Chronicling the journey of life

Bildungsroman? Try throwing that word around at party, and you’ll

either fascinate people or frighten them.

But this rather ominous-sounding word is representative of

something far less threatening. It’s a type of fiction that many of

us read without knowing that it is Bildungsroman.

The word finds its roots in German, meaning “a novel of formation”

and identifies a literary genre that has been popular for centuries.

The term refers to an individual’s quest for self and meaning against

social order and to the incidents that occur during this quest. The

American style adds the element of the protagonist being a traveler

with a different perspective than others. Famous novels that

represent this genre are “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark

Twain, and “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger.

More recently published works that can be described as

Bildungsroman include John Grisham’s “Painted House,” and Stephen

King’s “Hearts in Atlanta.” In fact, you will find quite a few books

that offer a more contemporary depiction of this genre; so to make

sure you’re up on the latest in Bildungsroman, pick up one of the

following titles at the Newport Beach Public Library.

“Dive from Clausen’s Pier” by Ann Packer is the story of a young

Midwest woman whose fiance is suddenly paralyzed. The heroine flees

to New York City to gain new freedom and perspective on her future.

The dilemma of her past life and her present situation makes for an

interesting story of a woman’s journey to independence.

“The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay” by Michael Chabon is a

colorful novel about two boys from Brooklyn finding themselves and

their passion. Taking place in the 1930’s, the two team up to create

a comic strip about superheroes. The story blends comic book

characters and their life stories amid the turmoil of that period.

“Secrets of the Tsil Cafe” by Thomas Fox Averill depicts a

culinary coming of age. Wes is the son of two restaurateurs, and the

responsibilities and conflicts of this lifestyle have a deep impact

on him. Combining recipes, food history and the struggles of a

family, it portrays the uniqueness of this way of life and the child

that inhabits this world.

“Diamond Dogs” by Alan Watt is a painful yet engaging novel about

a troubled teenage boy coming of age in the glitz and flash of Las

Vegas. The bright lights of the city only highlight the sorrowful

reality of his life, his family and a fateful night.

From another perspective, you can enjoy this kind of journey in

viewing such classic films as “Zorba the Greek” and “How Green was My

Valley.”

This coming-of-age genre is timeless, since it is something all of

us go through in life. In the hands of so many gifted writers, the

Bildungsroman is a universal theme worth exploring.

* CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public

Library. This week’s column is by Kathy Billings. All titles may be

reserved from home or office computers by accessing the catalog at

https://www.newportbeach

library.org. For more information on the Central Library or any of

the branch locations, please contact the Newport Beach Public Library

at (949) 717-3800, option 2.