Man and Boy

Tony Parsons


Andrew was very familiar with Parsons' music journalism and felt that he was someone who Nick Hornby's writing (and success) had given the courage to attempt a novel. Andrew quite enjoyed the book and had looked forward to the daily train journeys on which he could read some more, his only criticism being that the author had used a few unrealistic devices to move the plot along.
Andrew 20/4/00
Avery light book. I really enjoyed it. It seemed to be a very honest account of how the writer copes with being a single father.
Jean 21/5/00
Caroline had put off reading this book for a long time, but when she got around to it she liked it, especially the relationship between father and son. There was a really sad bit where the father had to explain to the child that he was still loved by his mother ("Huh," said Doreen, "that's a straight lift from Kramer v Kramer"). Some of the story, however, was hard to credit - the narrator finds a girlfriend, whose daughter just happens to strike up a friendship with his son; and the story of his dying father is also difficult to believe, as is the final airport dash.

But Caroline enjoyed it, as did Jean.
Caroline 27/8/00


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