Becoming by Mark M Lichterman    Books by Mark M Lichterman - View all · For Better or Worse · The Climbing Boy
Category:	Mainstream	Publisher:	Metropolis Ink	ISBN-10:	0646492160	Type:	Fiction
Pages:	736	Copyright:	June 12, 2008	ISBN-13:	9780646492162

Get your Signed copy today! Buy your copy! Download to your Kindle (eBook) Amazon Amazon Barnes & Noble.com Mark Lichterman Becoming Now on Kindle also, "Becoming" IS A NOVEL THAT MAY REMIND MANY OF US OF OURSELVES, WAY BACK THEN, WHEN GOD'S MOST MYSTERIOUS CREATION WAS THE OPPOSITE SEX. Becoming can now be purchased on Kindle @ $4.95 Do you remember your radio and Captain Midnight, The Lone Ranger, Junior Miss and Let’s Pretend? The first time you inhaled a cigarette? Your first swallow of hard liquor? The thrill of the first exploration of the body of your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife... your own body? Your first orgasm? Remember when as a people we loved America, and showed it? Then you might be ready for a nostalgic, funny, romantic, sexually frustrating novel. A novel that may remind many of us of ourselves, “way back then,” when God’s most mysterious creation was the opposite sex. A novel about life and the often funny, sometimes sad, day-to-day things that stir the memories of our lives. Reminiscent of the Neil Simon trilogy, Philip Roth’s Portnoy’s Complaint and the humorous writing of Jean Shepherd in the mid and late sixties; uniquely original, we are introduced to five-year-old Mitchie in 1939 in an ethnically diverse, lower middle-class neighborhood on the west side of Chicago. As children do, subtly growing over the next sixteen years, seeing World War Two through the eyes of this Jewish child, and later, lying about his age, joining the National Guard, “’cause girls love guys in uniform.” Accidentally getting caught up in the Korean war at age fifteen, Becoming follows Mitchell’s life in a series of nostalgic, comical, romantic, sad and — because “those” situations with girls, and later women, rarely conclude as young men hope — vividly described, extremely funny sexual situations. Becoming climaxes hilariously in 1955, in Brighton Beach New York, when Mitchell is twenty-one and a man… or, because it takes more than age and size to “become” one... the semblance of a man.  ____________________________________________________  Excerpt Yes, when he said it last week he did mean it. But last week he’d been embarrassed, and his passion had been spent. But on this night, operating under a very revitalized head of steam, though he’d told himselfl I will not even try to go any further than before, then just touching, or kissing… or, or, most of all, seeing what Susan’ll let me see. Meaning, of course, he dearly wanted to see her breasts, so…

Kindle Edition Paperback

Professional Reviews
Becoming
A professional review of BECOMING,
by Willow, of Working Girl Reviews

“Do you remember your radio and “Captain Midnight,” “The Lone Ranger,” “Junior Miss” and “Let’s Pretend”? The first time you inhaled a cigarette? Your first swallow of hard liquor? The thrill of the first exploration of the body of your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife… your own body? Your first orgasm? Remember when as a people we loved America, and showed it? Then you might be ready for a nostalgic, funny, romantic, sexually frustrating novel. A novel that may remind many of us of ourselves, “way back then,” when God’s most mysterious creation was the opposite sex. A novel about life and the often funny, sometimes sad, day-to-day things that stir the memories of our lives…”

THE ABOVE IS A QUOTE FROM THE BLURB for Mark Lichterman’s Becoming and I put it there because it so aptly describes the novel. When I decided to review this book, I was worried because number one, I rarely have time to sit down and read a book as long as this one and two, because I stupidly felt I’d never be able to connect with anything in it. I’m female, Christian, grew up in the country, and the time period was before my time. I was wrong, wrong, wrong! The subject matter is timeless, the characters so genuine they jump from the pages and into your heart, and being the mother of boys—I could even relate to the male point of view.

The story begins in 1939 on Chicago’s west side and follows five-year-old Mitchie for the next seventeen years of his life. A true coming of age story told in graphic detail. And the humor—did I mention the humor? I found myself laughing out loud many times. I especially loved when the humor came at a time when it was totally unexpected, the way it is in ‘real life’. I can’t say all I’d like to say about the book because it needs to be experienced first hand and I don’t want to spoil that experience for the reader by saying too much.

Mr. Lichterman is a talented storyteller with a beautifully unique writing style and strong voice. His characters are delightfully flawed, giving them an unsurpassed charm and authentic quality. Becoming transcends all gender, ethnic, and geographical backgrounds, so no matter where you’re coming from, if you love truly great coming of age stories, give this one a try.

My one complaint is I felt the book ended too soon. Yes, even at 736 pages, I was sad when reading that last page and know these characters will be with me for a long time. – Willow


Becoming
"WONDERFULLY WELL WRITTEN, it paints a life picture at times through eyes of both humor and disappointment. I was reared in the rural south but this work transcends ethnic and geographic boundaries so that we can easily identify with Mitch, especially in his quest to lose his virginity. Mark's wit and great sense of humor comes through in a style that holds ones attention long after putting down his book. You just know this has to be Mark's story and that of those who experienced life with him. This is indeed a book worth reading for the sheer enjoyment of remembering the way we were and those people who made it interesting." -- Renetta Randy, Nashvill, Tn

Becoming
"AS ONE RAISED in a Chicago neighborhood around the same time Lichterman grew up in his, I found this coming-of-age novel very reminiscent of my own childhood and adolescence. However, to enjoy this book, one needn't be from Chicago (or Peoria, for that matter), nor a child of the same era. The scenes, characters, experiences, relationships, conversations and events in this book are vividly and brilliantly depicted in a way that will awaken fond, fearful, and passionate memories in the reader fortunate enough to acquire this gem of a book. It is a poignant, humorous and timeless tale that moves along at a satisfying pace." -- J. Magoun, Thousand Oaks, CA

Reader Reviews for "Becoming"

Reviewed by Rose Rideout	3/4/2010
Congratulations on your book, as I am sure it is as great as you are dear Markie. Your #1 Newfie Friend Hugs XOXOXO, Rose

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