Customer Reviews:
 Outstanding August 7, 2008
We spent three years working in Colombo from 1984 - 1987 and so are very familiar with the tragic situation described in this book. Reading about places I recognise was especially poignant as, despite the awfulness of racial conflict and discrimination, we did love our time in Sri Lanka. This is a book of great depth and sensitivity and Arje's blossoming homosexuality is beautifully portrayed. The awfulness of the riots and build up to them has once again made me realise just how cruel people can be and how the world never changes.
A beautifully written story August 6, 2006
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This story centres around Arjie, a Tamil boy growing up in Sri Lanka, a country torn by civil war. Split into six chapters, the first 5 chapters beautifully describes his relationships with a person who helps Arjie realise not only his homosexuality, but the struggles and problems between the Tamil and Sinhalese people. The last chapter is reserved as a crescendo to Arjie's realisation of racial hatred underpinning his country, set amongst the appalling backdrop of the 1983 riots.
As a Tamil, this book hit hard to me. Children are often said to be colour blind, and Shyams portrayal of a child's confusion of the deep-rooted racism in his country coupled with the confusion of his dawning sexuality is beautifully told.
This book is not only for fellow Sri Lankans. Its for anyone who is an adamant believer of racial equality, anyone who has ever experienced the pain of forbidden love (not only from a homosexual viewpoint as you will find out) and anyone who likes beautifully written stories.
A must read.
Beautiful, innocent, but ultimately shocking March 17, 2000
38 out of 38 found this review helpful
The final chapter of 'Funny Boy' left me fighting back the tears as the victimisation of the Tamil population during the Colombo riots is shockingly relived. A vivid portrait of communal antagonism in Sri Lanka through the eyes of a Arjie, a young Tamil boy who is also coming to terms with his own dawning homosexuality. The innocence of his friendships, first with his aunt, then his family's lodger and later with his first boyfriend, are beautiful. But although the gay aspect is an important element in this unique portrait of childhood, unlike so much gay fiction which obsessively puts it at the centre of everything, it was almost incidental here. This is how it should be in real life.
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