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Boys Will Be Boys: A Daughter's Elegy
Sara Suleri Goodyear's Meatless Days , recognized now as a classic of postcolonial literature, is a finely wrought memoir of her girlhood in Pakistan after the 1947 partition. Set around the women of her family, Meatless Days intertwines the violent history of Pakistan's independence with Suleri Goodyear's most intimate memories of her grandmother, mother, and sisters. In Boys Will Be Boys , she returns—with the same treasury of language, humor, and passion—to her childhood and early adulthood to pay tribute to her father, the political journalist Z. A. Suleri (known as Pip, for his "patriotic and preposterous" disposition).
Taking its title from that jokingly chosen by her father for his unwritten autobiography, Boys Will Be Boys dips in and out of Suleri Goodyear's upbringing in Pakistan and her life in the United States, moving between public and private history and addressing questions of loss and cultural displacement through a resolutely comic lens. In this rich portrait, Pip emerges as a prodigious an ardent agitator against British rule in the 1930s and 1940s, a founder of the Times of Karachi and the Evening Times , on-and-off editor of the Pakistan Times , for a brief time director of the Pakistan military intelligence service, and a frequently jailed antagonist of successive Pakistani leaders. To the author, though, he was also "preposterous . . . counting himself king of infinite space," a man who imposed outrageously on his children. As Suleri Goodyear chronicles, Pip demanded their loyalty yet banished them easily from his favor; contrary and absurdly unfair, he read their diaries, interfered in their relationships, and believed in a father's inalienable right to oppress his children.
Suleri Goodyear invites the reader into an intimacy shaped equally by history and intensely personal detail, creating an elegant elegy for a man of force and contradiction. And perhaps Pip was not so preposterous after "On Judgment Day," he told his daughter, "I will say to God, 'Be merciful, for I have already been judged by my child.'"
Taking its title from that jokingly chosen by her father for his unwritten autobiography, Boys Will Be Boys dips in and out of Suleri Goodyear's upbringing in Pakistan and her life in the United States, moving between public and private history and addressing questions of loss and cultural displacement through a resolutely comic lens. In this rich portrait, Pip emerges as a prodigious an ardent agitator against British rule in the 1930s and 1940s, a founder of the Times of Karachi and the Evening Times , on-and-off editor of the Pakistan Times , for a brief time director of the Pakistan military intelligence service, and a frequently jailed antagonist of successive Pakistani leaders. To the author, though, he was also "preposterous . . . counting himself king of infinite space," a man who imposed outrageously on his children. As Suleri Goodyear chronicles, Pip demanded their loyalty yet banished them easily from his favor; contrary and absurdly unfair, he read their diaries, interfered in their relationships, and believed in a father's inalienable right to oppress his children.
Suleri Goodyear invites the reader into an intimacy shaped equally by history and intensely personal detail, creating an elegant elegy for a man of force and contradiction. And perhaps Pip was not so preposterous after "On Judgment Day," he told his daughter, "I will say to God, 'Be merciful, for I have already been judged by my child.'"
- GenresMemoirNonfictionPakistan
136 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 21, 2022
The novel itself is 'preposterous' in a charming way!!! ❤️
July 19, 2012
Poignant, tender, witty and wonderful use of language. Very well written and well conceived narrative. Sara is a force to be reckoned with!
January 11, 2022
This was a random purchase from a bookstore, my first read that was set in Lahore surprisingly. Idk what I was expecting, but it’s definitely from an upper class viewpoint, mildly pretentious, and some parts are just too drawn out to be interesting.
April 9, 2016
It's Suleri. It's good. You will laugh, you will cry, you will have a Suleri-esque time.
February 8, 2023
Pakistani society is male dominant society and patriarchal values are rife there from her emergence. Sara Suleri’s father is a man of words and makes himself clear in firm and clear tone. Sara Suleri has tried to portray this scenario through her memoir Boys will be Boys. Though Sara touches the topics of politics, history and culture of Pakistan but main focus is circumstances in which concept of male gaze seems to be overloaded here. Norms of traditions prevalent in Pakistan always favor male member of society. Male gaze concept is one of the off-shoot of feminist ideology; where patriarchy, dominance and upper-hand are norms. Sara Suleri’s father is perfect example of patriarchy. He always tried to force his point of view on female family members.
Sara Suleri Goodyear’s Meatless Days, recognized now as a classic of postcolonial literature, is a finely wrought memoir of her girlhood in Pakistan after the 1947 partition.Taking its title from that jokingly chosen by her father for his unwritten autobiography, Boys Will Be Boys dips in and out of Suleri Goodyear’s upbringing in Pakistan and her life in the United States, moving between public and private history and addressing questions of loss and cultural displacement through a resolutely comic lens. In this rich portrait, Pip emerges as a prodigious figure: an ardent agitator against British rule in the 1930s and 1940s, a founder of the Times of Karachi and the Evening Times, on-and-off editor of the Pakistan Times, for a brief time director of the Pakistan military intelligence service, and a frequently jailed antagonist of successive Pakistani leaders. To the author, though, he was also “preposterous . . . counting himself king of infinite space,” a man who imposed outrageously on his children. As Suleri Goodyear chronicles, Pip demanded their loyalty yet banished them easily from his favor; contrary and absurdly unfair, he read their diaries, interfered in their relationships, and believed in a father’s inalienable right to oppress his children.
Suleri's prose is pitched between irony and almost unbearable poignancy. Among the many deaths listed are those of Suleri's friend, the political scientist Eqbal Ahmed, and Noor Jehan, Pakistan's "Melody Queen", whose magical voice Suleri movingly evokes. As for her father, she will "plant him among the rue that I will wear with a difference".
The text is sensitive to those spiritual symbols that bypass sectarian differences. Shia elegies bring tears to Sunni eyes; Sufi celebrations set Suleri singing and clapping. She commends her father to the embrace of "his good and ultimate friend", Muhammad. Suleri, not herself "the best of Mozzies", fails to comply with her father's request to convert her husband. But she arrives in America "as good Mozzies should", with her father's gift of a Koran tucked under her arm. Born after independence, she is unburdened with colonial hang-ups. Half-Welsh, she identifies herself as a "paki" and an "oriental".
To define this unclassifiable book as straightforward memoir is as futile as expecting strict chronologies. It is best read, as Suleri signalled in her earlier book Meatless Days, as a procession of "little tales": honed into near-perfection by the storyteller's art, haunted by the elegance of Urdu and English poets. Meatless Days has a singular position in the South Asian canon. Boys Will Be Boys, echoing it after a wait of 15 years, is, if anything, better still.
Sara Suleri Goodyear’s Meatless Days, recognized now as a classic of postcolonial literature, is a finely wrought memoir of her girlhood in Pakistan after the 1947 partition.Taking its title from that jokingly chosen by her father for his unwritten autobiography, Boys Will Be Boys dips in and out of Suleri Goodyear’s upbringing in Pakistan and her life in the United States, moving between public and private history and addressing questions of loss and cultural displacement through a resolutely comic lens. In this rich portrait, Pip emerges as a prodigious figure: an ardent agitator against British rule in the 1930s and 1940s, a founder of the Times of Karachi and the Evening Times, on-and-off editor of the Pakistan Times, for a brief time director of the Pakistan military intelligence service, and a frequently jailed antagonist of successive Pakistani leaders. To the author, though, he was also “preposterous . . . counting himself king of infinite space,” a man who imposed outrageously on his children. As Suleri Goodyear chronicles, Pip demanded their loyalty yet banished them easily from his favor; contrary and absurdly unfair, he read their diaries, interfered in their relationships, and believed in a father’s inalienable right to oppress his children.
Suleri's prose is pitched between irony and almost unbearable poignancy. Among the many deaths listed are those of Suleri's friend, the political scientist Eqbal Ahmed, and Noor Jehan, Pakistan's "Melody Queen", whose magical voice Suleri movingly evokes. As for her father, she will "plant him among the rue that I will wear with a difference".
The text is sensitive to those spiritual symbols that bypass sectarian differences. Shia elegies bring tears to Sunni eyes; Sufi celebrations set Suleri singing and clapping. She commends her father to the embrace of "his good and ultimate friend", Muhammad. Suleri, not herself "the best of Mozzies", fails to comply with her father's request to convert her husband. But she arrives in America "as good Mozzies should", with her father's gift of a Koran tucked under her arm. Born after independence, she is unburdened with colonial hang-ups. Half-Welsh, she identifies herself as a "paki" and an "oriental".
To define this unclassifiable book as straightforward memoir is as futile as expecting strict chronologies. It is best read, as Suleri signalled in her earlier book Meatless Days, as a procession of "little tales": honed into near-perfection by the storyteller's art, haunted by the elegance of Urdu and English poets. Meatless Days has a singular position in the South Asian canon. Boys Will Be Boys, echoing it after a wait of 15 years, is, if anything, better still.
April 15, 2022
I'm glad I stuck with this book till the end because I was losing interest in the beginning. As a daughter's elegy, I found this a quite engaging and moving read.
The snippets of political events from the times gone by felt depressing at times, as it feels things only got worse for Pakistanis. The prolonged rule of dictators and the aftermath of extremist policies led to the hopeless state of minorities, growing intolerance and a dull wave of despair among the common citizens. And what are we today but the product of those problematic eras?
Overall, I enjoyed it and will definitely read more of Suleri's works and maybe something of her father's too, who was indeed a peculiarly interesting character.
The snippets of political events from the times gone by felt depressing at times, as it feels things only got worse for Pakistanis. The prolonged rule of dictators and the aftermath of extremist policies led to the hopeless state of minorities, growing intolerance and a dull wave of despair among the common citizens. And what are we today but the product of those problematic eras?
Overall, I enjoyed it and will definitely read more of Suleri's works and maybe something of her father's too, who was indeed a peculiarly interesting character.
January 12, 2025
Sara Sulehri’s Boys Will Be Boys critically examines how societal norms around masculinity shape boys’ behavior and emotions. The book challenges the justification of toxic traits under the guise of “boys being boys,” highlighting the emotional suppression and pressure boys face in patriarchal settings.
Written in a clear and engaging style, Sulehri combines personal stories with social commentary, making the book relatable and thought-provoking. It advocates for a more empathetic approach to raising boys and dismantling harmful stereotypes, offering hope for a more emotionally aware society.
A concise, impactful read that questions gender norms and inspires change.
Written in a clear and engaging style, Sulehri combines personal stories with social commentary, making the book relatable and thought-provoking. It advocates for a more empathetic approach to raising boys and dismantling harmful stereotypes, offering hope for a more emotionally aware society.
A concise, impactful read that questions gender norms and inspires change.
July 3, 2018
The book, Boys will be boys, is an elegy for the author's father and is a recollection of memoirs and keepsakes. The prose is almost poetic with each chapter opening with urdu poetry and the nostalgia and wit are always on point. Though very brief the book does feel like a drag at times.
June 16, 2020
"Certain acts- such as writing a poem- are best obliterated, consigned to the sweeter sleep of forgetfulness."
Sara is super, just super amazing.
Sara is super, just super amazing.
January 30, 2015
Great writing. Loved this
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews