What do readers think of Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin? Write your own review.

Summary | Reviews | More Information | More Books

Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin

Golden Boy

by Abigail Tarttelin

  • Critics' Consensus:
  • Readers' Rating:
  • Published:
  • May 2013, 352 pages
  • Rate this book

  • Buy This Book

About this book

Reviews

Page 8 of 9
There are currently 65 reader reviews for Golden Boy
Order Reviews by:

Write your own review!

Power Reviewer
Beverly D. (Palm Harbor, FL)

a different perspective
This novel was very readable, almost compulsively so.I would call this a coming of self story. I liked the different voices forming the chapters so that each "side" of the story was being examined. What disappointed me was that I could see what was coming ...several of the plot twists were predictable. All in all, however, this was a good first effort. I believe this would be an excellent book club read.
Lisa G. (Riverwoods, IL)

Golden Boy by Abigail Tartellin
I was ready to put this book down after 20 pages since I found it disturbing but decided to forge ahead and was glad I did and ended up reading it in one day. It is not a book for everyone, I would not recommend it to my book club or the friends I share book recommendations with but I was drawn in in the way I am with Discovery Health Channel programming. The characters were deftly drawn and the writing flowed. Every chapter was in the first person of a different character and easy to follow. Save for the first 20 pages I enjoyed it in the way I enjoy Jody Picoult's books. But I would wager many readers will not get past the beginning which is too bad. It is a beautiful coming of age story with a twist.
Theresa R. (Sierra Madre, CA)

this was just ok
I had a really hard time getting into this book, but finally managed to finish it. I'm not sure if it was the writing style or the story. I just found myself not really caring about what was happening.
Nancy F. (Carmel, IN)

Not my "cup of tea"
I have read a number of books on the issue of sexual identity. I was looking forward to reading this story as described. I felt the first third of the book was interesting however, the author's style of sharing the intimate internal conversations of all the characters was too much dialogue. I wanted plot to be to move faster and a desire for more interpersonal dialogue. I appreciate the importance of this topic and I do hope authors will continue to shed light on this important dilemma.
Shelly B. (Staten Island, NY)

Golden Boy
I found this book wordy, overblown, and too long. I thought the author got very preachy especially towards the end. I understand she definitely had a message about gender, which I understand, although I disagree with her message. I have 4 grandchildren, a girl and three boys. I definitely see differences between the boys and the girl. More than she noted about Max. I think there is something inborn or pre-wired for most boys and girls, in my experience. I just think the message was too pushy.

The author's writing did not ring true, it was not age appropriate to Max, especially. For instance, in some chapters he was child like, and in others he was not. I found the language static, showy, overblown and pretentious, in most cases.

Although, I found two very lovely metaphors that I noted in my notes: "autumn summer's dying cousin" and "the raindrops race each other to the bottom (car window) of the glass" These were the best parts of the book.

Overall, I would not recommend this book. I would not use it for my book club discussion.
Kathy M. (Neptune Beach, Florida)

Just couldn't wrap my head around this.
I really tried to like this book and I see that many people did. However, I simply could not get my head wrapped around the ridiculousness of this situation. Being in the social work field the idea that this circumstance of the duality of sexes would continue into adolescents was just not realistic. I can't see any parents allowing this to happen to their child. As far as young adult fiction I would say maybe but only if it is categorized as a fantasy or very unrealistic.
Diane M. (Walden, NY)

golden boy
A story about a family trying to be perfect but holding a secret. Max, the "golden boy" - star athlete, handsome, intelligent - is intersex. A well kept secret until a childhood friend reveals it. What happens to the golden boy and his family afterwards is the basis for this story. I personally didn't like but it was a good story. I haven't read anything else like it. I would recommend only because someone might like it because of the theme.
Caryl L. (Williamsburg, VA)

Golden Boy
This is a different kind of book. A young man(Max) is dealing with his coming of age problems with a very complex problem. He is intersex.
Mother and Father disagree with how to handle this. Who is right and who is wrong or is there a solution? Why did they wait so long?
How does Max handle it? Add to that a little brother and a girlfriend.
It is written, rather than in chapter form, as each character states his feelings.
I must admit that I thought I would not like it. But as things moved along, I found that I became more interested in the and how each one deals with it. Not a page turner, but an interesting subject.

Read-Alikes

Top Picks

  • Book Jacket
    The House of Doors
    by Tan Twan Eng
    Every July, I take on the overly ambitious goal of reading all of the novels chosen as longlist ...
  • Book Jacket: The Puzzle Box
    The Puzzle Box
    by Danielle Trussoni
    During the tumultuous last days of the Tokugawa shogunate, a 17-year-old emperor known as Meiji ...
  • Book Jacket
    Something, Not Nothing
    by Sarah Leavitt
    In 2020, after a lifetime of struggling with increasingly ill health, Sarah Leavitt's partner, ...
  • Book Jacket
    A Haunting in Hialeah Gardens
    by Raul Palma
    Raul Palma's debut novel A Haunting in Hialeah Gardens introduces Hugo Contreras, who came to the ...

Members Recommend

  • Book Jacket

    Pony Confidential
    by Christina Lynch

    In this whimsical mystery, a grumpy pony must clear his beloved human's name from a murder accusation.

Who Said...

Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you

Click Here to find out who said this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes!

Wordplay

Solve this clue:

H I O the G

and be entered to win..

Your guide toexceptional          books

BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.