Into the Widening World: International Coming-of-Age Stories

by John Loughery (Editor)

26 stories that explore universal rites of passage as well as culture-specific complexities of Nadine Gordimer, Gabriel García Marquez, Bharati Mukherjee, Ben Okri, Shirley Geok-Lin Lim, Nauguib Mahfouz, Margaret Drabble, Zoe Wicomb, B. Wongar, and more.

Genres: Short Stories

268 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1994

Reviews

[Eugene · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a book of short stories these are good. As a book of coming-of-age stories I am disappointed. Nearly every story has a dark or ominous tone. The stories often end badly or violently. I expect coming-of-age stories to have poignancy and pathos. I do not think of violence, murder, near deaths of children, and sexual abuse to be aspects of a young person's coming of age. These stories left me feeling hopeless for most of the characters. Rather than hopeful that they have learned a lesson of value that will take them into a widening world with some glimmer of hope for their futures.

Perhaps these stories are more realistic of coming of age in some cultures, but if life really is that gloomy for children I really don't know why we bring them into the world except out of sheer selfishness and lust.

[Cheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is presented as a collection of stories about young people coming of age around the world. I found it to be a misery to read, with the exception of one story (Borders). We have patricide, young students torturing others; a prostitute being marched through the streets while young children throw rocks and jeer, and endless parade of depressing scenes. There are stories that end abruptly and stories that trail off without end. One story (Exchange Value) is weirdly dark, but would have made a great Twilight Zone episode. Another story, (Some Are Born to Sweet Delight) gets points for having a truly unexpected ending. This is just not what I had expected from a book with the coming of age theme. I was actually happy to finish it and move on to better books.

[Kelly Paprocki · Rating 5 out of 5]

great collection of international shorts