A Boy's Own StoryThe "extraordinary novel" (The New York Times Book Review) about one boy's coming-of-age during the 1950s--and one of the most groundbreaking portrayals of gay life in American fiction "The best American narrative of sexual awakening since Catcher in the Rye." --Chicago Sun-Times Ridiculed by his classmates and beset by aloof parents and a cruel sister, the unnamed narrator of Edmund White's first autobiographical novel finds solace in literature, works of art, and his own fantastic imagination. But as he strives to forge new friendships, his yearning to be loved by the men in his life evokes a crushing sense of shame and a struggle to accept who he is. Lyrical and poignant, A Boy's Own Story--the first of a trilogy, followed by The Beautiful Room Is Empty and The Farewell Symphony--is an American literary treasure that became an instant classic upon publication for its pioneering portrayal of homosexuality. |
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Page 94
... course he phoned the next with a reasonable excuse . Of course I should have an- ticipated just such a hitch and explanation , but my need , though usually held in check or released only on imaginary EDMUND WHITE.
... course he phoned the next with a reasonable excuse . Of course I should have an- ticipated just such a hitch and explanation , but my need , though usually held in check or released only on imaginary EDMUND WHITE.
Page 149
... course . I never found out why he'd been shunted off to Eton in the middle of the year . The other newcomer , Howie , was my real companion , friend and enemy , someone whose room I couldn't resist vis- iting though I didn't want the ...
... course . I never found out why he'd been shunted off to Eton in the middle of the year . The other newcomer , Howie , was my real companion , friend and enemy , someone whose room I couldn't resist vis- iting though I didn't want the ...
Page 214
... course . Usually I'd sense I was permeable , insubstan- tial , at most a bank of moving air , a cold front , and only in conversation did I condense into a downpour of being . But now I was dense and potent . There were no eddies of ...
... course . Usually I'd sense I was permeable , insubstan- tial , at most a bank of moving air , a cold front , and only in conversation did I condense into a downpour of being . But now I was dense and potent . There were no eddies of ...
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afternoon arms asked beauty became become beside blue body breath called close clothes cold course dark didn't door everything eyes face father fear feel felt floor front girl glass guys hair half hand he'd head hear heard homosexual hour interest Kevin kids knew laugh least leaves legs less light lips listen lived looked mean mind mother never night once past perhaps play pulled Scotts seemed shoulders side silence sister smell smile smoke someone Sometimes soon sort sound steps stopped sure talk tell thing thought told took turned voice wait walked wanted watched who'd whole window woman wonderful young