Book info

• Title Man and Boy
• Author Tony Parsons
• Year 1999
• Genre Contemporary

Harry Silver has it all. A successful job in TV, a gorgeous wife, a lovely child. But in one moment of madness, he chucks it all away. A modern classic, Man and Boy is a hilarious and touching novel about how Harry comes to terms with his life, brings up his son alone and, gradually, learns what words like love and family really mean.

Thoughts

Harry sleeps with someone and learns that one mistake can spell the end of everything. His wife leaves him and he has to learn to cope with looking after his baby son. When she comes back, after several months, she expects her son back and Harry finds it hard to say goodbye.

The thing is that it’s told from Harry’s point of view, which is fair enough, only he’s a man, who cheated and ends up looking after a child. I’m a girl, I haven’t cheated, and I don’t have a child. So I found it hard to relate to him. But he’s a genuine character with a lot of love going for him.

A nice story, well told, a little too manly for me, but I read it and will read the sequel and others by him. Recommended if you want to see parenthood from the other side.

Rating: 3 / 5