The Storm, Christopher Zyda
The Storm, Christopher Zyda
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The Storm
One Voice from the AIDS Generation

Author: Christopher Zyda

Narrator: Paul Boehmer

Unabridged: 13 hr 2 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/19/2021

Synopsis

It all begins in early 1984, when Chris, a twenty-one-year-old UCLA English literature major, risks ostracism when he comes out of the closet to his fraternity brothers just as the AIDS pandemic is beginning to explode in gay communities across the United States. Soon afterward, Chris meets and falls in love with Stephen, a graduate of Yale University and Law School, and the two of them build a life together as their friends start to fall sick and die from the spreading storm of AIDS.

Stephen begins showing symptoms of AIDS in early 1986, and Chris faces a difficult choice as he is certain that he, too, eventually will be stricken by the disease. He abandons his writing career and attends the UCLA business school so that he can earn enough money to pay for healthcare during Stephen's illness.

The Storm is filled with heart, optimism, and love, interspersed with Los Angeles history, gay and lesbian history, AIDS history, and the backdrop of the 1980s and 1990s. It is an unflinching and, at times, raw memoir of perseverance, integrity, forgiveness, the power of love, spiritual growth, Carpe Diem, dreams, and, most of all: survival and ultimate triumph.

About Christopher Zyda

Christopher Zyda was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1984. In 1989, he earned a master's degree in business administration from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. He served as Disney's chief investment officer, overseeing more than $4 billion of company investments. In 2007, he launched Mozaic, a boutique investment management firm.

Chris serves on the Board of Visitors for the UCLA Department of English, the Advisory Board for Veterans in Media & Entertainment, and the Advisory Board for the Landing Zone Grace Warrior Retreat. In addition to investments and finance, Chris enjoys CrossFit, running, skiing, playing the piano, and writing.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Eugene on March 09, 2021

The good: Since I am a gay man and am the same age as Zyda to within a month, I find much in this book that is relatable. What he says about the medical aspects of AIDS is old news to me, but I am sure that readers who are younger or who were less closely connected to the AIDS crisis will find it us......more

Goodreads review by Kelley on March 01, 2021

In the 1980's, which was not so long ago, the outlook for the world felt fairly bleak: the US / USSR cold war was charging to a dangerous crescendo; crack cocaine devastated US inner cities and some suburbs; the environment was without any stewardship whatsoever to address major international nuclea......more

Goodreads review by Trevor on January 10, 2021

This is the best memoir I’ve ever read. It’s heartfelt, it’s honest, and it’s ultimately inspiring. It’s incredible to have such an intimate view into what it was like to be gay during one of the scariest times in LGBTQ history. Chris is a masterful storyteller and holds nothing back. If you are hea......more

Goodreads review by Carole on January 10, 2021

Chris Zyda has opened his soul in “The Storm” and I dearly hope he has exorcised the past hurts and unbelievable pain he endured. I’ve know Chris since he was a student at UCLA. He kindly credits me with helping him master Lotus spreadsheets in the course of his work for ASUCLA. I loved his candor a......more

Goodreads review by John on December 09, 2020

A beautiful, honest, sincere account of a time we all too rarely see in books — the age of AIDS. Though you may be more accustomed to reading candid memoirs from people who are famous or have enormous accomplishments, the “normalcy” of Christopher Zyda is what makes his remembrance of what he lost a......more

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