Coming Of Age

Twelve-year-old Fee is a shy Korean American boy and a newly named section leader of the first sopranos in his local boys’ choir. But when Fee learns how the director treats his section leaders, he is so ashamed he says nothing of the abuse, not even when Peter, his best friend, is in line to be next. When the director is arrested, Fee tries to forgive himself for his silence. But when Peter takes his own life, Fee blames only himself. In the years that follow he slowly builds a new life, teaching near his hometown. There he meets a young student who is the picture of Peter and is forced to confront the past he believed was gone. Told with “the force of a dream and the heft of a life,”* Edinburgh marked Chee “as a major talent whose career will bear watching” (Publishers Weekly).  “A coming-of-age tale in the grand Romantic tradition, where passions run high, Cupid stalks Psyche, and love shares the dance floor with death . . . A lovely, nuanced, never predictable portrait of a creative soul in the throes of becoming.” —Washington PostA Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year Winner of the James Michener/Copernicus Society Fellowship Prize Lambda Literary Foundation Editor’s Choice Award   “[Chee] says volumes with just a few incendiary words.” —New York Times   “Arresting . . . profound and poetic . . . Chee’s voice is worth listening to.” —San Francisco Chronicle   “Alexander Chee gets my vote for the best new novelist I’ve read in some time. Edinburgh is moody, dramatic—and pure.” —Edmund White

Hold is a powerful coming-of-age novel that explores the themes of identity, family, and friendship in a multicultural setting. The story follows Belinda, a Ghanaian housegirl who travels to London to befriend Amma, a wayward teenager. As their unlikely friendship grows, both characters must come to terms with their pasts and learn to embrace who they truly are. Donkor's writing is both intimate and insightful, offering a unique perspective on the experience of Ghanaian immigrants in London. Overall, Hold is a must-read for anyone interested in multicultural literature and the complexities of personal identity.

"Pizza Girl" is a unique coming-of-age story that explores themes of grief, motherhood, and obsession in a fresh and funny way. The protagonist's charmingly dysfunctional personality and her complicated relationship with a customer make for a captivating read. The book is perfect for fans of audacious and wryly funny novels like "The Idiot" and "Convenience Store Woman".

Call Me by Your Name is the story of a sudden and powerful romance that blossoms between an adolescent boy and a summer guest at his parents' cliffside mansion on the Italian Riviera.  During the restless summer weeks, unrelenting but buried currents of obsession, fascination, and desire intensify their passion as they test the charged ground between them and verge toward the one thing both already fear they may never truly find again: total intimacy. André Aciman's critically acclaimed debut novel is a frank, unsentimental, heartrending elegy to human passion.

Worlds collide when four young women begin college at the prestigious New York University. Shy, literate Riley, overachieving but naive Lona, laid-back West Coaster Ren, and working-class girl Merissa claim newfound freedom living in the big city. But that freedom comes at a price: roommate drama, mysterious love interests, school troubles, and family conflicts. Welcome to adulthood!New York Four is a smart, charming, and stunningly rendered page-turner from the New York Times best-selling duo Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly. This edition collects the entire series under one cover for the first time.

Moving between Ghana and London, Hold is an intimate, moving, powerful coming-of-age novel. It’s a story of friendship and family, shame and forgiveness; of learning what we should cling to, and when we need to let go.Belinda knows how to follow the rules. As a housegirl, she has learnt the right way to polish water glasses, to wash and fold a hundred handkerchiefs, and to keep a tight lid on memories of the village she left behind when she came to Kumasi.Mary is still learning the rules. Eleven-years old and irrepressible, the young housegirl-in-training is the little sister Belinda never had.Amma has had enough of the rules. A straight-A pupil at her exclusive South-London school, she has always been the pride of her Ghanaian parents. Until now. Watching their once-confident teenager grow sullen and wayward, they decide that sensible Belinda might be just the shining example Amma needs.So Belinda is summoned from Ghana to London, and must leave Mary to befriend a troubled girl who shows no desire for her friendship. She encounters a city as bewildering as it is thrilling, and tries to impose order on her unsettling new world.As the Brixton summer turns to Autumn, Belinda and Amma are surprised to discover the beginnings of an unexpected kinship. But when the cracks in their defences open up, the secrets they have both been holding tightly threaten to seep out.From: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hold-Michael...

This heartfelt novel is a journey through the trials and joys of life, beautifully told through the perspective of a brother and sister. With its profound exploration of love and the intricate dynamics of relationships, "When God was a Rabbit" will leave you deeply moved and rekindle your belief in the power of human connection. It is a book that will resonate with anyone who appreciates the complexities of family and the enduring bonds of love.

"When God was a Rabbit" would be perfect for those who enjoy heart-warming and quirky coming-of-age stories. The book follows the life of a family over four decades, with a focus on the bond between a brother and sister. The standout feature is the eccentricity and quirkiness of the characters, making it an enjoyable read for those who enjoy stories with a little bit of whimsy.

The Rehearsal could be a good read for individuals interested in exploring the complexities of teenage desire and the blurring of boundaries between public and private world. The novel combines both evocative and shrewd writing to create a story that stays with the reader even after finishing. The exploration of how public perception and performance affect personal relationships is a unique and thought-provoking feature that makes The Rehearsal worth reading.