Independant Study Novel

[1n50mn14]

Hi guys,
I've been around the blogs lately, but not the forums *no particular reason, other than lack of ambition*, but I am in need of your help!

I'm doing my culminating in year 11 English, right now, and it's an Independent Study Unit about a novel of our choice.

I really dislike using typical novels that everybody picks (e.g. Lord of the Flies, Farenheit 411, etc), and am looking for a good novel to use for this.

I tend to read particularily narrative/biographical novels (fiction biographies), and ... coming-of-age, sort of, plots.

I'm reading At Paradise Gate, by Jane Smiley right now, as reccomended to me by PrinceMyshkin, and may end up using it.

Any suggestions?

[aeroport]

Hmm... A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, perhaps?

[barbara0207]

Do you think you could read Goethe? I think the translation of "Wilhelm Meister" is not too bad. Or are you looking for something contemporary?

[Eric Cioe]

Thomas Mann's Magic Mountain, if you've got a lot of time.

If you don't, Willa Cather's My Antonia.

Also, I have to plug Knut Hamsun's Growth of the Soil because no one reads it anymore.

[kilted exile]

How about Narcisus & Goldmund by Hesse. I first read it when I was around your age. I think it is his best work.