Behind The Mask
Customer Reviews - Amazon
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A MUST READ, March 9, 2009
By George Abraham, New York, NY
Mr.Byron Nease is not just a skillful actor and singer, but, like all of us, has had to face much adversity and tragedy in his life. In this sense he is "Everyman," who inspires us all to face our difficulties and resolve them in a proactive way. His spirituality and upbringing have served him well, as he is a man of faith and hope. We can all learn from his words that we are able to come back from the ashes of defeat to victory.
I Have Been Touched by This Wonderful Story, February 4, 2009
By Kay Ross – Banning, CA
The author shows his vulnerability. His journey has been a challenge every step of the way, and yet he is a survivor. I really appreciate the honesty and the gut wrenching horror tales of a childhood gone awry. The author is so real and so full of life despite the barriers he has had to conquer. I hope many people will read this book and live better lives as a result of so doing. And, finally, a big hug for Byron from a devoted fan.
Byron Nease Is An Inspiration, A Messenger of Hope, January 8, 2009
By Dr. Gerald Goldhaber – NYC
You cannot stop reading Byron Nease's autobiographical work until you have read the last word in the epilogue! It is a book of propositions and counter propositions. You will be shocked and angered with his stories of maternal physical abuse yet soothed by his mother's later warmness and even shades of motherly love when Byron confronts a potentially deadly disease. You will be frustrated by Byron's rigid minister father and his antediluvian views of homosexuality, stubbornly clinging to selected religious passages to "encourage" Byron to change his orientation and deliver grandchildren and later in agreement with his father's coming to grips with and managing even in a loving way his latter years with Byron.
You will laugh and cry at the stories about his sisters and his stepparents (mom and dad) and be perplexed yet have total clarity about his loving caring for his aged and dying grandmother, a woman for whom class may be an understatement. You will be in puzzlement over the stringent budget of a Broadway leading actor and yet his outlandish spending, similar to a wealthy art collector, as he assembled his worldly traveled collection of art, artifacts and as Byron calls them, his "tsotchkes". You will be saddened by his HIV Positive diagnosis but in constant awe at his ability to fight back, seek new drugs, remedies and surgeries, in short, his survivor instincts displayed while he chose to live every day as if it were his last, culminating in a several laps around the world trip, all paid for by a luxury cruise line where he entertained a taxing "two shows/week".
And finally, while you are exhausted from your non-stop reading marathon, you will have enough energy on the last page to cheer, to give Byron the standing ovation he so richly deserves for bringing hope, courage and love to all of us, his most important audience as every person's true Leading Man, The Man Without a Mask.
A thoughtful life, April 2, 2009
By Mary Longorio, Eagle Mountain, UT
Ann Nease sped away from her from her home and husband to go to Mt. San Antonia Hospital to deliver Byron Nease by caesarean section. Born into a dysfunctional family situation, Byron is the son of a third generation Nazarene minister and a volatile, emotionally unstable mother. By the time the author arrived, the marriage was essentially over. The good memories of a mother with a beautiful singing voice are a major theme of Byron's childhood. Unfortunately, he was caught in a tug of war between his parents, his grandparents and his mother, and often at the mercy of his mother's increasingly unsuitable husbands. His father's remarriage finally provided him with a more stable family life. By then, he was already hiding a huge secret.....he was gay. There was no place in his father's beliefs for a gay son. For years he withheld that part of his life from family, fearing their judgment and rejection. He felt as if he had to don specific masks to be accepted.
Byron Nease writes "It seems my entire life has been about what it means to be a leading man." Behind the Mask is his journey to come to terms with his family, his sexuality and later, his positive HIV status. Filled with stories from his 25 years in entertainment ....working with the likes of Angela Lansbury, Marvin Hamlish, Bonnie Franklin and John Riatt and traveling the world, Behind the Mask is written with a buoyant humorous tone. He was able to play the role of the romantic lead Raul and later, the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera.
Throughout the changes and challenges he relies heavily on family and friends (Whoopi Goldberg, Bonnie Franklin, Jane Pauley, and AIDS activist Mary Fisher among others). Behind the Mask is a wonderful, engaging read, the story of a man and his work in the theatre. A man who just happens to be gay and HIV positive, but is determined to live life to the fullest and to not hide anymore. His attitude is contagious!
Something for Everyone, December 7, 2008
By Charles P. Brown – Santa Fe, NM
This is more than a memoir. It includes revelations about the author's family to which every family can relate. The reader wants to learn more about these fascinating characters and find out what else could possibly happen. Despite some "down" episodes, the tenor of the book is uplifting and hopeful. No question about the courage it takes to write a book of this caliber. Congratulations Byron Nease on a job well done.
Well Worth Reading, November 24, 2008
By Mary A. Hudspeth – Texas
As an avid reader, I find myself frequently reading quickly to the end of a book and two days later not remembering what that book was about. Not so Byron Nease's book. This one has stayed with me and will stay with me for as many years as I have coming.
The story of Mr. Nease's youth, his family's turmoil, the cruelty, both intentional and unintentional, he suffered will break your heart, but his determination to succeed will turn you into a cheerleader. And, he does succeed even with the setbacks of a severe illness, failures along the way, and the need to reinvent himself over and over again. With his fantastic voice and acting ability, he attained the theatrical stardom to which he aspired.
I can't not mention Mr. Nease's ability to express himself beautifully and intelligently, with the use of a vocabulary so often missing from current so-called "literature." He has the capacity to paint beautiful word pictures so you are able to not only read his story, but visually imagine the characters and places as well. Read and savor this book. You won't be sorry.
A lesson in COURAGE, May 4, 2009
By Serenduke – New Hope, PA
In Behind the Mask No More, Byron Nease offers the reader an example of how to live an authentic life - how to have the courage to present the real you to the world - without fear - in order to live fully and truly. Rather than being didactic, he does this by example - laying bare very personal details which most of us would make every effort to "Mask". After reading of Mr. Nease's struggles with health and family issues, amidst highlights of an impressive show business career,you will surely feel better armed to deal with your own difficulties and strife with confidence, freedom, LOVE and HUMOR. Also, if you ever have the chance to hear Byron Nease perform live - you must do it. He has one of the best voices you will ever hear.
A tragic and uplifting story, April 30, 2009
By eclectricreviewer – Iowa
Byron "Bud" Nease was born into a family in turmoil and was whisked away from his minister father and his two sisters by his neurotic, actress/singer mother at a very young age to a life of abuse and confusion.
He spends most of his life explaining to his father that he is Christian and he is gay. Though his father is not happy with Bud's "choice", he does not banish him from his life.
When Bud is diagnosed as HIV positive, his life and career are threatened due to the side effects of the many drugs he is taking. However, he proves that he is a survivor and he has his family's and friend's support through the difficulties he encounters.
As for Bud's professional life, he is a singer and actor who has many wonderful famous friends who support him in his happiest and his darkest moments.
I enjoyed Mr. Nease's story for the notable strength and perseverance that he demonstrates for the many obstacles that he has had to overcome. The many photographs in his book are very telling and help the reader to visualize the people and places he loved so much. Though the book was written more like a diary, which some people may not like, I found it an enjoyable read.
truly inspirational, April 18, 2009
By grumpydan – Andover, NJ
Byron Nease has written a painful and revealing autobiography. His journey from a scarred young boy to a successful Broadway actor is described in detail. He describes his life in a dysfunctional family, the torment of being fat as a youngster and holding back his true self from his family for many years. He lets the reader share his experience from dinner theater, cabaret and cruise singer to Broadway leading man. It takes a lot of guts for Mr. Nease to come forward and tell not only his family but now his readers the life of being HIV positive. I applaud his courage and letting us into his personal life.
Nease removes the metaphorical mask of his life, April 5, 2009
By Charles Ashbacher – Marion, IA
If you were conscious and intelligently followed the news in the 1980's in America, then you will understand what a triumph this book describes. Nease was diagnosed as HIV positive over 20 years ago, and in the 1980's such a diagnosis was a nearly universal death sentence. Fortunately for Nease and many others, the advances in treatment of the potential for AIDS came quickly enough for him to remain productive in his career of acting and singing in theatre productions. One point that Nease also made clear is how brave the females in the plays were. Even though the actresses knew that Nease was HIV-positive, they did not hesitate to engage in the kissing that the role required, something that could not be faked. While the risk was small, a slight cut in the mouth or lips of Nease could have transmitted the virus. One cannot overstate the courage these women had at a time when there was more than a little hysteria over the disease of AIDS.
Nease openly admits that he is gay and claims that it is innate, although his life has been one where the opponents of the claim that "you are born gay" would cite as an example of someone driven there. Nease's mother was alternately domineering, abusive and then loving and his father was a conservative Christian minister. His childhood was a difficult one as he was also moved from place to place and those relatives that tried to help were sometimes treated very poorly.
Nease is brutally honest about his life, successes, struggles, triumphs, relationship failures and the people who provided assistance through his life. One especially touching moment is when he describes his aged Granny (his term) coming to live with him after suffering a series of strokes that meant she could no longer care for herself. When it was time for her to take a bath, they had an initial minor standoff, but reason prevailed and Nease was allowed to bathe his grandmother. There was another point of reluctance when Nease needed to "wash down there", yet Granny defused the situation by telling him "... don't worry, nothing down there but cobwebs!" It was an amusing story and one that reminded me of my deceased grandmother, like so many elderly women, she also lost the veil of polite speech in the interest of reality.
Nease has been a success in life, rising above some very serious problems to star in a lengthy production of "Phantom of the Opera" and other theatrical productions, his life had been a metaphorical mask that he has voluntarily removed to lay bare his very soul. I found it a fascinating story.
Meet Byron Nease, March 26, 2009
By Amos Lassen – Little Rock, AR
Byron Nease is a Broadway theater veteran and he gives us a story of hope in the face of stiff odds. He starred in "Phantom of the Opera" but that was not the first time he wore a mask, His life is one of lessons learned and those are what he tells us about. He suffered abuse in a dysfunctional family and as he chased his dream of a professional theater career, he was forced to dealing with many issues. He had to take care of an older family member and he, himself, was diagnosed as HIV positive.
Here is his autobiography and it is shocking and makes the reader quite angry when learning how he was physically abused by his mother. However, when he was diagnosed with HIV, his mother shared her warmth with him. His father was a strict and rigid Christian minister who abhorred his son's homosexuality and tried to use religion to change him so he would have grandchildren. Eventually he and his father came to some kind of terms.
Nease became an art collector and he learned to fight back at HIV. He is a survivor and he has lived everyday as if it is his last day. This is the story of a life that is both beautiful and painful and not everyone can write such a personal book. It is not just a memoir but a look at a family that Nease has put under a microscope and even with the sadness, the book uplifts.
It is a beautifully written look at a man that otherwise we may never have met. I am so glad he took the time to invite us into his life.
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