The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys Summary and Reviews

The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys
by Chris Fuhrman

The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys
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Book Summary Information

Author: Chris Fuhrman
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2001-09-28
ISBN: 0820323381
Number of pages: 200
Publisher: University of Georgia Press

Book Reviews of The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys

Book Review: 2 1/2 stars from me; YMMV
Summary: 2 Stars

This coming of age novel has been compared (for its style and bravado) to A Confederacy of Dunces. Unfortunately, Fuhrman's novel takes few chances, offers few insights, and reflects none of Toole's caustic wit. An altar boy named Francis and his friends get in trouble at his Catholic school for drawing an explicit comic book. He and his friends devise a plan to capture a bobcat and set it loose in the school to make the principal forget about punishing them. Along the way, Francis makes faltering attempts to have a relationship with a girl who seems to like him. In the end, Francis grows up a bit. Yawn.

To be fair, judging from other reviews here, this is a novel that has appealed to many, particularly to younger readers. Even though it's the sort of book I generally enjoy (and one I looked forward to reading), it just wasn't the novel for me. The story neither moved nor entertained me. Through most of the novel, nothing happened that seemed to be of any consequence. The humor seemed childish. I will grant that the last few pages are quite good but the journey to get there was tedious. Fuhrman's prose style is adequate but unexceptional. I would give the novel 2 1/2 stars if that option were available. Again, your mileage may vary.

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