Coming Out: Top Ten Novels
This month website which I write for is featuring articles and personal stories about coming out. Having always been a fan of reading, I navigated my way through my teenage years by devouring as much gay fiction as I could. It made me feel affirmed and like I belonged. It’s always good to know it’s not just you. Here are my top ten “coming out” novels:
1) Maurice by E.M. Forster:
This is one of the original classic gay
novels. Written around the time of War World I, it’s never going to be a smooth
sailing when Maurice discovers that he’s gay in a world where homosexuality is
illegal and considered a perversion. It’s a beautiful story, though, with some
gripping moments.
2) A Boy’s Own Story by Edmund White:
This literary masterpiece from 1986
outlines the coming of age of a young gay man in a tender and well written
account. The writing is lyrical and moving with an evocative and fascinating
story.
3) Running with Scissors by Augusten
Burroughs:
This is a
coming out story with a difference. Burroughs’ childhood was far from usual. He
grew up with an alcoholic father and a mentally ill mother, ended up being
adopted by his mother’s psychiatrist and his eccentric family and had a
relationship with a 33 year men whilst in his early teens. Memoirs don’t get
much more compelling, brutal or funnier than this one, thanks to Burroughs’
comical take on his life. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Running-Scissors-Memoir-Augusten-Burroughs/dp/1843541513/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1347107448&sr=1-1
4) Sucking Sherbet Lemons: by Michael
Carson:
Young Martin
Benson is a teenage boy who’s gradually coming to terms with being gay in a
predominately Irish catholic community in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It’s
a humorous and touching book of a boy’s dilemma between the joys of discovering
gay sex and the guilt instilled on him by a religion that labels him as sinful.
It’s is also the first of a trilogy which goes on to follow Benson as he
navigates his way through life.
5) Fifty Ways of saying Fabulous by Graeme
Aitken:
Billy is a young
boy living on a farm in New Zealand. He’s not quite cut out for farm life and
spends his time imagining he’s Judy from “Lost in Space”, fumbling with a
friend and lusting after the 19 year old farm hand. It’s a very funny and
entertaining read. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fifty-Saying-Fabulous-Graeme-Aitken/dp/074725298X/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_3
6) Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You
by Peter Cameron:
James
is a misfit and in discord with his surroundings and fractured family. Caught
in a limbo between leaving school and starting university he feels adrift. His
psychiatrist is driving him more insane and his crush on a co-worker is getting
more than he can manage. This is an above average account of the pain and
confusion that sometimes accompanies being a teenager. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Someday-This-Pain-Will-Useful/dp/0312428162/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
7) Mysterious Skin by Scott Heim:
This is a dark and at times disturbing
read. It’s a coming of age novel but with a twist. Brian is a guileless
innocent and forges an unlikely friendship with savvy cynic and part time male
prostitute, Neil. The novel is fast paced and at times shocking as the two move
towards a conclusion which causes Brian and Neil to re-evaluate their shared past. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mysterious-Skin-Scott-Heim/dp/0060841699/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1347108912&sr=1-1
8) A Home at the End of the World by Michael
Cunningham:
Pulitzer
Prize winner Cunningham has created a moving account of the extraordinary
situation which Bobby, Claire and Jonathan, three friends and lovers find
themselves in. The book explores how people manage to find a place for
themselves and is an accomplished piece of work. http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-Home-at-End-World/dp/0241954533/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1347109241&sr=1-1-spell
9) How I Paid for College by Marc Acito:
This camp tale is reminiscent of a 1980s
teen movie but with a musical theatre loving cast of misfits and a gay main
character. It’s a light and funny book with lots of tongue in cheek moments and
an amusing storyline. http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Paid-College-Friendship-Musical/dp/140880221X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1347109542&sr=1-1
10) Terre Haute by Will Aitken:
Jared is the son of a wealthy family
growing up in Indiana who happens to fancy boys. He’s sly, manipulative and
cunning and has a predatory nature. When he enters into a relationship with an
older man he quickly gains the upper hand. This is a moody, erotic tale which
is really compelling to read but also makes the reader wince a little. Jared is
definitely an anti-hero with a difference. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Terre-Haute-Will-Aitken/dp/0385298722/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1347109819&sr=1-1
Happy reading
people.
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