Don't Miss

• NYRB Classics: Save 30%
• New Winnie-the-Pooh: Save 30%
• Paperback Favorites
  for Book Groups
• Springer Math Sale!
• Subscribe to Indiespensable

More at Powell's

• Featured Signed Editions
• Rare and Collectible Books
• eBooks | Audio | DVDs | Blu-ray

Powell's Q&A: Gail Collins

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

About the Author

What Our Readers Are Saying

Add a comment for a chance to win!

Average customer rating based on 1 comment:

joliehale, April 13, 2009 (view all comments by joliehale)
At age 12, Korean-American choir boy Fee is molested by his choir director. "Big Eric" makes victims of a dozen other boys before he is caught and imprisoned, including Fee's best friend and crush, Peter. Even though the threat of Big Eric is removed from the boys' lives, the damage he caused perpetuates itself as they continue to self-destruct in varying degrees.

Despite his guilt over his failure to protect Peter, Fee survives to adulthood. He settles into a committed relationship and becomes a teacher, unaware that one of his teenage students, Warden, is Big Eric's son. Warden's instant attraction to Fee, combined with his resemblance to Peter, forces Fee to confront the demons he thought he had buried.

This novel is exactly what readers of literary fiction are hungry for: a compelling story told in exquisite prose. Chee balances the darkness of the main storyline with a large, varied cast of secondary characters and experiences that broaden Fee's life into more than a tragic victim's tale. When I reached the middle section of the book, told from Warden's point of view, I wasn't sure what to make of it, but it turned out to be just what was needed to reinvigorate the story and bring back the narrative momentum that was lost after Peter's death.

The ending knocked the wind out of me. I went into this book thinking I knew where it was going, and I was partially right, but there is a twist that will drag you down into the darkness with Fee--and then lift you up again.

I'd also like to point out that from the way he describes the experience of singing, Alexander Chee must have been a singer in his youth. I was one, and I have never read so many spot-on observations about the sensation of singing. It's a difficult experience to put into words, and Chee has succeeded beautifully.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(2 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)

report this comment

Product Details

ISBN:

9780312305031

Author:

Chee, Alexander

Publisher:

Picador USA

Subject:

General

Subject:

Literary

Subject:

Adult child sexual abuse victims

Subject:

Korean Americans

Subject:

Psychological fiction

Subject:

Gay youth

Copyright:

2002

Edition Description:

First

Publication Date:

November 2002

Binding:

Paperback

Language:

English

Pages:

224

Dimensions:

8.24x5.58x.62 in. .47 lbs.