Memorizing You, by Dan Skinner

[Aislinn]

*Note: Since this is a coming of age story, some may classify it as YA, but it doesn't feel like YA to me, especially since it's not contemporary and given that we follow the main character ultimately into his mid-50's. Also, I was disappointed in the editing, mostly for sloppy misses on simple errors(missing/misplaced articles and prepositions) and the formatting problems that occasionally bedevil ebooks.

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This one's going to linger for a while. It's (mostly) the coming of age story of David, a quiet gay teen growing up in the late 60's/early 70's. It reminds me a bit of sitting next to someone on a winter's eve, listening to them reminisce about their life. It's quiet and contemplative, occasionally funny, sweet, and devastating. There's something in its tone that seems similar to Call Me by Your Name.

I fell in love with the characters in this book, both the main protagonists as well as the secondary characters. Rosemary and Connor were interestingly complex; Judy and the crew surrounding her were quirky and engaging; Dave's parents were loving and supportive, while Ryan's were dysfunctional and frustrating. Together, they created a rich tapestry of experiences and relationships for David and Ryan to navigate.

The use of language is lovely through the whole story, with Ryan especially expressing some thoughts evoking beautiful imagery. The book captured the intensity and all-encompassing nature of first love, juxtaposed with the constraints and pressures of society's views towards being gay, particularly in that era. Ryan expressed it so well when he asked David if he had made plans for his life in the way that little girls dream of their someday weddings: I'll tell you why you haven't, Dave. It's because you can't dream in the light, if you can't live in it.

What ultimately transpires is heartbreaking, yet we're left with a tiny ray of hope by the end. I've got an image in my mind for what comes next, and I will cling to that view.