Appropriate Applause

by Jonathan Lee

Dear Father,I am so sorry I am not the son you would like to have in your life. I have always wanted you to love me, just for who I am and nothing more. I just cannot be something I am not.I know you feel that boys should only like girls and that boys should never feel the way some do for each other. I only know that I did not choose to feel this way, and it has been with me in my head ever since I can remember. If I am wrong, you need to blame nature and God, not me.I love Vallie so very much and wish that we could have all been a close family. I know you would love him as I do if you could only have given him the chance. He has a beautiful heart and when he smiles he lights up my soul. I hope he can forgive me for leaving him.Try not to fight with Mom so much for she loves you very much. Good-bye.Love from your son,Scott

150 pages, Paperback

First published May 6, 2004

About the author

“THE GREAT MISTAKE is a great New York story.” —Entertainment Weekly

“The best American novel of the year.” —The Guardian

“Seriously entertaining...The detective work is ingenious.” —The Sunday Times (London)

JONATHAN LEE's new novel, THE GREAT MISTAKE (June 2021) dramatizes the mysterious life and murder of a real historical figure — Andrew Haswell Green — who was central to the creation of Central Park, The Met, The New York Public Library, and much more.

Jonathan's previous book HIGH DIVE was named a best book of the year in publications including The New York Times, The Guardian, and The New Yorker.

Jonathan is also editor in chief of the indie publishing house Catapult in NYC, publishing work he loves by authors like Chelsea Bieker, Jon McGregor, Jokha Alharthi, Chloe Aridjis and more.