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Coming of age challenge
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Kim
(last edited Sep 11, 2009 05:24AM)
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Sep 11, 2009 03:45AM
I've seen certain people choose Water for elephants for 5.9. I really want to read this book- does it qualify under the coming of age part of the challenge? I have it reserved at the library- but can't tell from the write up.
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Yea it would work, the main character is an elderly man. An awesome elderly man at that.
Thank you for that- might make that one the next in the tbr list as soon as I collect it.
Kim, Water for Elephants is a PERFECT fit for this challenge. I *ADORED* this book! ^.^
May I read The Secret Life of Bees for this task?
RE: Secret Life of Bees — I think so. I'm trying to remember back to last year when I read it.... And I think so. I wrote this in my review: "...it's more about how she grows and learns to cope with her problems." That sounds promising! And 22 people have shelved it "coming-of-age," which is also quite promising.
Janice wrote: "May I read The Secret Life of Bees for this task?"I just watched that movie...and I would think yes, but we'll see what Cynthia says. It's been awhile though since I read the book.
Janice wrote: "May I read The Secret Life of Bees for this task?" I LOVED this book. I sure hope you get the go-ahead from Cynthia for this task. I think it fits. If you haven't posted this question to the more general 'Questions' folder you might want to do that. I think that Cynthia monitors that folder more frequently than some of the other ones.
I saw the book on CD Cut by Patricia McCormick and wondered if it would work for this challenge. It looks like it might fit? I will also post this question in the 'Questions' folder too just to make sure it is seen.
When you find out if she has OK'd it, please post back here. :-) I try to keep up with all the various post topics, but it's hard. I've had "Secret Life of Bees" on my bookshelf for a long time, and I'd love to finally read it!
I forget where I saw the approval but Secret Life is a coming of age.
Would "The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants" and/or "The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole" work for this task?
Jennifer wrote: "When you find out if she has OK'd it, please post back here. :-) I try to keep up with all the various post topics, but it's hard. I've had "Secret Life of Bees" on my bookshelf for a long time, an..."I just decided to use Cut for another task. Still not sure what I'll use for Coming of Age yet.
When the Black Girl Sings I read this for the adoption task. It might fit for coming of age. Black girl adopted by white family, her parents begin to divorce and she learns to sing to become her "own" person
Teresa in Ohio wrote: "When the Black Girl Sings I read this for the adoption task. It might fit for coming of age. Black girl adopted by white family, her parents begin to divorce and she learns to ..."
Oh, I remember now what I was going to try for it, The Graveyard Book. Someone else said they had seen someone else had used it. But I will keep this in mind in case Graveyard doesn't work. Thank you!
I couldn't imagine The Graveyard Book not working for a coming of age since it focuses on Bod as a baby to a teenager.
In the Generic Help thread Cynthia wrote:Janice wrote: "Would The Secret Life of Bees work for Coming of Age task 5.9?" I'll take it
All right, ladies... go for it
Would Sarah Dessen's books work as coming of age novels?
Just saw the book Vision Quest by Terry Davis at the library and wondered if this would fit. The back of the book cover states "The cult classic coming-of-age novel is back." If not I can probably fit it into the Book/Movie task.
If the back of the book cover states that I can't see how it wouldn't fit!
Tanja wrote: "If the back of the book cover states that I can't see how it wouldn't fit!"Fingers are crossed :)
Kristen wrote: "Would Sarah Dessen's books work as coming of age novels?"When you find out, can you post back here. I have a couple books of hers that I would like to fit into the challenge.
Cait wrote: "Would Oliver Twist work for this task? I'd like to fit it in if I can."I just saw on LibraryThing that Oliver Twist is tagged 23 times as coming of age, so I should be ok.
It's been a few years since I read Oliver Twist, and it doesn't stick out as clearly in my mind as Great Expectations (which undoubtedly fits the "coming-of-age" category), so I can't remember how old Oliver is at the end of the story. That sounds pathetic, I know. Maybe someone else remembers exactly. My position on "coming-of-age" stories requires the character to reach adulthood, and not just to overcome adversity. But again, someone else who has read Oliver more recently may be able to shed a better light on it.
Would The Princess Diaries work for a coming of age book? I thought it might, since I saw the movie, but since I have not read the book I am not sure how different the book would be.
Tara wrote: "Would The Princess Diaries work for a coming of age book? I thought it might, since I saw the movie, but since I have not read the book I am not sure how different the book would be."I wouldn't call it one, really. Other than finding out she's a princess, she REALLY doesn't grow up at all...
About.com has made a "Coming of Age" Classic Lit List - http://classiclit.about.com/od/novelb...Their definition of coming of age is as follows: A coming-of-age story or novel is memorable because the character undergoes adventures and/or inner turmoil in his/her growth and development as a human being. Some characters come to grips with the reality of cruelty in the world--with war, violence, death, racism, and hatred--while others deal with family, friends, or community issues.
Not sure how that meshes with Cynthia's definition.
Tanja wrote: "About.com has made a "Coming of Age" Classic Lit List - http://classiclit.about.com/od/novelb...Their definition of coming of age is as follows: A coming-of-age st..."
I sort of feel with that definition that just about any book would qualify as "coming-of-age". It feels that would cover a wide variety of things, but it may be what Cynthia is looking for.
Hmm. Wikipedia says: Coming of age is a young person's transition from childhood to adulthood. The age at which this transition takes place varies in society, as does the nature of the transition. It can be a simple legal convention or can be part of a ritual, as practiced by many societies. In the past, and in some societies today, such a change is associated with the age of sexual maturity (mid-adolescence); in others, it is associated with an age of religious responsibility. Particularly in western societies, modern legal conventions which stipulate points in late adolescence or early adulthood (most commonly 18 and 21, at which time adolescents are generally no longer considered minors and are granted the full rights of an adult) are the focus of the transition. In either case, many cultures retain ceremonies to confirm the coming of age, and significant benefits come with the change. (See also rite of passage.)
Would The Poisonwood Bible count? I'm reading it for another group and can't figure out any other challenge to fit it into.
Eliza wrote: "Would The Poisonwood Bible count? I'm reading it for another group and can't figure out any other challenge to fit it into."I'm not sure if it would work for the coming of age task, but I do know that it's been approved for Task 20.1.
Cait wrote: "Eliza wrote: "Would The Poisonwood Bible count? I'm reading it for another group and can't figure out any other challenge to fit it into."I'm not sure if it would work for the coming..."
Thanks that helps a lot
Okay, since I am still not sure about The Princess Diaries, I thought I would try Stitches A Memoir. Are graphic novels okay to use for challenges?
Graphic novels are usually okay as long as they're 100+ pages. Blankets is a really good coming-of-age graphic novel
The Seasonal Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Blankets (other topics)Stitches: A Memoir (other topics)
The Poisonwood Bible (other topics)
The Poisonwood Bible (other topics)
The Poisonwood Bible (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Terry Davis (other topics)Patricia McCormick (other topics)
