Dec 17, 2009

David and Jonathan | Overview

David and Jonathan is a dense, complex novel that deals with multiple issues: the Holocaust, anti-Semitism, war, guilt, family life, friendship, coming of age, and sexual, cultural, and racial identity. Henry Marr and Jonathan Nafiche, intelligent sixteen-year-olds, have been friends since fifth grade in spite of their different backgrounds. Henry is from a staid New England family whose maternal ancestors arrived in America on the Mayflower. His mother is a teacher, and his father is a financially unsuccessful musical composer. The family is somewhat estranged from the...