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katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Within a few pages I was completely drawn into this story. Like ‘Wonder’, by R. J. Palacio, ‘Golden Boy’ looks at a character we see very rarely in fiction. ‘Wonder’ took the multiple-narrator approach to show us a facially disfigured boy, and ‘Golden Boy’ also uses multiple narrators to show us the life and experiences of an intersex teenager, an adolescent with both male and female sex organs.
It’s a bit of a wake-up call really, to see someone struggling with something most of us must take for granted: Am I a boy or a girl? Who am I attracted to? What will I look like as I grow up?
Early on, Max’s fairly-straightforward teenage years are violently shattered by a family friend who immediately changes Max’s life, confidence and identity. Max’s younger brother (who displays classic symptoms of Aspergers’), his parents, his doctor Archie and his female friend Sylvie all narrate in turn and fill out the story from every perspective.
We see the gender issues from the academic perspective of the interested and empathic doctor, the innocent and unbiased child, the too-involved and trying-hard-not-to-but-being-controlling parent, the loving girlfriend. And Max as well.
It’s a horrendous emotional and physical journey that Max finds himself on, and the reader starts finding themselves questioning assumptions and stereotypes about gender.
Max is intelligent and thoughtful and hard to dislike. I really liked the multiple narrators, seeing the characters through their own eyes and those of other people, and how they appear differently in each.
The writing is very confident and flows once you understand the structure of the chapters. You come to understand how Max’s differences affect so many people around him, but question how that can be – he’s just a typical adolescent, but outside of one of society’s ‘norms’.
Wonderful read, with some graphic scenes early on, it’s a teenage love story, family drama, coming-of-age tale and hopefully will show on some awards shortlists in the near future.
With thanks to NewBooks magazine for the review copy.
britishkneecap's review
5.0
I read this awhile ago, maybe in 2017 i think? But this book left a really good impression cuz i just remember that i really do like the plot
Planning to read it again and update this review later :)
Planning to read it again and update this review later :)
jessicajessica101's review against another edition
4.0
J'ai mis énormément de temps à lire ce livre, plus de temps que je ne met d'ordinaire pour en lire un et quelques fois je ne pensais même pas que j'arriverai à en venir à bout.
Golden Boy parle d'un sujet qui est très très peu abordé, que ce soit en livre ou en général dans les médias : l'intersexualité.
J'ai beaucoup aimé l'axe que l'auteure a pris pour nous parler de cela, Max est un personnage qu'on rencontre sur de lui au début du livre et qu'on va voir progressivement se renfermer sur lui même et douter de tout, et cela montre à quel point être hermaphrodite est compliqué, parce qu'on a peur du regard des autres, parce que c'est dur de trouver vraiment qui on est dans une société où on est majoritairement définit par notre sexe, et surtout parce que certaines personnes peuvent en profiter pour nous blesser.
Je ne vais pas parler de l'événement vraiment déclencheur de l'histoire, tout simplement parce que je ne m'y attendais pas et que même si ça se passe au début, ça m'a foutu une grosse claque et que j'ai aimé ça. Mais c'est vraiment quelque chose d'horrible qui lui arrive, et on suit ensuite Max après cela.
J'ai mis énormément de temps à lire ce livre, principalement à cause de l'écriture. L'histoire, en elle même est dure, mais l'écriture reflète réellement cela. Elle est véritablement immersive si bien qu'on se retrouve totalement plongée dans l'histoire et c'est vrai qu'à certains moment, cette écriture était dure tout simplement parce que ce livre est dur d'une façon générale. Mais ça rend l'expérience de lecture encore meilleur, et je peux vraiment affirmer que la plume de Abigail Terttelin est juste incroyable.
Cependant, je peux dire que j'ai aimé ce livre, et je suis heureux d'être sortie de ma zone de confort et de l'avoir découvert et d'en avoir appris à un peu sur cette condition et sur les nombreuses problématiques qu'elle entraine.
Golden Boy parle d'un sujet qui est très très peu abordé, que ce soit en livre ou en général dans les médias : l'intersexualité.
J'ai beaucoup aimé l'axe que l'auteure a pris pour nous parler de cela, Max est un personnage qu'on rencontre sur de lui au début du livre et qu'on va voir progressivement se renfermer sur lui même et douter de tout, et cela montre à quel point être hermaphrodite est compliqué, parce qu'on a peur du regard des autres, parce que c'est dur de trouver vraiment qui on est dans une société où on est majoritairement définit par notre sexe, et surtout parce que certaines personnes peuvent en profiter pour nous blesser.
Je ne vais pas parler de l'événement vraiment déclencheur de l'histoire, tout simplement parce que je ne m'y attendais pas et que même si ça se passe au début, ça m'a foutu une grosse claque et que j'ai aimé ça. Mais c'est vraiment quelque chose d'horrible qui lui arrive, et on suit ensuite Max après cela.
J'ai mis énormément de temps à lire ce livre, principalement à cause de l'écriture. L'histoire, en elle même est dure, mais l'écriture reflète réellement cela. Elle est véritablement immersive si bien qu'on se retrouve totalement plongée dans l'histoire et c'est vrai qu'à certains moment, cette écriture était dure tout simplement parce que ce livre est dur d'une façon générale. Mais ça rend l'expérience de lecture encore meilleur, et je peux vraiment affirmer que la plume de Abigail Terttelin est juste incroyable.
Cependant, je peux dire que j'ai aimé ce livre, et je suis heureux d'être sortie de ma zone de confort et de l'avoir découvert et d'en avoir appris à un peu sur cette condition et sur les nombreuses problématiques qu'elle entraine.
margaridamlopes's review
5.0
This book is so so so important and so so so good. Read, read, read. One of the best ones I've ever read!
posies23's review
5.0
A challenging, fascinating, and engaging look at a British family dealing with the complications that arise during the teen years of their intersex child, Max. Written from multiple points-of-view, it examines the complexities of raising children in modern society, while also dealing specifically with Max's intersexuality.
The characters are three-dimensional, and the book doesn't shy away from complicated and controversial issues. While this is a book that both adult and advanced YA readers might appreciate, be warned that there are scenes of graphic and disturbing nature, beyond the subject matter discussed. (Younger readers, especially, should probably have guidance while reading it, because of the mature situations and issues.)
With that said, it's a remarkable novel, well worth reading and seeking out. It's quite outside of my usual reading areas, but I am very glad I read it.
The characters are three-dimensional, and the book doesn't shy away from complicated and controversial issues. While this is a book that both adult and advanced YA readers might appreciate, be warned that there are scenes of graphic and disturbing nature, beyond the subject matter discussed. (Younger readers, especially, should probably have guidance while reading it, because of the mature situations and issues.)
With that said, it's a remarkable novel, well worth reading and seeking out. It's quite outside of my usual reading areas, but I am very glad I read it.
syndi3's review
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
at first i hate this book. the part of what happen to max, is just so disturbing that i want to throw this book. i was angry and disgusted.
but then, i just can not stop reading it. along the way i can not help thinking about gender. what if we born without gender? how about we dont have sexual orientation label such as heterosexual, homosexual etc? how about if we do fall in love truly with someone without looking at their gender. how about if...
this book is not YA. but i think everyone one including YA audience should read this book. i an very impress with the writer. how she done her research and how she made max such a vunerable character. i found myself falling in love with max.
but then, i just can not stop reading it. along the way i can not help thinking about gender. what if we born without gender? how about we dont have sexual orientation label such as heterosexual, homosexual etc? how about if we do fall in love truly with someone without looking at their gender. how about if...
this book is not YA. but i think everyone one including YA audience should read this book. i an very impress with the writer. how she done her research and how she made max such a vunerable character. i found myself falling in love with max.
amalauna's review
5.0
So when a book is written the way this book is... I would usually stop reading. The syntax is overly simplified and improbable in places. There are too many random asides that are meant to impress readers. Not the words, but the characters are trying to impress readers. In some places it's so showy and over the top that it pulls you from the narrative.
HOWEVER! While the characters are flawed (not in a literary way but in a miswritten way), Max's story is big enough to pull you in and make you want to continue. If you can push through the randomness of some of the book to view the internal struggle of Max... this is a work of art. It's a struggle to read for this reason, but it's a lovely book. You just have to push aside the crap, ignore the overly simplistic writing, and stupid asides about how the mom believes she's the shit because of what she wears or what not.
Max's story is worth reading.
HOWEVER! While the characters are flawed (not in a literary way but in a miswritten way), Max's story is big enough to pull you in and make you want to continue. If you can push through the randomness of some of the book to view the internal struggle of Max... this is a work of art. It's a struggle to read for this reason, but it's a lovely book. You just have to push aside the crap, ignore the overly simplistic writing, and stupid asides about how the mom believes she's the shit because of what she wears or what not.
Max's story is worth reading.