Adam (and sequel Blue Sky Adam) – Anthony McDonald

[PaperMoon]

Sixteen going on seventeen can be that age which heralds great internal angst as well as opening up the unforeseen wonders of life. For young Adam – his grand adventure comes about as his family is required to relocate for 12 months to countryside France due to his father’s work commitments. The book opens with Adam up in the trees and literally falling on top of a dark haired nature-boy with unsettling eyes and a man-child demeanour, possibly mentally-emotionally younger than his years.

From there – Adam finds himself living in two separate worlds, two different lives. One – as an ex-patriot Brit, sort of fitting in with local French teenagers at school, dutiful son, budding musician (since the author comes from a classical music background, he brings resonant reality to Adam’s developing skills as a cellist and performer). The other – a secret existence, exploring the wilds of the countryside and woodlands with the older Sylvain (mostly uneducated, simple and straightforward 22 year old), and eventually the inevitable explorations of each other’s body, heart and mind.

Adam’s biggest struggle over the last four months of his idyllic overseas stint is spent trying to keep his two worlds separate – stopping friends, family and the local populace from discovering the true nature of his relationship with Sylvain as well trying to work out the hidden secrets of his heart – who does he truly love and cherish … and believe you me, Adam has the unenviable task of deciding between no less than THREE different but shaggable suitors. The book proved very gripping (couldn’t put it down) as Adam strives to find his ‘voice’, his place in the world and who to entrust with himself; there are of course the thrilling declarations of love and painful betrayals along the way. Our sweetly confused and lovable protagonist gets unexpected advice and help from school friends as well as an older visiting world-class pianist and former child prodigy.

Using remarkably vivid descriptions of the seasonal changing countryside terrain, landscapes and flora – the book crescendos towards the climatic end when Adam finds matters shockingly taken out of his hands in an unexpected twist of events (I didn’t see this coming). His almost idyllic existence is shaken upside down as his secrets are unintentionally heralded to the world. I was quite nervous starting the coda at the end of the book which takes place a few months after his world comes apart to see what eventuated for both Adam and Sylvain. Some people may experience some difficulty accepting the age gap between these two … for me, they seemed on developmentally and emotionally with each other given Sylvain’s special circumstances and I became fine with it.

The author writes in a wonderfully warm beautiful style, the prose reads as though recounted through the fond golden gaze of nostalgic memory, of past warm youthful late summertime days. The feel of the book reminds of somewhat of Andre Anciman’s Call Me By Your Name. A judicious use of French added to rather than detracted from my reading, this despite my unfamiliarity with the language.

I’ve also read the sequel – Blue Sky Adam which proved also very engaging and which picks up Adam’s life journey and emotional development several years after the first book. Whilst the sequel brings with it a host of boyfriend troubles (four guys this time round!), financial woes of young adulthood, music career struggles and a major life ‘sea-change’ for our likeable protagonist, I still prefer the first book more. Both books are worthy of a re-read for me though.

[Ulysses]

Anthony McDonald's "Adam" is an unusual book. Too mature for a Young Adult audience, it is nonetheless all about the irrational emotional upheavals that influence even the smartest, wisest teenage boy. Adam is indeed smart,and smugly aware of it. He is also talented, resourceful, brave - sort of a boy scout. Except that he's also rapidly realizing that he's gay, and with equally rapid abandon throws himself into an affair with a French farmer's son who's twenty-two and possibly a few bricks shy of a full load. Oh, Adam.

And for all of Adam's bad choices, for all of his willful teenaged self-justification, for all his raging hormones that seem to push him ever deeper into the mess he's created; I couldn't help but love and admire this kid. Because his heart is not only in the right place, it is large and generous and understands that love might just be more important than rules and adult attitudes.

One of the great joys of this book is the richness with which McDonald develops the characters - even the incidental characters who hover at the edges of the story - only to dart into the limelight for a brilliant moment at the center of the narrative. His English friends, Michael and Sean; his French friends, Christophe and Thierry; his parents, Hugh and Jennifer; his mother's friend, a celebrated concert pianist, Gary. The book is largely from Adam's point of view, but his interactions with the other players in his drama give the vivid impression of an ensemble cast, and the startling - in some ways heartbreaking - denouement ends up feeling like the creative effort of a well-rehearsed team.

As an avid reader of both YA novels and m/m romances, I found Adam to be a hybrid that touched me and intrigued me by turns. How nice that McDonald has written a sequel.

[Ulysses]

Anthony McDonald's beautifully written sequel to "Adam," is called "Blue Sky Adam" for a very specific reason. It suggests the limitless possibilities of an unbounded future, full of choices. But it also very specifically refers to something that Sylvain Maury says toward the end of this book. Both of these clues to the book's title suggest the complexity and emotional nuances that fill this novel. The vivid setting in France's Bordeaux wine region, and the interweaving of Adam's budding career as a cellist, serve to highlight the true core of this book: the recognition of love as a supremely important part of one's life.

Adam could be my son, agewise, and perhaps that historical and chronological distance explains the cluelessly wrong choices Adam makes during his emotional road trip. Adam loves easily and generously, in a way that young gay men seem to be able to do today. But he doesn't always--ever?--think about the ramifications of his actions. He's a smart, thoughtful, charming young man, who makes you want to smack your forehead as he blunders into the world of possibilities laid at his feet.

What makes Adam a character you can ultimately love yourself--and what makes this book ultimately more satisfying than the first volume--is that Adam grows. He learns from his mistakes, and he begins to see clearly what matters most to him, and how he can hold onto his treasure before it slips away. I particularly admire the fact that McDonald has not created a fantasy world without homophobia; in fact he uses the truth about homophobia in an enormously effective way to drive the plot--and Adam's development as a man in full.

"Adam" and "Blue Sky Adam" together create a beautiful, emotionally satisfying literary experience that will transport you and bring tears to your eyes.

[PaperMoon]

Ulysses wrote: "Adam" and "Blue Sky Adam" together create a beautiful, emotionally satisfying literary experience that will transport you and bring tears to your eyes. "

I couldn't agree with you more Ulysses. McDonald is an excellent writer.