Just finished Boy A by Jonathan Trigell. It is about a boy who commits a horrific crime when he is a child (hence the title) and has been in prison from from the age of 11. It is the story of what he goes through when he is released from prison at the age of 22. How he, Jack (the name he chose before going into his new life) struggles to make relationships knowing that if the friends he does make knew who he really was they would despise him. A lot of it also focused on Jack's relationship with his Parole officer Terry which as its not a very glamorous role that of a Parole Officer so we never hear anything about it normally it was good to get that insight. My favourite though was the media witch-hunt that follows his release. Interesting to see it from the 'hunted' point of view.
The way the story is told is what makes this book really great. The story starts upon his release from prison where we get to know Jack who is immensely likeable but we are told nothing of the crime he has commited. The details of his horrible crime are gradually relealed throughout the book in flashback giving us details on his life leading up to and imedietly after the event took place. Its loosly based on the Jamie Bulger killing so you get the idea.
Really enjoyed this book, only criticism would that the ending was a real let down. There were still a lot of story threads that had to be tied up. I actually thought for a minute my copy of the book was missing pages The ending was really unsatisfying. Its not a long book only 194 odd pages so there was definetly room to go further with this.
Excellent read everyone should give it a bash.
The arrogant sense of entitlement and self importance shown by rangers fans in reaction to all this ris what really rips my knitting. It will be a great day for Scottish footbal when they finally die. I imagine when the do go it will be like the end of Return of the Jedi with all the Ewoks dancing and rejoicing. Han and Chewie sitting round a fire in St Mirren tops laughing. The funeral pyre burns on and everyone is happy. Except Neil Lennon... he will still be ragin'