Coming of Age Stories: A Thursday Thirteen

It's been a while since I've created a Thursday Thirteen list, and since I seem to be reading lots of coming of age stories lately, I thought the genre would be the perfect subject for a list.  I must be feeling especially nostalgic at the moment or something, as I've reread several of these close together recently.  I've actually read all but one of these (the Gardam I have sitting on my TBR pile and am looking forward to as I've heard many good things about it) at some point or other.  In no particular order:

1. Ferris Beach, Jill McCorkle - (wrote about it here)
2. Bilgewater, Jane Gardam
3. Learning to Swim, Clare Chambers - (will be writing about this soon--Love this book--it's one of my favorites)
4. David Copperfield, Charles Dickens
5. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
6. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Betty Smith
7. A Circle of Friends, Maeve Binchy
8. Kristin Lavransdatter, Sigrid Undset - Loved this one.  I didn't think of it as a coming of age story until I saw it in a list.  You can click on my KL tag on the left sidebar to see my posts on the book.
9. On Borrowed Wings, Chandra Prasad - (wrote about it here)
10. I Capture the Castle, Dodie Smith - Must reread this one sometime soon, too.
11. The Lives of Girls and Women, Alice Munro
12. A Separate Peace, John Knowles
13. Road from Coorain, Jill Ker Conway            

As you can see my list leans heavily towards the female experience, but that's pretty typical in my reading in any case.  I really should even things out a bit.  What's your favorite coming of age story (from male or female perspective)?

Comments

[Darlene]

I Capture the Castle is a terrific choice. With William Trevor in the running for the Man Booker Prize I'm reminded of his novel The Story of Lucy Gault. It was a fabulous read.

[claire]

Loved To Kill a Mockingbird and David Copperfield. Also am reading I Capture the Castle very soon, excited about that. That Munro cover is gorgeous, I'll watch out for it. Haven't read Munro yet but I did pick up one of her books a few days ago, which is The View from Castle Rock, because it sounded so simple yet compelling. Have you read it?

[cathy]

I read A Separate Peace in high school English , in 1968. It was wonderful then and am glad to see it is still around. My husband remembers it fondly,as well. A very good list!

[Danielle]

Darlene--I loved I Capture the Castle--I was working in a bookstore at the time I read it, and another girl, a coworker read it at the same time and I recall discussing it. She loved it, too! I must check out The Story of Lucy Gault. I've wanted to read more of William Trevor!
Claire--I hope you like (love!) I Capture the Castle. I always wish Dodie Smith had written more novels for adults! I like the Munro cover, too. Mine looks very differen--it's an older copy. And I have The View from Castle Rock, but I have not read it yet. I think I read the first story, but never continued on. I really must read more of her short stories!
Cathy--I think I may have to mooch a copy of the Knowles and reread it. I'm sure I had a copy at one time. I read it in school, too!

[AnnaD]

I loved "To kill a mocking bird".
And I have one more book for you: "A crime in the neighborhood" by Suzanne Berne - Winner of the Orange Prize.

[Krakovianka]

For a male coming-of-age book, I highly recommend Chaim Potok's The Chosen. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is one of my lifetime favorites, and Joy Comes in the Morning by the same author (Betty Smith) is outstanding--I could hardly choose between them.

I also recommend any out-of-print titles you can locate by Mary Stolz. I can't remember all the titles, and they are considered YA fiction, but they are excellent AND I promise they will increase your vocabulary. As a teenager, I distinctly remember learning the word perspicacity from one of her books, but there were many others.

[litlove]

You have the best lists! This is a wonderful one - I do love this kind of book. I'll add Colette's The Ripening Seed to the mix and Doris Lessing's Martha Quest. I loved them both.

[catharina]

Another Chaim Potok: 'In The Beginning'.
Not quite sure it completely belongs in this category, but in my opinion all time breathtaking story of a young woman's struggle with life and a woman's place in the world - 'The Bell Jar', Sylvia Plath.

[Vipula]

I loved the Circle of Friends and I did like 'To Kill a mocking bird' - but I still dont get it why its such an acclaimed piece of work though :(
You must read the 'The Anne of Green Gables' and 'Black Swan' by David Mitchell

[Amy Reads Good Books]

I loved Circle of Friends! I read it in college. For me, I'd say Great Gatsby. Sure, Nick is a little older, but it certainly is about his entry into manhood.

[Table Talk]

Do read 'Bilgewater' as soon as you get the chance and you might want to add Gardam's 'A Long Way to Verona' to the pile. It's equally as good.

[Dorothy W.]

You can definitely consider Maurice a coming of age story. Did you ever read Among Other Things I've Taken Up Smoking? That's another one, from a female perspective, that I liked.

[Matthew]

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[Jeane]

You've already got some of my favorites on your list- especially Tree Grows in Brooklyn- and my others have already been mentioned- by Chaim Potok.

[Catherine]

"I Capture the Castle" is such a beautiful story. Also the "Emily of New Moon" series by L.M. Montgomery...it's the coming to age series of a writer. And last but not least, "The Wrinkle in Time" series. Beyond a shadow of a doubt!

[Debby]

Some required school reading comes to mind, like Catcher in the Rye, and a Separate Peace. But one story I really love is "Daddy Long Legs" and its sequel "Dear Enemy," both by Jean Webster. It's the story of an intelligent, lovable orphan sent to college by an anonymous benefactor. Witty, charming, and the perfect read for a day when you need a book to cheer you up!

[Karen]

I re-read I Capture The Castle and loved it even more than the first time I read it - definitely a book I could read over and over again.

[Danielle]

Anna--Thanks, I'll look this one up and it to my list--it's one that's new to me!
Krakovianka--It seems I've read The Chosen, but if so it was ages ago. I think I still have a paperback of it. And I loved A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I've wanted to read the sequel, but I've been afraid it wouldn't measure up. I'll look for it. I will see if any of Mary Stolz's books are on Bookmooch--thanks for the suggestion--I like books that widen your vocabulary, too!
Litlove--I have them both--and I've been meaning to read Colette--that very book as you recommended it to me before! And I'm going to go look for my copy of Martha Quest now!
Catharina--I think The Bell Jar is a great example--I read it when I was younger and should read it now with more life and experience behind me. Thanks for the Potok suggestion--I'll add it to my list!
Vipula--Maeve Binchy is an author that is also a comfort read for me! As for To Kill a Mockingbird, I think it is a classic as it is a timeless story. Even now 40 years after it was written it is still relevant. She deals with serious issues (that are still issues in this country sadly) but in a lighter (sometimes humorous) way as the story is told through the eyes of a child. It's a story that the reader can learn lessons through--hopefully even without knowing it. If you've not seen the movie, I highly recommend it--it's also well done! I've never read any of the Anne of Green Gables books, which I think is terrible--my niece is loaning me her copy! And I have the Mitchell book on hand as well!
Amy--Circle of Friends is my favorite Binchy book! It's about time for a reread of The Great Gatsby--you're right it is in its way a coming of age story, too.
Table Talk--I've only heard good things about Bilgewater (I also have God on the Rocks to read). I will look up A Long Way to Verona now as well. I must get to her books soon as I keep accumulating new ones!
Dorothy--I keep looking at Maurice--maybe I will read it next as soon as I finish the Wilkie Collins book! I am going to try and stay on the straight and narrow when it comes to classics--only one at a time! (She said...). I did read Among Other Things...I thought it was a great read. I had to buy Ovid after I finished it--still need to read The Metamorphoses--all those stories she told made me curious!
Matthew--You are very kind! And it's very appreciated!
Jeane--These are such good books and definitely should be revisited soon!
Catherine--I wish Dodie Smith had written more books for adults! And I should read LM Montgomery--I'm sure I would love the books--I never read them when I was young. I've only read one of the Wrinkle in Time books--so many good books to choose from! :)
Debby--I was going to put Catcher in the Rye on my list--it seemed like such an obvious choice, but I left it off. I read it when I was in high school--I wonder what I would think of it now. I'm not familiar with Jean Webster--another author to see if I can mooch her books! I like books that cheer a reader up!
Karen--I loved I Capture the Castle--it's one I need to reread. The film didn't quite click with me, but the book is excellent.

[Krakovianka]

Danielle--just a quick note. Joy Comes in the Morning is not a sequel to A Tree Grows in Brooklyn--it's a completely different story. I think you'll like it!

[Danielle]

Krakovianka-Thanks for letting me know--actually I think I prefer that!! I will definitely look it up now!

[Denise]

I would recommend Marilynne Robinson's novel Housekeeping as an addition to your list of coming of age novels. On the science-fiction side, I would recommend Warrior's Apprentice, the first Miles book in the Vorkosigan saga by Lois McMaster Bujold.