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Funny Boy
Funny Boy
Author: Shyam Selvadurai
This haunting novel about a boy growing up within an extended upper-middle-class family in Sri Lanka employs gentle humor and an uncommon compassion and insight into human nature. Arjie's understanding of the world around him--and his own gay identity--is placed against the backdrop of growing racial tension and civil unrest.
ISBN-13: 9780156005005
ISBN-10: 015600500X
Publication Date: 6/19/1997
Pages: 320
Rating:
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 11

3.5 stars, based on 11 ratings
Publisher: Harvest Books
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Funny Boy on + 14 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Wow- quite a book. It is a very well written description of a young boy discovering his sexuality, and an amazing vview of life of the privileged class in a place that I didn't even know had classes (Sri Lanka) during the 60's and 70's... and a horrifying description of civil war between the Tamils and the Sinhalese. Truly riveting.
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reviewed Funny Boy on + 211 more book reviews
It's a bit of an odd book. Interesting enough to keep reading but I had to think about it.

The first part perhaps half was to me, a "why should I care about the protagonist and his family" type of story. Once our erstwhile protagonist changed schools and met a friend, the book was very enjoyable.

In my opinion, the author took the characters from one or two dimensions to three dimensions. I started to care about what was happening.

It was certainly about a historical period that I knew nothing about, that's why I kept reading.


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