What I Know Now

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful novel for adults...both young and old
Review: A heartwarming and well written account of one boy's struggle to understand others and himself. We need more books for adults (both young and old) that explore the questions of human sexuality, love and family in such an eloquent, careful manner.

Rating:
Summary: A beautifully written, lyrical coming of age story.
Review: Rodger Larson has written a beautiful book about a sensitive young man's struggle to figure love out. The setting and characters are richly described, and the story is simple but moving. The protagonist, Dave, turns 14 in the summer of 1957. His parents' separation and a subsequent move has turned his life upside down, but in the midst of the turmoil of these new developments, Dave meets Gene Tole, a gardener, who offers him a different vision of being a man. The book deals with complex issues such as masculinity and homosexuality, but it never loses the sweetness and gentleness that makes it a delight to read.

Rating:
Summary: Average Story About A Young Boy's Coming Of Age
Review: This is a somewhat dull story of a boy who is going through some major changes in his life. His mother has left his father and older brother, and they are living on their own. Gradually Dave, the protagonist, finds himself attracted to the young man who is helping them build their garden. This book is fairly slow moving, but it does describe Dave's realization of his feelings fairly well. In my opinion though, there are far better books on the realization of homosexuality out there