The Goldberg Variations · The Rites of Passage

Most coming of age novels suggest this ‘coming of age’ is the defining moment in your life. The Rites of Passage takes a different view:

Jamie Goldberg faces the classical “who am I?” question. His search brings more questions than answers. Follow him on his bumpy journey of self-revelation as he learns the difference between the self we can remake and reinvent as opposed to the other self —our integrity or our soul— which we can betray only at our peril. It’s a story of compassion and the yearning for the coming of age that never quite happens in real life—or rather happens again and again and again.

Jamie Goldberg suspects his homosexuality at an early age and manages to hide it from his homophobic Seventies Detroit community, his Jewish political activist parents, and even from himself until his rape, at the hands of a male prostitute, at the age of 16. Profoundly ashamed, he hides in two worlds. One world is an intellectual cocoon spun from music, art, theater, and literature. The other is a darker world where sadomasochistic desires attempt to obliterate his sexuality. His elaborate fantasies are no match for real life or his true affections, which blossom in spite of his constant attempts to thwart them. When his carefully constructed imaginary world begins to crumble, Jamie must face his demons, both real and invented, then the emotional sparks fly.

“Jonathan A. Taylor’s The Rites of Passage is marketed as the first in a series of novels; it also ably stands on its own. The story follows Jamie Goldberg from elementary school to college, as he grows from an abused boy into a self- possessed young man. His life is a symphony of pain, humor, filth, and beauty as he struggles to come to terms with his identity in homophobic America.” Foreward Reviews

“The Rites of Passage is like encountering a gay Portnoy’s Complaint in its distinctive blend of Jewish-ness, sex, moral panic, and maternal dominance." Seven time Emmy award winning writer Patrick Mulcahey.

Taylor tells the story from Jamie’s perspective in a polished prose enlivened with the protagonist’s neurotic humor ... Jamie is thoughtful and highly sympathetic, and readers will be happy to follow him through the formative years of his youth. Taylor succeeds in capturing various moments (however painful or awkward) and revealing their importance.” —Kirkus Review

“When I read the searing tale of Jamie’s journey from childhood through adolescence and young adulthood, I lived it as if it were my own. It chronicles his anguish as he finds himself on the outside, increasingly isolated from family, school and college, his coming to terms with transgressive fantasies and his authentic self …” Kunal Mukherjee, author of My Magical Palace

“Reading The Rites of Passage reminded me of the fragile time in one’s youth when one may or may not mistakenly believe that all information is somehow related to one’s self. So, rather irrationally and hilariously, I started to assume the book was about me …” Rene Capone, gay figure painter and author of many graphic novels including The Legend of Hedgehog Boy