Coming of Age Archives - Matt gets LIT-erary

Hawk Mountain

Hawk Mountain by Conner Habib
Published by Random House on July 21, 2022
Genres: Coming of Age, Fiction, Gay, Psychological, Thrillers, Horror
Pages: 320

I am kicking off spooky book season with a review of the fantastic Hawk Mountain by Conner Habib. This was one of my favorite reads this year. Habib’s debut novel is an emotional and tense queer horror novel with an excellent plot twist and gruesome body horror.

Todd, a single parent, is at the beach with his son Anthony when he runs into a childhood classmate. Jack relentlessly bullied Todd in school, but now he is thrilled to reconnect with Todd. Todd is thrown off because they have not seen each other since they were at odds in their teens. Jack ends up sleeping on Todd’s couch and spending the night. Anthony and Jack quickly hit it off, and Jack continues to sleep over. Todd begins to question Jack’s motives and whether running into each other at the beach was a coincidence. I will share nothing more to avoid spoiling this twisty story.

I loved how dark and tense this story was. The twist about a third of the way into the book made me audibly gasp. This is not the book to de-stress; I was at the edge of my seat. Habib delivers the body horror. There is one horrifically explosive scene that I will never forget. This is a character driven story; you really get into the psyche of Todd. Flashback chapters from Todd and Jack’s childhood are interspersed in the first part of the novel. There are also some sections told from Anthony’s point of view. I was impressed at Habib’s ability to write in a child’s voice. Anthony’s sections are written in a childlike stream of consciousness. The novel concludes with a powerful, emotional ending. This is the first time a horror book brought tears to my eyes.

If you are looking for gay horror novels to read this fall you can’t go wrong with Hawk Mountain. Below are my thoughts on the gay themes in the book. Feel free to stop here to avoid some light spoilers.

Warning Light Spoilers:

Hawk Mountain focuses on toxic masculinity and the internal unrest of closeted gay men. The violence in this book is caused by society’s failure to accept gay men. For me, this book is about how being so deep in the closet can make one project and externalize their self-hatred onto others, with disastrous and extreme consequences. Reading this book, I was heartbroken for closeted people who are unable to openly be themselves, especially queer people from my parent’s generation who grew up in a time when coming out can be met with such oppression.

The Vanishing Half

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Published by Penguin on February 1, 2022
Genres: Coming of Age, Fiction, Literary, Women, African American & Black, LGBTQ
Pages: 400

I was fortunate to begin 2022 with the wonderful The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. This is a beautiful multi-generational drama focusing on race, family, and identity. Bennett is a skilled storyteller. I was fully immersed in her prose and found myself absorbed in the story. This is one of those rare stories that has universal appeal.

The story centers on the Vignes twins Stella and Desiree. The twins are from Mallard, Louisiana a town where many light-skinned Black people reside. The twins have a traumatic childhood after seeing their father get horrifically lynched by White men. At the age of 16 the two sisters run away from their mother’s home to start new lives in New Orleans. However, Stella soon makes a dangerous and shocking decision to leave her sister to go live as a White woman. The book is written from multiple perspectives and takes place from the 1940s to the 1990s. The daughters of the twins are also featured main characters.

While The Vanishing Half is arguably a slow burn the writing is so good that it reads quickly. The major characters are well developed. No perspectives felt weaker than the others. I really enjoyed how the story was told out of order. In the end a complete story of the family was revealed. There is a character that suffers from Alzheimer’s. I found these scenes to be well written, but tough to read as they reminded me of my grandma who suffered from the same disease.

The major theme of the novel is choosing one’s identity. Desiree and Stella who are physically identical, decide to live under different racial identities. Desiree’s trans boyfriend, Reese, struggles feeling comfort with his body that opposes his male identity. The difference is Reese’s gender expression is authentic while Stella’s racial expression is based on a lie. I was deeply saddened that Stella had to deny her Blackness and family in exchange for the privilege and security of life as a White woman. The vastly differing experiences of Desiree and Stella show that racial identity is more than just the color of one’s skin. Unfortunately, one’s presenting racial identity results in vastly differing levels of privilege and wealth in the United States.

The Vanishing Half is worthy of becoming a modern classic. Between the gorgeous writing and complex themes of family, identity, and race there are a lot of discussions to be had surrounding the book. And above all Brit Bennett is a skilled storyteller.

Trigger Warnings: Alzheimer’s, Racial Violence

Lot

Lot by Bryan Washington
Published by Penguin on March 17, 2020
Genres: African American & Black, Fiction, General, Boys & Men, Coming of Age, LGBTQ, Short Stories
Pages: 240

Bryan Washington’s short story collection, Lot, focuses on queer characters living in Houston. Minor characters in other stories become the focus of others, creating connections across the collection. One bi-racial male, Nicolás, is the focus of many of the stories. He struggles with coming to terms with his sexuality, his absent father, his homophobic brother, and helping his mom keep her restaurant afloat. I was excited to read this collection after enjoying Washington’s novel Memorial, which I also recommend.

My favorite story was Bayou, where two friends find what they believe to be a Chupacabra. The potential Chupacabra added whimsey to the story that ended up focusing on a close male friendship. This being the only story with fantasy elements (and even a reference to Dune), of course it became my favorite. Another standout was Waugh, where a group of male sex workers sharing a home deal with their house father contracting HIV. This story reminded me of the excellent tv show Pose because of its focus on found families. Many members of the LGBT community, less fortunate than myself, are rejected by their families because of their queer identity. Thus, they find and create their own families. Themes present in these stories include families (biological and found), friendship, intersectionality, and the concept of home. Bryan Washington is a Houston native, and it shows in his writing. The city of Houston can be considered a main character that ties this collection together. This is an honest, depiction of Houston where many of the characters are struggling to make ends meet, especially after the damage of Hurricane Harvey in 2017. I have never visited Houston, but I feel like I have a sense of the city after reading Lot.

I would recommend this short story collection to anyone. If you are more in the mood for a longer story format, I highly recommend you pick up a copy of his novel Memorial. I will definitely be reading anything Bryan Washington writes in the future.

Dune

Dune by Frank Herbert
Published by Penguin on 1990
Genres: Coming of Age, Fiction, General, Reread, Science Fiction
Pages: 535

Sandworms in space! I decided to reread Dune before the new film adaptation is released this October. Rereading is always a great test to see whether books are good or excellent. For me, an excellent reread is when I can identify new layers and themes that I did not catch the first time. Dune performed well for me on the second read. Frank Herbert does an exceptional job of cramming many themes between the pages of Dune. Politics, religion, the human impact on the environment, gender, coming-of-age, power, and fate vs. free will are all touched upon. The world building Herbert achieves within only one book is impressive. I cannot get enough of Arrakis, its sandworms and the character of Lady Jessica in particular. Please beware this review contains spoilers.

Dune begins when Emperor Shaddam IV assigns Duke Leto Altreides to rule over the planet of Arrakis. Arrakis is a desert covered planet where water is scarce and giant sandworms roam. Arrakis is important to the surrounding galaxy because it is the only planet where the spice melange can be mined. This spice is a valued resource that can expand human life and improve vitality. The planet is occupied by the native Fremen people who have mastered living in the harsh desert climate. House Altreides has an enemy, the House Harkonnen, led by the Baron Harkonnen. The Harkonnens previously had control of Arrakis. Unbeknownst to Duke Leto the Emperor and Baron Harkonnen are plotting to destroy the Altreides family after they move to Arrakis. Duke Leto’s partner, but not wife, is Lady Jessica a Bene Gesserit. The Bene Gesserit are a group of women who are trained to have powerful mental capabilities. The son of Duke Leto and Lady Jessica is Paul Altreides. Paul has been trained by his father’s swordsmen and by his mom in the ways of the Bene Gesserit, he is the main protagonist of Dune.

Now let us talk about my favorite things in Dune. First, sandworms! I love them and will read anything about them. They are simply awesome. Discovering the relationship between the spice, the Fremen, and the worms was fascinating. For those of you that have read the series’ fourth installment, God Emperor of Dune, you know that the sandworms’ story takes a weird turn (which I adored). My favorite character in Dune is Lady Jessica. She is such a powerful force and complex character. While many of the men hold major positions of leadership in Dune, it is the Bene Gesserit who pull the strings behind the scenes. Another aspect I love about Dune is how the most intense scenes play out within characters’ minds, rather than in physical battles. These scenes include Lady Jessica and Paul consuming the Water of Life, Paul facing the gom jabbar and Paul’s ability to see across time and space after becoming the Kwisatz Haderach. Having so much of the action take place within characters minds instead of in external fights makes Dune unique from other science fiction epics. The environmentalist themes in Dune are arguably more relevant today than when the book was published. The Fremen’s efforts led by Stilgar to change the climate of Arrakis, by bringing more vegetation and water to the planet’s surface, was exciting. I wonder if our scientists will be making similar efforts in the future as the effects of climate change worsen.

My initial thought was to rate Dune five stars. But upon rereading I have three major critiques with the book. The first problem is uneven pacing. The last fifty pages of the book feel extremely rushed. Especially the sections where the Fremen defeat the Harkonnen and Sardaukar forces and the duel between Paul and Feyd-Rautha. I felt like Frank Herbert got tired of writing and wanted to wrap up the story as quickly as possible. My second criticism is Frank Herbert commits one of my biggest literary pet peeves. I detest when a major conflict between characters boils down to a misunderstanding that could be solved with one conversation. The conflict between Halleck and Jessica is exactly this. By the end of the book most characters are aware that Yueh, not Lady Jessica, was responsible for the betrayal of Duke Leto. Yet somehow Halleck remains unaware and seeks revenge on Jessica for something she did not do. I find it difficult to believe that upon reuniting with Halleck no one filled him in on Yueh’s actions. My last critique is the biggest. The Baron Harkonnen is a harmful gay stereotype. Frank Herbert decided to make his primary antagonist a gay pedophile. This is a dangerous stereotype that needs to be squashed. I really (really!) hope that the Baron’s character is rewritten for the new film. His character can be given new quirks and personality traits without impacting the story. Now let us be clear, I love this book. But because of these critiques I decided to give the book 4.5 stars.

Dune is one my favorite books and I am hoping the new film creates new fans of the series. I managed to make it about halfway through the Dune books written by Frank Herbert (I hear the ones written by his son are not worth the read, is this true for anyone who has read them?). After this reread, I would like to make a go at reading the series again. I am super stoked to watch the movie later this month. Please check out my musing “What am I Hoping to See in the New Dune Film?”

My Best Friend’s Exorcism

My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix
Published by Quirk Books on May 17, 2016
Genres: Coming of Age, Fiction, Horror, Supernatural, Thrillers
Pages: 336

Full of ‘80s nostalgia and supernatural hijinks, Grady Hendrix’s My Best Friend’s Exorcism is an excellent, spooky read. The story focuses on the friendship of high school sophomores Abby and Gretchen. After Gretchen spends a night lost in the woods at a sleepover, her personality and behavior drastically change. Abby investigates, with the help of a bodybuilder exorcist, to determine whether her friend has become demonically possessed.

Normally I don’t comment on a book’s cover in my reviews, but this book looks awesome. My edition is designed to look like a VHS box, with a classic ‘80s horror movie poster on the front. The ‘80s references are non-stop in this book. Every chapter is titled with the name of a classic ‘80s song. I found Spotify playlists that compile all the songs mentioned in the book, which made for a fun reading soundtrack. My favorite horror element in the novel was the well written body horror. My favorite scene, involving the character of Margaret plus oodles of worms, was outstandingly disgusting. There is a group of bodybuilding brothers that speak and perform at high schools to spread Christianity (one of the quirkier additions to the story). One of the brothers also happens to be an amateur exorcist that helps Gretchen later in the novel. The heart of the story is the friendship of Gretchen and Abby. Their love for each other is a powerful force in the book and comes into play at the novel’s conclusion. Like many of these high school, supernatural stories, I wish the parents were less absent and clueless. I also wish that Hendrix had broken more of the typical demonic possession tropes in this book, but what he has created is well done.

There are many instances of characters saying problematic, homophobic, or racist things in this book. Memorably, for spirit week the high school has a slave day where “slave” students must serve their “masters” for the school day (WTF). I went to google and was horrified to learn that this was a legitimate thing that used to happen in some US schools. I believe that Hendrix included these problematic moments intentionally, to critique the past. While the book celebrates the ‘80s, Hendrix does not shy from showing some of the era’s flaws.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a Halloween read that isn’t too intense. Fans of Stranger Things, Buffy the Vampire Slayer or ‘80s movies and music will find a lot to enjoy. I’m looking forward to reading more of Hendrix’s horror novels in the future.

Flamer

Flamer by Mike Curato
Published by Henry Holt and Company (BYR) on September 1, 2020
Genres: Comics & Graphic Novels, Coming of Age, LGBTQ, Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 368
five-stars

In Mike Curato’s excellent graphic novel Flamer, Aiden Navarro, a queer Filipino-American teen, comes to terms with his sexuality while at a Scout summer camp. Aiden is attending camp between the end of middle school and the start of high school, a critical time for any teen. During the week Aiden grapples with fitting in, a peer crush, and bullying. Aiden becomes progressively isolated during summer camp leading to the novel’s dramatic conclusion. Curato’s graphic novel focuses on themes related to the intersectionality among queerness, race, body image, and religion.

The fantastic artwork in Curato’s novel is mainly sketched in black and white, but fiery pops of color are used to evoke emotional moments in the story. Curato perfectly captures the brutal and gross words of adolescent boys. Throughout the story at summer camp, Curato expertly weaves in key moments of Aiden’s childhood throughout the narrative. Aiden is given a strong character arc that leads to a well-deserved development at the story’s conclusion.

I devoured this graphic novel in one sitting, because of how engrossing and relatable the story was. I am a gay male who is also an Eagle Scout, like the author. The story makes me nostalgic for the fun of scout summer camp, but Aiden’s story also reminds me of situations I had in Scouting where I felt different than my heterosexual peers. Aiden goes days without showering to avoid being naked around any of his fellow campers, until he is noticeably smelly. While I didn’t abstain from showering, I remember waiting to shower when fewer people would be around. Removing clothes around my fellow scouts made me anxious. I’m sure being naked around same-sex peers is stressful for most adolescents, but for queer boys there is added stress because they may also need to face their burgeoning attraction towards other boys. I also remember conversations about girls starting around that time amongst fellow scouts. I distinctly recall feeling different from my fellow scouts. I didn’t feel the same way as them when talking about girls and sex, but I learned to join the conversations and fake the same feelings for the sake of fitting in. At that time being called gay was one of the worst possible insults, hence everyone using the phrase “no homo” to defend their “straightness”. Unfortunately, Aiden can’t blend in with his fellow scouts and he is bullied for simply being himself.

The book is immensely helpful for young teens. Curato’s book has the power to save lives of at-risk queer teens grappling with their identity, as well as building tolerance in straight readers. I wish this was taught in middle school English classes instead of the typical dated, heteronormative “classics”.

Trigger Warning: Self-harm, Bullying