CR2: Book 14 A Matter of Life and Sex by Oscar Moore

A Matter of Life and Sex was published in 1992 and is a fictionalized biography of Hugo Harvey. It begins with a letter from Moore to Hugo's mother, whom he had met at Hugo's funeral. In this letter, Moore tries to explain why Hugo's story needed to be told and that it wasn't a direct reflection on his family. Hugo, who passes due to complications from AIDS in 1991, had only one regret and that was that he was survived by his parents.

Hugo's story begins when he is in grade school and learns to lie about how much money his family has. He is from the wrong side of the tracks (rather, the bottom of the hill), but is witty and likeable. His mother was a sensible woman with a famous temper. His father was unambitious and a bit of a carpet.
There are blinding clues as to how Hugo is going to develop sexually. He skips. He doesn't like football. He lets a perv diddle him in a toilet stall. He discovers various types of gay porn. He has threesomes in the woods. He runs away, and finds himself in orgies.

In the meantime, various and sundry lovers float in and out of his path, some causing confusion, some broken hearts, some oozing sores. Hugo has strained relations with his family. He opts to try religion. He abuses drugs. He is infected with HIV.

I loved how this book focused on details to hint at the bigger picture of Hugo's life. I enjoyed the back and forth of the non-linear narrative, bookended with letters to people Hugo loved: his parents, old schoolfriends, exes, former drug dealers.
Interesting enough for a character to be so rounded at such a young age, but more interesting to see Hugo at work, telling his own story with exagerration and sometimes, obvious lies.

Hugo battled with his own personality his whole life; he never saw himself the way others did. He had countless rounds of therapy that never quite helped.
And his deterioration due to his HIV infection broke my heart, not just because of his physical problems, but because it was clear his thoughts were getting the best of him. In the end, when all he seemed was a shell, that small child came back in tiny glimpses, and I had to put this book down and rest for a while.