Ralph: Diary of a Gay Teen

by Anthony McDonald

Sex and sexuality, love and friendship are the mysteries that 16-year-old Ralph (Rafe) McKean finds himself stumblingly exploring - sometimes deliberately, sometimes by accident - as he embarks on the adventure of keeping a diary. The emergence from the currents and whirlpools of boarding-school life of a triangular relationship - the unholy trinity of Ralph, Chris and Steve - is the starting point for a voyage of discovery that will continue into adult life.
‘Stylistically and emotionally this may be McDonald’s most mature work yet. Subtle and many-layered, real and deeply human.’ R.M.

351 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 17, 2014

About the author

Anthony McDonald studied history at Durham University. He worked very briefly as a musical instrument maker and as a farm labourer before moving into the theatre, where he has worked in almost every capacity except those of Director and Electrician.
His first novel, Orange Bitter, Orange Sweet, was published in 2001 and his second, Adam, in 2003.
Orange Bitter, Orange Sweet became the first book in a Seville trilogy that also comprises Along The Stars and Woodcock Flight.
Other books include the sequel to Adam, - Blue Sky Adam - and the stand-alone adventure story, Getting Orlando.
Ivor's Ghosts, a psychological thriller, was published in April 2014.
The Dog In The Chapel, and Ralph: Diary of a Gay Teen, both appeared in 2014. Anthony is the also the author of the Gay Romance series, which comprises ten short novels.
Anthony McDonald's short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies on both sides of the Atlantic
He has also written the scripts for several Words and Music events, based around the lives and works of composers including Schubert and Brahms, which have been performed in Britain and in Portugal.
His travel writing has appeared in the Independent newspaper.
After several years of living and teaching English in France McDonald is now based based in rural East Sussex.

Reviews

[⚓Dan⚓ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was nice and I discovered I'm not a lover of reading someones diary.
I'm going to re-read Blue Sky Adam to get my familiar Anthony McDonald back again....grin.;O)

[Lloyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read. Wish my school days were half as much fun

[Christopher Winterburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story with fantastic characters. I loved the diary format. A story that is sad but true. Everything changes. People change. Relationships change. It left me with a hunger for cod balls.