Bildungsroman

A month back I read three bildungsroman novels in a week. I started with To Kill a Mocking Bird. I followed it up with The Catcher in the Rye. The week was concluded by The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. The last one was not strictly bildungsroman but more on that later. I highly recommend all three of them for a read.

 They are similar as the narrator is a child or adolescent who is dealing with tough situation and grows up as a result of it. Also author does a great job of evoking the feel as if you are really watching the events unravel from the young narrator's perspective. I was able to connect with character's emotions and feel their wonder, awe, confusion etc.

To Kill a Mocking Bird is the longest of the three but is written in the simplest way evoking a yearning for the simple time in one's life. Harper Lee's novel deals with topic of racism, rape and injustice as observed by young girl. It creates an environment of small rusty town. Various troubles of a young independent girl child and her elder brother in 1930s with a single father is presented through small details. The exposure to injustice and struggle of their father against injustice is main plot of the novel. Even though novel does not paint a pretty picture it still leaves one with the hope.

The Catcher in the Rye is the shortest but is not as easy read due to its heavy usage of slangs and teenage vocabulary of 1950s. Salinger does a great job of capturing teenage confusion and angst along with deep sorrow of the protagonist. Even though events unfold in two days in novels timeline but they are eventful. The novel delves into the psyche of a troubled teen and does an amazing job at it.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time was fastest read. I almost completed this in a single sitting. It is a mix of bildungsroman and mystery. What really struck me was the way words and sentences of the novel written by Mark Haddon seemed to paint the picture of special child's thoughts. The child has social/behavioral issues and witnesses the marital troubles of the parents. What follows is a story of courage and growth with touch of mystery and emotions.