Funny Boy
A Novel in Six Stories
Published on 30. April 2020
Book
Paperback/Softback
336 pages
978-1-5291-1074-6 (ISBN)
Description
'An extraordinarily powerful, deeply moving novel' Amitav Ghosh
NOW A MAJOR FILM ON NETFLIX
In the world of his large family - affluent Tamils living in Colombo - Arjie is an oddity, a 'funny boy' who prefers dressing as a girl to playing cricket with his brother.
But as Arjie comes to terms with his own homo-sexuality and with the racism of the society in which he lives, Sri Lanka is plunged into civil war as fighting between the army and the Tamil Tigers gradually begins to encroach on the family's comfortable life. Sporadic acts of violence flare into full scale riots and lead, ultimately, to tragedy.
Written in clear, simple prose, Shyam Selvadurai's first novel is masterly in its mingling of the personal and political.
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY NEEL MUKHERJEE
NOW A MAJOR FILM ON NETFLIX
In the world of his large family - affluent Tamils living in Colombo - Arjie is an oddity, a 'funny boy' who prefers dressing as a girl to playing cricket with his brother.
But as Arjie comes to terms with his own homo-sexuality and with the racism of the society in which he lives, Sri Lanka is plunged into civil war as fighting between the army and the Tamil Tigers gradually begins to encroach on the family's comfortable life. Sporadic acts of violence flare into full scale riots and lead, ultimately, to tragedy.
Written in clear, simple prose, Shyam Selvadurai's first novel is masterly in its mingling of the personal and political.
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY NEEL MUKHERJEE
Reviews / Votes
An extaordinarily powerful, deeply moving novel -- Amitav Ghosh Selvadurai writes as sensitively about the emotional intensity of adolescence as he does about the wonder of childhood * New York Times Book Review * Glittering and wise... Funny Boy keeps repeating that the human condition can, in spite of everything, be joyful. You are not alone, it says to the reader. I understand you. I too was there. I remember -- Alberto Manguel A quiet masterpiece * Gay Times * At first sight an innocently observed portrait of Tamil family life in seventies Sri Lanka, it metamorphosed into a lucid, serious piece of writing... Selvadurai's world is delightful, frightening, important and he describes it with touching clarity... His novel is a graceful and intelligent account of the random nature of growing up * Observer * Exquisitely written...superb * Independent * The unadorned and simple prose has elegance and great sophistication. Moreover, Selvadurai has a genius for touching a nerve with a feather-light touch... A powerful and beautifully written novel * Literary Review *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Vintage Publishing
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 131 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
270 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5291-1074-6 (9781529110746)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
09/2008
1st Edition
Vintage Digital
€8.99
Available for download
Person
Shyam Selvadurai was born in 1965 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He left Sri Lanka after the 1983 riots in Colombo and settled with his family in Canada. He lives in Toronto.