A sensitive tribute
Matthew Shepard is looked upon as part of a context. The technique is really very interesting. For one would think that Matthew's story would be narrated in the usual manner, starting from the beginning and ending at the end. But this book is nothing like this. The book is about Matthew Shepard as much as it isn't. It is the story of an emergent identity (that of the author) precisely because of Matthew's tragic end. In this sense, Matthew's murder is an end but also a beginning. And this book warmly and objectively commemorates the former, and beautifully celebrates the latter. It avoids making Matthew an object of mere curiosity, and nor an icon. It keeps him true and warm and personal. A truely sensitive tribute.
Matt and Romaine
Romaine Patterson has a nice way with an anecdote, though the book might be just a little too much about her own peregrinations for most readers. Her story would be an interesting one even if she had never met the young Matthew Shepard at school, but there's still way too much of it. She and her girlfriends have bigger and better breakups and makeups than most people have hot meals, and each time she meets a new girl it's almost like a little gift from heaven. She's adorable in her own way, but the tangles of her family life (she is one of seemingly dozens of siblings, all of them pretty much interchangeable except for Michael, who dies of AIDS early on in the narrative) are complications to a courageously simple life. I kept thinking, if only Kelly Clarkson could act, she would be the perfect one to play Romaine in a movie. (Unfortunately for her, she was played by none other than Christina Ricci, the poison dwarf, in the film version of THE LAEAMIE PROJECT. Ricci went on to act out some of Romaine's personality crises in a subsequent project, MONSTER, in which she played the love interest of Aileen Wuornos.)
She has been criticized for detailing Matthew Shepard's peccadillos in a matter of fact way. One does come away from this book not liking him much, though Romaine reports an astonishing turnaround in his final months. But before that, the drug use, the torpor, the way he spent money like water then mooched from working class friends, nothing was attractive about him. Did the rape in Morocco ever really occur? From Romaine's tone you get the hint that perhaps it was, not a fantasy of Matt's, but maybe an alibi? Nevertheless when she hears about his attack in Laramie, she rushes to his side, and when the trial begins and Judy Shepard is pestered by Fred Phelps and his band of insane rightwing creeps, Romaine comes up with a once in a lifetime plan to separate them from Judy by playing angels in huge dress up costumes, which catches the eye of the network news and becomes one of the most telegenic displays of our age.
Patterson also is able to diagnose what upset us about Matt's murder is a simple, yet logical way. "The brutality of his murder," she explains, "brought people together in an unprecedented way, and once they saw that they were united in their shock, they realized it might be possible to do something about it, to stop it from ever happening again." God bless her and the angels who, unrelenting, work night and day in invisible ways to one day rid our beautiful land of hate.
Interesting in many ways
The world shall not easily forget the memory of Matthew Shepard. Wyoming college student, so senselessly murdered on a cold October night, left to die alongside a fence with prarie lights visible in the distance, so close to help, yet so far. Much has also been said about the people in Matthew's circle; Laramie residents, all affected whether they knew him or not, and his friends and family, who formed a net to catch this falling star, only, not in time. One of these friends speaks in her frank and earnest memoir, "The Whole World Was Watching" by Romaine Patterson.
It would be too easy to see Romaine just through the eyes of the Matthew Shepard story, although it's obvious she will forever be associated with him. Romaine works to expand her own self by allowing us to see her grow up first. With three other gay siblings in her family, a new life opens up to her when she discovers her own sexuality. She writes fondly yet honestly about her older brother Michael's fight with AIDS. By the time Matthew enters the story, she's our friend and ally, as well as his.
Then Matthew comes and goes in the story, almost too quick. Perhaps we want to hold on to him, to protect him, but life must go on. Romaine is thrown into the media melting pot of instant celebrity-hood, and successfully manages to learning the ropes rather quickly.
The heart of the story comes with Romaine's decision to protect Matthew's somewhat distant parents at the trial of Russell Henderson, when a "he-who-shall-not-be-named" preacher planned to visit and protest. In a moment of inspired brilliance, the Wyoming Angels are borne, and with a few feet of PVC pipe, a cross-section of people, and hearts of gold, one of the greatest acts of peace was born. Romaine tells the story, downplays her role in it, and realizes how it becomes a defining moment in her life.
The book then becomes a journal of what happens after "the end"; a somewhat surprising and honest journey that Romaine takes, still the celebrity, yet still just a normal girl trying to grow up. She realizes she must find her own feet, and walk her own path; and what twenty-something doesn't realize that at some point? Her journey I must say was interesting, if not all too honest.
Romaine's journey is far from over, and after reading this book, I only wish her a few years of contented peace. In the meantime, I think I'll start a letter writing campaign. It seems that at least one of the angel costumes should be in the Smithsonian. And maybe some people in Sweden ought to have considered the brave actions of this girl when awarding their little peace medal.
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Story
I didn't know who Romaine Patterson was until very recently and I didn't see the Laramie Project or anything. When "The Whole World was Watching"; I wasn't. I heard Derek and Romaine (Sirius OutQ 106) on the radio first. I knew about Mathew Sheppard, but didn't know much about it and certainly didn't know Romaine at all.
SO - I found the book interesting on many levels. Romaine seems extremely earnest and honest in this book about herself, her family, Matt - everyone; no B.S., but that's her personality; she'll tell you like it is. Romaine's self reflection throughout the book is really captivating, maybe even now still having to explain her motivations to be in the media. Also, the book forces the reader to ask his or herself, "What would I have done?" Was it youthful idealism or naiveté or somehow was Romaine prepared for this `role' through her unusual wonderful family dynamic, own self possession and survival skills? Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you really do realize that Romaine could have been me and Matt could have been my friend. As big a story as it became and as much as Matt is now a symbol of 'hate crime victim'; he was still a friend, a son and a brother - an ordinary person as beautiful and flawed as me or you. And Romaine was a good friend; a brave friend with interesting growing up stories of her own. Read the book.
The Whole World Was Watching
I received the book today and could not put it down. It really helped me understand the "real" story in Romaine's eyes and life. Thank you for bringing your story to mainstream. You are the best!
(10 reviews)
