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Summary and Reviews of Man and Boy by Tony Parsons

Man and Boy by Tony Parsons

Man and Boy

by Tony Parsons
  • Critics' Consensus:
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  • First Published:
  • Apr 1, 2001, 340 pages
  • Paperback:
  • May 2002, 340 pages
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About This Book

Book Summary

A witty, often eye-dabbing, always heartwarming love story between a father and his four-year-old son. A British bestseller for 50 weeks and British Book Awards Book of the Year.

With more than 750,000 copies sold, Man and Boy has been on the British bestseller list for 50 weeks.

A witty, often eye-dabbing, always heartwarming love story between a father and his four-year-old son.

Set in London, this is the not-to-be-forgotten saga of Harry Silver, who has it all: a beautiful wife, a wonderful son and a great job in the media. But in one night of infidelity, he throws it all away. His wife leaves to take a chance on a new life, leaving Harry at home with the daunting and exhilarating task of raising his son by himself. How Harry Silver discovers parenthood, learns to love his own father, finds a new love and makes the hardest decision of his thirty-plus years provides the magic and tension of this novel.

Chapter One

Some situations to avoid when preparing for your all-important, finally-I-am-fully-grown thirtieth birthday.

Having a one night stand with a colleague from work.
The rash purchase of luxury items you can’t afford.
Being left by your wife.
Losing your job.
Suddenly becoming a single parent.
If you are coming up to thirty, whatever you do, don’t do any of that.
It will fuck up your whole day.



Thirty should be when you think—these are my golden years, these are my salad days, the best is yet to come and all that old crap.

You are still young enough to stay up all night, but you are old enough to have a credit card. All the uncertainties and poverty of your teens and twenties are finally over—and good riddance to the lot of them—but the sap is still rising.

Thirty should be a good birthday. One of the best.

But how to celebrate reaching the big three-oh? With a collection of laughing single friends in some intimate bar or ...

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
Plot synopsis:

A witty, often eye-dabbing, always heartwarming love story between a father and his four-year-old son. Set in London, this is the not-to-be-forgotten saga of Harry Silver, who has it all: a beautiful wife, a wonderful son and a great job in the media. But in one night of infidelity, he throws it all away. His wife leaves to take a chance on a new life, leaving Harry at home with the daunting and exhilarating task of raising his son by himself. How Harry Silver learns to love his own father, find a new love and make the hardest decision of his thirty-plus years provides the magic and tension of this novel.


For Discussion:
  1. Did Man and Boy change any of your feelings about the kind of love a father feels for ...
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Reviews

Media Reviews

GQ
As ever, [Tony Parsons] is in impressively depth-charging, straight-talking form. A broadsheet mind with a tabloid tongue, he remains one of the few male writers prepared to look beyond his own navel in search of answers.

Woman's Journal
I sobbed my way shamelessly through this book.

Daily Express (UK)
One of the finest books published this year...Hilarious and tear-jerking in turns.

Daily Mail (UK)
Parsons has written a sharp, witty and wise book straight from his heart. His characters are all nitty-gritty, bounce-off-the-page, real people, his dialogue is brilliant.

Observer(UK) - James Brown
I cried five times and laughed out loud four.

Reader Reviews

douha khadija

the best story
Hi am Khadija I'm 18years old. I read this book and I think that it is the best book I have ever read. And what I learn of that book is "when you have something you must take care of it before time lost".
Danielle

man and boy
I read this book and it made me want to cry.. I am 14 years old and normally kids read books for there age but i like to exceed on books. I've never felt this way about a book before ,you actually feel like how lucky am I to be with my parents and ...   Read More
infatuated reader

man and boy
this was an excitingly heart warming book. Tony Parsons books were one of the very first books I have read and so far the best among the admirable authors of today. reading this book has given a new enlightenment to me and the change it has made ...   Read More
Becca

The critics were right for once!!
Finally, we have very right critics, this book which I read for a school project, was not let out of my hands for days, and at every moment I was not sure of what would happen in the end. That is what I loved about this book, and even told my ...   Read More

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