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March Challenge - Coming of Age Autumn
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May
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Mar 08, 2014 03:18AM
Just making the same comment as Elaine about The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. Number 51 in the queue at the library so not convinced I will have this read completed before the end of March. Selected this book because there is so much talk about it, although it does not appear to be anything like my usual read. Have just completed And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hasseini. Would like to include this book in the challenge in the place of the former book if that's acceptable
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May, I haven't read And the Mountains Echoed yet, but I don't think it's a coming of age novel. In the shelving and the reviews I read through, there is no mention of coming of age.
Kathryn, who has read it, might have a comment on this? Anyone else who has read this one and can help out with the definition...
A shame about The Fault in Our Stars as that's a perfect choice....that's the way it is with libraries though unfortunately:)
Brenda wrote: "Elaine wrote: "So I've had a bit of a dilemma with this challenge. I really wanted to read The Fault in Our Stars
but there were so many r..."Thanks Brenda. I'm glad I was patient for once and didn't rush to buy it. My husband has banned me from buying anymore books until I read the huge pile I have here at home. But I'm not going to turn down free ones!!! :)
Mod
but there..."Oh definitely not! Free ones still take up space, but certainly no $s!
May wrote: "Just making the same comment as Elaine about The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. Number 51 in the queue at the library so not convinced I will have this read completed before the end of March. Se..."I've read it May and I looked at our criteria for the challange - I quote:
"...a coming-of-age story is one that focuses on the growth of a protagonist from youth to adulthood ("coming of age"). A journey or quest can help the main character grow in maturity but it can be any story where the main character is younger, and goes through struggle/conflict which teaches life lessons and the outcome changes them and makes them a wiser, more mature person..."
As the two children who trigger the story each go through their own struggles to become the adults that they do - and their story is complete in one book. Then yes, I would say this one fits the criteria. There are a heap of other characters that often take the readers attention off the main two, but in essence these characters are there to support the story of the original two children as they journey to adulthood and search for each other.
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Sally906 wrote: "May wrote: "Just making the same comment as Elaine about The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. Number 51 in the queue at the library so not convinced I will have this read completed before the end ..."Yes, I think I agree, Sally. At first I thought it wouldn't be, as it's not a traditional coming of age story, but it does show the struggles growing up of several children/young people throughout - it just goes on past the adolescence stage for the main characters to encompass their later life as well. And it is a great book!
Thank you troops for your input. Criteria was quite clear, and yes,it's a damned fine book
Finished my first for this challenge Paper Towns. For my second book I'm going to reread On the Jellicoe Road.
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Liam wrote: "We'll see :P"I hope for your sake its good Liam! Good Luck :)
I finished The Getting of Wisdom. Not a fan I'm afraid. Would you class Jasper Jones as a coming of age novel? I'm going to finish that before I start something else. If I finish that before the end of the month I will try to read To Kill a Mockingbird again.
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Would you class Jasper Jones as a coming of age novel? I'm going to finish that before I start something else...."
Yes JJ is a coming of age Belinda:) A great read too!
Done one for this challenge so far!
Something Wicked This Way Comes / Ray BradburyWas an interesting follow on to Dandelion Wine - so strange/otherwordly would be a good description...
Upon reflection I think the book I finished yesterday qualifies for this challenge, as well. It was The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
by Sherman Alexie. Although Junior/Arnold doesn't reach adulthood, he certainly goes through a lot of challenges that teach him about his culture, friendship and life (and death) in general. I really enjoyed it and gave it 4★. I'd never heard of the book or this author until I saw this article last weekend http://flavorwire.com/434697/25-ya-no... So it just goes to show that sometimes it pays to spend a minute or two and click-through!
Finished my first for this challenge The Fields by Kevin Maher (also my St Patrick's day book for the Autumn challenge). It started well with the story of a teenager growing up in Dublin in the 1980s but seemed to lose it's way about two thirds of the way in and I hated the ending, so only three stars from me I'm afraid. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...I'm halfway through my second coming of age novel The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach about a college baseball prodigy and am enjoying that much more (so far).
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Oh dear."
Keep going Liam! You have just over 2 weeks to go;P
I think i might read a few John Green books I haven't read yet
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A lot of people are reading John Green for this challenge Nikki:)
Just finished Jasper JonesLoved it! I would recommend it to everyone! Great coming of age book!
So that's two for the month...
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My review is at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I have finished my 2nd for this challenge
The Fault in Our Stars by John GreenI didn't enjoy it as much as To Kill a Mockingbird
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My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Have successfully completed all three for this challenge. WOW. Had concerns when I started, but really got into the swing and loved the challenge. Still on the library waiting list for the John Green novel and read today that it will be released as a movie mid April. Book first. Looks like a tear jerker. ......*reaching for tissues in anticipation.Thanks Team for your support and encouragement
I've realised the book I'm currently listening to also fits this challenge - Sister of My Heart by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. It's the story of 2 girls from the Chatterjee family (?spelling - this is the problem with listening to books!), distant cousins, who grew up together as sisters. As they enter adulthood, long-dead secrets are revealed and the 2 girls follow their separate paths (or so I assume from the stage I'm at - things could still change) and I'm hoping the secrets and their different lives don't irrevocably threaten their friendship... I'm hoping I finish it this month - I'm not quite halfway through yet, so I'll have to get a move on!
I'm almost finished Looking for Alibrandi and I can see how this would appeal to young readers, although it is a bit dated now....
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Congratulations to all who have read at least one of the challenge books!
Just finished reading To Kill a Mockingbird.I remember as a 14 year old dragging myself through it for school and thinking how boring. I've been reading reviews and people saying they loved it even at 7 years of age! Was there something wrong with me back then? Asked my 15 year old, who is now reading it for school what she thought. "It's really old and boring" she said.
Oh, must be a family thing! By the way, really enjoyed it this time round.
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Ok I know I've left it a bit late (only a week to go!) but I'm going to read Fault in our Stars by John Green - for two reasons - it looks like a good read - and because heaps of the kids (ok mainly the girls) keep asking to read the 'blue book' - and we now have 2 copies (and I can jump the reserve list :) because I'm the librarian!) - going away this weekend so going to pinch a copy to read this weekend
Mod
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Enjoy Bec!
Christina wrote: "Just finished The Age of Miracles. A very enjoyable read. 4★"I keep meaning to read this and then forget about it until,someone else mentions it :)
Adding it to my wish list again :)
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My review is at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished my second for this challenge The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach 4 Stars. It was more about relationships than baseball and the pressure of growing up as a sport prodigy with all the world watching. Not a book I would probably have read except for this challenge but I really enjoyed it.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
280 pages into Paksenarrion. I somehow think this isn't going to happen.
Is that a good thin or a bad thing with The Deed of Paksenarrion when you say it isn't going to happen?
I have read The Long Prospect: Text Classics and just finished The Book Thief for this challenge. The Book Thief lived up to my expectations. The unusual style worked for me and I fell in love with the characters. I raced through the last part of the book because I am off to see the movie tomorrow and I couldn't see the movie before finishing the book!
Finished looking for Alibrandi and Saving Francesca....both wonderful books
Jennifer wrote: "Finished looking for Alibrandi and Saving Francesca....both wonderful books"I enjoyed Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta but haven't read her other book Saving Francesca - actually I haven't read ANY of her other books :)
Valerie wrote: "I have read The Long Prospect: Text Classics and just finished The Book Thief for this challenge. The Book Thief lived up to my expectations. The unusual style worked f..."I haven't seen the movie yet - waiting till we can rent it as is cheaper :)
Aussie Readers
Books mentioned in this topic
Maya's Notebook (other topics)Maya's Notebook (other topics)
Write About Me (other topics)
The Long Prospect: Text Classics (other topics)
The Book Thief (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Melissa Pouliot (other topics)John Green (other topics)
Melina Marchetta (other topics)
Fiona McIntosh (other topics)
Garry Disher (other topics)
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