Point of View

The story is told in first person by the author, Paul Monette. It is written primarily as an autobiography, but this book is not solely the story of Paul Monette's life. Paul writes about his family and childhood, but interjects insights from his adult life, allowing the reader to see not only Paul's view of life as a child, but also how Paul sees these memories in retrospect. As he shares in the start of the first chapter, Paul's purpose in writing this book is not only to share his autobiography with the world but also to provide gay men a kind of guide. Rather than allow his trials and tribulations to die with him, Paul feels that documenting his life may make the road out of the closet a little bit easier for those who find themselves struggling with the same issues.

Setting

The book...