The film that rises from the ashes.
Read Like a Writer
Chapters 18-23
The loss of Xavier feels like yet another heartbreak in Aaron’s life, though he does go on to continue his work with other stars of the time.
In this chapter, I was struck by the passage on P.191 where Newson describes the studios taking the safer bet when it came to hiring white actors because of their lack of obligation to speak out on social issues. And while of course, we’re in the 60s at this point in the book, boy did that ring true in today’s climate, for me, thinking about ESPN’s recent firing of Ryan Clark.
Here is where we are reminded of how poignant fiction can be. Where it hits us with hard truths, and hopefully, readers can glean what this means in current life as well. It’s put so plainly here, but the fictionalization always softens the blow. Self-help is often lauded around growth and development and there are great books out there, but we undersell the value of fiction to open up worlds, create empathy, and showcase political and socio-economic perils.
The conclusion of chapter 18 takes us right up to act three of the book. Here, we learn that after all that time, with Horace now dead and gone, Skylight bought the rights back to produce a film about the war hero.
This is such a bittersweet moment in the text, which Aaron exhibits by his reaction. But even as the reader, it was such a traumatic ending to Horace’s Hollywood experience, and to bring it back around only after he died, seemed a special brand of cruel. The emotion this evokes, is only another testament to Newson’s writing that feels “alive.”
Aaron is finally able to reconnect with Xavier after some time has passed and Xavier’s fame has grown. But we see a more radicalized version of him here, seeing the disparate worlds of thought between the old friends when it comes to politics, and how they see the times. Rasheed does character well in that everyone is very distinguishable, and they stay true to their particular archetype set for the story. I felt that here in their exchange.
Ultimately, Aaron is able to convince Xavier to take the film on. In this chapter, there is a moment of tension between Aaron and Kimberly as she senses something between Xavier and Aaron. Aaron receives the script which seems to leave a lot to be desired, concocting a love story that didn’t actually exist in Horace’s life and reducing Aaron’s role with him in the navy to comic relief.
Knowing the author’s love for research, there are portions that strike me as having to be true because they are too specific, but also, eye-opening to the true struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community in the 50s and 60s. In this line on P. 228, it talks about Antonio’s apartment lease “outlining explicitly defined sex outside of wedlock as a ‘lascivious and immoral act,’ which was likened to prostitution and grounds for immediate eviction." These are the nuggets that Newson inserts that always make me feel like I learned something while reading as well, which I personally enjoy.
At the end of this chapter, I did find myself wondering how Aaron had so much inside information on Antonio as the narrator. It made me question whether this was a display of his ability to do background checks on people as a fixer, or almost a switch into becoming an all-knowing narrator.
By chapter 22, Aaron references his marriage breaking up, and I did wonder if that felt a bit anti-climatic. Like, I wanted Kimberly to feel a bit more 3D than being a religious zealot, but maybe that was honestly par for the course for the time period, and them both being in a marriage that was much more of convenience than anything else.
We also get into Xavier’s plan to usurp the film and make it into what he believes the true story is. Which we know is essentially foreshadowing that this isn’t going to end well.
By chapter 23, the film is finished and edited, to which they view a rough cut that makes Aaron a bit uneasy based on how Xavier played up the relationship between Horace and Aaron for the world to see. There is a private viewing, where all are celebrating, but we end the chapter with this haunting line:
“Our joy would be snuffed out the next morning.”
And we continue reading so that we know what the heck happened that quickly.
With Love and a dog-eared page,
Ashley
One more week to go! Chapters 24-29 to round out this selection. We can’t wait to chat with Rasheed on August 30th at 10am PT at Reparations Club.
YOUR READING SCHEDULE
We'll move through the book together over five weeks, with our final gathering in Week 6. Here's the pace:
Week 1 (July 26) — Chapters [Letter, Chapters 1-5]: Let the voice in. No pressure to analyze yet — just read.
Week 2 (August 2) — Chapters [6–11]: We start to look at the seams.
Week 3 (August 9) — Chapters [12–17]: Mid-read Nook conversation (details to come).
Week 4 (August 16) — Chapters [18-23]: The home stretch begins.
Week 5 (August 23) — Chapters [24–29]: Finish the book. Sit with it.
Week 6 (August 30) — The Gathering: In-person (+ virtual option) @ Reparations Club
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📚JOIN US
We will close out the book discussion with a summer gathering at Reparations Club, one of Los Angeles's most essential Black-owned bookstores on August 30th, 10am-11:30am. If you haven't picked up your copy yet, we'd love for you to grab it directly from them — it's a small act that keeps community-centered spaces like this one alive, and it means something that our dollars go there.
→ Order from Reparations Club:https://rep.club/products/only-one-sin
Use discount code: BOOKCLUB10 for 10% off.
Not in LA? Make sure you are subscribed to our YouTube channel, where we will stream the conversation.
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This year, we're also doing something new. We've created a Read Like a Writer club on Bookum, a platform built specifically for book communities. Think of the club as the space between our emails — where the conversation doesn't have to wait for next week.
Join us there for casual conversations and annotations between emails.
See you inside.
