Rating: 
Summary: A MUST READ FOR EVERY FATHER
Review: This was one of the finest books I have read this year. It completely encompassed the feelings that I have as an early thirtysomething father. The first two pages of the book details exactly how I felt the day my son was born. It was almost as though Parsons was in my head. The feelings of lost youth and insecurity are traits I believe all married fathers feel at some point. And the main character's indiscretions are rightfully punished, however, we cannot hate him, because after all he is like the rest of us, human.
Rating:
Summary: A very real and touching story
Review: From the moment I opened the first page to the description of turning 30, I could not put the thing down! Not only does this story touch every person's heart (from young adults to aging grandparents), it draws on feelings that we've all experienced in our lives. The novel is funny, depressing and true to life unlike any I've ever read. With that many feelings going on in a book, you truly cannot say that about many books. A perfect read, a wonderful writer, a tear jerking experience.
Rating: 
Summary: I loved this book!
Review: I read a review of this book that said "I sobbed shamelessly through this book" and I knew that, jaded as I am, I would not. And I didn't - but my eyes filled up twice, and I did laugh out loud a number of times. Every single character in the book is lovable, and the issues it deals with (marriage, divorce, children and parents) are familiar to just about everybody. It's a must-read for a number of different reasons. I found a couple of small flaws, like it dragged a little bit at one point, and it got a little schmaltzy at another, but it is one of those books that I was sorry to see end. Oh, and one more thing! It is written by a Brit, takes place in England, and for once, a British author did not portray Americans as loud, stupid, tasteless jerks! Very refreshing!
Rating: 
Summary: Divorce, redux
Review: I had great expectations for this book, and not all of them were realized. I had read a review that billed it as a "Kramer vs. Kramer for the new century". However, I never got as involved with the characters in this book as I did with the Kramers, I think because the characters were so one-dimensional and wooden. I did make myself finish the book, and am not totally sorry that I did. I just wish that I had more feelings for the people whom I met.The book does show the effect that one mistake can have on a marriage when Harry Silver has a one-night stand with a co-worker. The author tries to make the reader feel the pain Harry feels when his wife leaves him and when she threatens to seek custody of their little boy. But Parsons' efforts fall short of truly involving the reader in the emotional life of the story and its characters. I found that the most touching parts were the scenes with Harry and his father.....these were very well done.
Rating:
Summary: Just OK.
Review: This was a book I finished but can't recommend it. Who can have much sympathy for a selfish guy who had an affair? It didn't strike me as sentimental and it's not a great work of prose. You want to find out what happens, and the part about the main character and his father is nice, but otherwise it's about a guy who has been given great things in life and he blows it, then feels bad about it.
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Summary: About the adventure of becoming yourself...
Review: It is funny because I have bought this book exactly in the same situation as one of the reviewers here: I was waiting for a flight at Heathrow airport and had also never heard of Tony Parsons before. I have just read the book and found it amazingly touching, full of wisdom and zest for life. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me think... Gorgeous.
Rating: 
Summary: It gave me the blahs.
Review: It's sentimental twaddle, competently written (for a hack journalist) but with no imagination and no great craft. Not only isn't it the 'thinking man's Kramer v Kramer', it's a direct steal from that film (check out the improbable kid falling off his bike scene, not to mention the entire set-up). It tries to appropriate some of the Nick Hornby bloke-in-his-thirties feeling but comes up short because Parsons has neither the wit nor the imagination of a Hornby. The characters are sketchy - either stereotypes (the bluff old father with the heart of gold)or just not thought through (the protagonist's wife). Two stars because undemanding souls who need an airport read may find it relatively unoffensive.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderfully funny and touching book
Review: Tony Parsons' MAN AND BOY is an hysterically funny, yet deeply tender novel about human relationships and the bond between fathers and sons. Parsons' writing is heartfelt...never boring, and extremely entertaining. Although written from a man's point of view, this is not just a book for men...it should be read by husbands and wives, as well as sons and fathers.
Rating:
Summary: book every man, father and to-be father should read
Review: 'Never estimate the power of nuclear family' or 'The son always concern his father as a hero' is just one of the lines that will bring into the heart of this astonishing writting. Harry is a man who has it all; wonderfull life, grat job, beautifull family, lovely boy, but overnight he trows everything away. Then his life goes just downhill. He loses his job, he buy a luctury item, which he can aford and his wife left him broke and alone with the son. Beind a single parent suddenly and not being a parent before is a hard job. But it become where easy if you just love someone enough, so much that oyu can let him go. I would compare it to the About a boy, but is much better, just witty in the same way. It's intelegent novel, funny and you will find yourself many times cry out and laugh loud. But in any way, anytime at every sentence and every thought you will say 'Exectly my thought, that just someone else put on the paper'. Strongly recomended for all those newly marriage men. Because there is one mistake which you will never be able to ment.
Rating:
Summary: DON'T MISS THIS BOOK!!
Review: One of the best books I've read in the past year. Parsons does a wonderful job of blending humor and drama in this wonderful story about a single Dad in his 30s struggling to raise his son, mend his marriage and reignite his career. The writing is paced well and the characters are true. I had heard this book took Britain by storm last year and I'm glad it finally arrived. Check it out; you'll never look at an empty swimming pool the same again.
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