No book yet...

I still haven't received my book yet...checking the mail every day. :(

I am very glad to see that people have logged on and Sarah has already used the blog to share her thoughts on the book! Thanks for getting it rolling. I think this is going to be an excellent way for us to compile notes, comment on one another's thoughts and answer each other's questions. There's something qualitative about this whole process. :)

Notes, Part Dos

Ok, I've read a couple more chapters, but I will have to stop here for this week.

Chapter 4

Interesting that Linda B chose to sing -- music therapy! Her lungs not only got stronger, the music itself may have been healing.

Wow, so many women have mentioned their concerns about health insurance and drug costs. Here we are, 15 year later, and things don't seem any better.

Chapter 5

Geneva's mandatory AIDS test -- isn't that illegal?

Living in constant fear. . . when you're ill, is it something bad or just a "'normal' person's cold?"

"White gay disease." Is it still perceived that way? Makes me think of all the PSA posters I saw in the Castro district of San Francisco last summer.

Lather identifies herself and Smithies clearly: "non HIV+ women telling stories which are not ours. Such a position cannot escape being, to some extent, part of the traditional spectator-narrator, purveying the less fortunate, parading our good will."

Interesting. . . Lather seems concerned that she's talking in binaries (HIV- vs. HIV+); but, isn't that in, itself, a binary (talking in binaries vs. not talking in binaries)?

Notes

Hi Everyone,

I'm on Chapter 4 right now and am trying to get a couple more under my belt before tomorrow. . . but with all of the other readings, please don't hate me if I don't get too much further!

I (sort of) took notes as I was reading, so I'm going to go ahead and include them in this post. On a side note, I was hesitant as I started to read (since I feel like I don't really "get" qualitative research), but I have really enjoyed the book so far. I can't help but wonder who, if anyone, has survived to this date.

So here's what I have:

Preface I

pg. xvi "planned confusion" -- great descriptor!

pg. xvi "a book that puts things in motion versus captures them in some still-life"

The book is designed to trouble the reader -- perhaps the page layout is indicative of the text? Enhances the text?

Preface II

Being "out" as someone diagnosed with HIV/AIDS -- interesting choice of words

Chapter 1

Smithies was nervous about using the group for her "own agenda." (But her awareness is a "good sign," correct?)

Smithies tested Lather with guidelines. They presented the research opportunity for the women (it seemed as though the women were in a position where they would feel comfortable saying no to the book).

Lather didn't like the "touchy feelingness" of the retreat -- YES! I have kind of gotten the [wrong?] impression that qualitative research is very touchy-feely.

"Angels. . . in their wanting to be 'messengers' to other women about HIV/AIDS."

Both authors were uncertain how to approach the book. Didn't want to seem audacious that they had the authority or divine right to tell the story. What were their research questions?

Chapter 2

Stages of grief, it seems, follows diagnosis

CR -- "I am HIV+" is a lot easier to say than "I have AIDS." Is it just because of the disease differentiation/stages? The wording of the latter seems to be more possessive which, I imagine, makes it that much more painful to say.

I've read the first 50 pages... I find the book interesting. It's horrible to think about all the things these women go through: getting diagnosed, having meds make them feel super sick, thinking they are going to die whenever they get a little cold or something common, not being able to have normal romantic relationships, feeling rejection from others, etc... I couldn't believe the story about the woman that was wrongly diagnosed! She thought she was HIV+ for 4 years!!!!!
It seems the HIV+ women become big supports for each other and almost develop a "community."

I'm having difficulty stopping to read the factual information in the boxes and the reflections from the authors. I wish there was less of that.

I read the first few pages about why they chose to include angels (pages 47-50). I understood parts of the rationale but not all. I'll read it again.

Thanks!

THIS IS COOL! IAM READING THIS WEEKEND! THANKS FOR SETTING THIS UP

-dave