A coming-of-age novel, this is how I'd describe this book. This one has heart and if you are gay or bi, you will probably find yourself in some of the characters. As a chubby gay kid, I know what Benson was going through: the torment from the peers and the conflicting feelings about my sexuality. Lucky for me, I was never a believer in the Christian dogma, so I guess that my angst was not influenced by the Church.
Benson is a chubby kid who finds out that he's gay after playing with a couple of boys in the garage. He turns to religion, hoping that he'll be able to find help and a cure. You can probably guess what a Catholic school might be like, but the depiction seems genuine and you can relate to the main character in many levels.
Would I call it "The Great British Novel"? Probably not, but as a novel about growing up I can definitely compare it with "The Catcher in the Rye". I can honestly say that, I my opinion, "Sucking Sherbet Lemons" trumps the hell out of the latter. But, since it is a gay novel, it will never get its well deserved recognition.
I am glad I found this little gem. I usually am weary about gay novels, because they turn lewd at one point or another. This book has some sexy moments, but leaves out the raunchy details. I think this is a serious book from which everyone can learn something about himself and about the world. Moral of the book: accept who you are and be happy with it.
