitive and selfish at times.
The narrator was very good also making you feel you were really listening to the characters talk not just a reading.

A beautiful book, sad but heartwarming.

It is hard to explain how I feel after listening to this book. Definitely sad, but it is about the life of two men who fell in love in school, Catholic school, when love between two men was not accepted, and it brought forth emotions in me for the unfairness of life for those people who have had to endure growing up in a society where they were ostracized. It is now 2017 and Australia still does not allow gay marriage. Such a disgrace. This book was quite wonderful, written so well. I am Australian but have lived in the U.S. for almost 50 years. Hearing Tim’s accent and all the Aussie expressions made me quite homesick. I get the feeling the HIV/AIDS population in the ‘80s faired much better there than they did here, for which I am eternally grateful.