Dance on My Grave

by Aidan Chambers

Book Overview

Amulet Books is the home of Aidan Chambers, "one of young-adult literature's greatest living writers."* ? "With profound respect for readers, Chambers again stretches the YA genre to its edges and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 006091310X
• ISBN13: 9780060913106
• Release Date: February 1986
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.

Customer Reviews

My favorite book

I originally ran across this book in the "young adult" section of the library, but I think it is just as rewarding for adults as it is for teens. The author has a wonderful flair for language, and the story is poignant and engaging. If you enjoy this, I'd recommend checking out the other books in this series... they don't share characters or story, but they do share certain thematic elements, as well as the author's unique style. My personal ranking for the series (from most favorite to least favorite): 1) Dance on My Grave, 2) Postcards from No Man's Land, 3) Now I Know, 4) The Toll Booth, 5) Breaktime... I have to admit that I haven't yet tackled This Is All.

A Hard Lesson in the Obsessiveness of Love

I first came across this novel in my eighth grade year at school. It had been the first homosexual novel that I'd ever read, and I found it both surprising and satisfying; it was a coming-of-age story about a pair of young men who happened to meet by chance of fate during the summer vacation and ended up spending several weeks together. Hal seems much more committed to the relationship than Barry, who acts as though his time with Hal is merely an exciting fling. And one morning, Barry, filled with exhilaration, makes Hal promise that if one of them dies, the other must dance on his grave. For Barry to ask such a daring thing of Hal only serves to further arouse Hal's interest and he becomes more obsessively committed than ever, for he had always hoped to find the ideal, "bosom" friend, and he feels that Barry must certainly be "the one". Dance on My Grave was like nothing I had ever read before, and admittedly, the novel seems targeted more towards a British audience and someone unfamiliar with British terms may have to reread certain parts several times to fully understand the book. But I have remained forever attatched to this book, for it evoked such emotions in me as I had never felt before. You can't help but feel sympathy for Hal, who, for his whole life, has been searching for the perfect friend and lover but could never find anyone that fit his ideals... until he met Barry. The lesson of the desperate, clinging obsession that comes with true and unconditional love in this story seems to be like the young adult equivallent to Joseph Olshan's Nightswimmer. I highly recommend this book.

a real "TIME SLIP" !

It must be (al least) the fifth time I'm reading this novel, since the first time I bought it, some five years ago, and each time I'm struck by its vividness and honesty: real people trying to meet each other, in a real world where feelings and yearning may find an answer one never imagined possible. As one of the other reviewers already mentioned, I too, coming from Holland and having worked in the States, need a dictionary to savour this book's english intricacies, but then the real gourmet doesn't go to a restaurant to still his hunger or to quench his thirst, but comes to satisfy his senses and enjoy the cheer of good company !

Where was this when I was growing up?

Aidan Chambers has created in Hal Robinson an acerbic, charismatic wit who speaks for us as Holden Caulfield spoke for so many generations of dissolute teenagers before Hal. This book made me cry, made me laugh, made me dream and wish; after all these many years, it's still as strong in its emotional power, and I recognise more than a little of my own personality in the infatuation and pain that Hal suffers. Where was this when I was growing up? I'm in my 20s now, and if I'd had this as a touchstone, perhaps I'd be a little more mature, a little more aware before now. What a thought-provoking and magical book; I thank fate that brought me to this and to the wonderful Britflick "Get Real", finally providing me with some characters with whom I can identify. Read this, see "Get Real" and begin to make sense of your life.

this is good stuff

after i read this book, i had to look myself in the mirror to make sure that i wasnt in fact gay