A book review of One of the Boys, by Daniel Magariel
I read “One of the Boys” by Daniel Magariel a few years ago, so I had to re-read it for the present review.
Be ready to meet a family that is falling apart because of problems and hopelessness!
To me, this is a coming-of-age story, that explores the harmful effects of abuse and addiction. It is such a powerful narrative that it has persisted in my mind for the past couple of days.
The novel opens in a shocking way, showing the father manipulating his sons into telling a lie that will change their lives forever.
This is how the story begins, going deep into the minds of the two boys as they try to deal with the effects of what their father did. I was instantly impressed by the writing style.
Here is an author who managed to create a world where kids’ lives are put at risk so parents can lose their minds.
It must have been inspired from reality, which is even more horrific if we come to think of it.
As the narrative flows, the brothers find safety in one another. They somehow create their own bubble, while surrounded by drug use, violence, and a freak-show view of family. They literally didn’t have the experience of a decent family. How many kids suffer this way around the world?
It is amazing how strong the brothers’ bond is. And they are actually kids! Imagine the trauma they would have to live with their whole lives!
The strong focus on abuse, takes away from the depths of the story. For example, I would have preferred to learn more about the characters’ personal lives because they were portrayed as victims the whole time.
The kids had no hobbies and no friends. Is that something psychologically valid in such cases?
All in all, the book “One of the Boys” is touching and dense. It really made me think about parenthood and relationships in general. I’m not revealing more, because it is a book worth reading. I appreciated the fact that the book was written in an honest way about how hard it is to deal with abuse.
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