The Wrong Boy
Select Format
Select Condition 
Book Overview
The hilarious, bittersweet novel from the playwright behind EDUCATING RITA, SHIRLEY VALENTINE and award-winning musical BLOOD BROTHERS.
Dear Morrissey,I'm feeling dead depressed and down. Like a streetlamp without a bulb or a goose at the onset of Christmas time.
Anyroad, I thought I'd pen a few lines to someone who'd understand... It's 1991. Raymond Marks is a normal boy, from a normal family, in a normal northern town. Only lately, he's been feeling dead down. His dad left home after falling in love with a five-string banjo. His fun-hating grandma believes she should have married Jean-Paul Sartre: 'I could never read his books, but y' could tell from his picture, there was nothing frivolous about John-Paul Sartre.' Felonious Uncle Jason and Appalling Aunty Paula are lusting after the satellite dish. And so he turns to the one person who'll understand what he's going through: Morrissey. Told through a series of heartfelt letters to the frontman of The Smiths, this is a laugh-out-loud funny, incredibly poignant tale from a character you can't help but love. 'Big-hearted, wonderfully funny and engrossing' THE MIRROR 'A warm, funny, poignant story. I loved The Wrong Boy - and so will you' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 'A comic masterpiece' BEL MOONEY, MAIL ON SUNDAY
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0552996459
ISBN13:9780552996457
Release Date:January 2001
Publisher:Black Swan Books, Limited
Length:512 Pages
Weight:0.75 lbs.
Dimensions:1.3" x 5.0" x 7.8"
Customer Reviews
3 ratings
More than a Masterpiece!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
Probably the best audio cassett ever experianced. Willy Russell one of the UK's best writers.
A gem of a book
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
Hilarious, moving and enthralling, a story told by young Raymond, a "not normal" boy, in his letters written to Morrissey. His troubles start with some innocent boys' games by the canal, misunderstood as a perversion by teachers and parents, and escalate from there. He describes his relationships with his family: confused mother, down to earth loving ally of a grandmother, horrendous uncle; and he enjoys the friendship of some slightly odd peers and other interesting characters as he progresses. Even at its most moving, the humour still shines through. An intriguing and gripping plot, it is tempting to rush ahead to discover what happens next, but to do so means sacrificing the sheer joy of reading Raymond's ramblings. Beautifully written, very entertaining and truly involving, this is to be highly recommended.
Not available in America-why?
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
Firstly,I was surprised in the extreme to see that The wrong boy is not currently available in America but what the hey,Ill review it anyway.This is a book that is in equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking,a tome that moves through one boys early childhood to his ill fated attempt to get a job and break free form his lonely existence.Raymond Marks is a normal boy until the age of ten when he is made scapegoat for a rude boys game at the local canal.Ostracised by his friends and subsequently blamed for a child abduction,Raymonds life moves from one disaster to the next until he ultimately ends up in a secure psychiatric unit.Told in the form of letters to his hero Morrissey,the wrong boy will captivate all who read it and whilst set in Manchester,Northern England will be recognised by people anywhere in the world.Buy it.
Copyright © 2025 Thriftbooks.com
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Cookie Policy | Cookie Preferences | Accessibility Statement
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
