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Новенький
Нет, не забудет никто никогда... школьные годы, блин...
Семнадцать лет, желание нравиться женщинам, потребность в самоуважении и уважении однокашников, которого можно добиться, лишь став круче всех... И кажется невероятным, что есть на свете такой человек, которому на все эти проблемы наплевать. Тем не менее, вот он, Новенький - умный, красивый, независимый, сильный. Рядом с ним ты кажешься себе гнусным уродцем и так мечтаешь подружиться с этим удивительным человеком. Так сильно, что впору даже усомниться в собственной сексуальной ориентации...
Сатклифф виртуозно выворачивает подростковые комплексы и страхи, с иронией исследует абсурдность школьной жизни и хитросплетения школьной иерархии. Его герой умен, но неуверен в себе, он остер на язык, но боится подшучивания, он мечтает о неземном сексе, но довольствуется обжиманиями с самой уродливой девчонкой. Он замечает мельчайшие подробности происходящего с другими людьми, но не видит ничего у себя под носом. Он кажется себе проницательным старцем, но для него остаются загадками и старший брат, и лучший друг, и любимая девушка. Он ни черта не смыслит в этой жизни, хотя и пыжится изо всех сил. Он трогателен, страшен и жалок одновременно, но спасает его самоирония и чувство юмора.
Уильяму Сатклиффу, хорошо известному российскому читателю по роману `А ты попробуй`, удалось почти невозможное: превратить школьную жизнь с ее повседневной жестокостью и цинизмом в нескончаемую и неглупую комедию.
Семнадцать лет, желание нравиться женщинам, потребность в самоуважении и уважении однокашников, которого можно добиться, лишь став круче всех... И кажется невероятным, что есть на свете такой человек, которому на все эти проблемы наплевать. Тем не менее, вот он, Новенький - умный, красивый, независимый, сильный. Рядом с ним ты кажешься себе гнусным уродцем и так мечтаешь подружиться с этим удивительным человеком. Так сильно, что впору даже усомниться в собственной сексуальной ориентации...
Сатклифф виртуозно выворачивает подростковые комплексы и страхи, с иронией исследует абсурдность школьной жизни и хитросплетения школьной иерархии. Его герой умен, но неуверен в себе, он остер на язык, но боится подшучивания, он мечтает о неземном сексе, но довольствуется обжиманиями с самой уродливой девчонкой. Он замечает мельчайшие подробности происходящего с другими людьми, но не видит ничего у себя под носом. Он кажется себе проницательным старцем, но для него остаются загадками и старший брат, и лучший друг, и любимая девушка. Он ни черта не смыслит в этой жизни, хотя и пыжится изо всех сил. Он трогателен, страшен и жалок одновременно, но спасает его самоирония и чувство юмора.
Уильяму Сатклиффу, хорошо известному российскому читателю по роману `А ты попробуй`, удалось почти невозможное: превратить школьную жизнь с ее повседневной жестокостью и цинизмом в нескончаемую и неглупую комедию.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1996
5 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
About the author
William Sutcliffe
48 books108 followersWilliam Sutcliffe was born in 1971 in London. He is the author of eight novels, New Boy, Are You Experienced?, The Love Hexagon, Bad Influence, Whatever Makes You Happy, The Wall, Concentr8 and We See Everything, which have been translated into twenty-six languages.
The Wall was shortlisted for the 2014 CILIP Carnegie Medal. Are You Experienced? has been reissued on the prestigious Penguin Essentials list.
He has also written a series of books for children: Circus of Thieves and the Raffle of Doom, Circus of Thieves on the Rampage and Circus of Thieves and the Comeback Caper.
He lives in Edinburgh with his wife, three children, two cats and a tortoise.
The Wall was shortlisted for the 2014 CILIP Carnegie Medal. Are You Experienced? has been reissued on the prestigious Penguin Essentials list.
He has also written a series of books for children: Circus of Thieves and the Raffle of Doom, Circus of Thieves on the Rampage and Circus of Thieves and the Comeback Caper.
He lives in Edinburgh with his wife, three children, two cats and a tortoise.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 31 reviews
August 10, 2024
I was surprised by the almost universal dislike most reviewers on Goodreads displayed towards this novel, I disagree totally and would like to quote some of the praise lavished on it by the UK media when it came out in 1996:
"Sutcliffe has managed to pull off a worthy British companion to Portnoy's Complaint" Jay Rayner, Observer
"Well-written,clever and very funny" Literary Review
"Smart,entertaining stuff...somewhere between Adrian Mole and Holden Caulfield" Philip Hensher, Mail on Sunday
I don't know about now but in 1996 you couldn't ask for higher praise than plaudits from the Observer and Literary Review and though I hold my nose where the Sunday Mail is concerned Philip Hensher is a novelist whose praise is worth having.
I often think the problem with writing good fiction about schoolboys is schoolboys. The problem is to be truthful your hero, like Mark in New Boy, will inevitably be monomaniacally self centered and self absorbed. That's what being a teenager is. If you don't like it go back and read all those morally improving and adult approved Victorian style school fictions like 'Tom Brown's Schooldays' of 'Eric, or, Little by Little'. Mark may not be very nice but the only people who like teenage boys are other teenagers and their mothers. When I read other reviewers complaining of his being unlikeable I can't help wondering how likeable they were at 16/17? The point is not how awful Mark is at the beginning of the novel but what he is like at the end. That is the point of a bildungsroman, it is a journey of discovery and growth.
Of course what makes this novel interesting, and maybe upsets many, is that this is a story of boy who isn't queer dealing with what appear to be queer feelings. Most of the strength of this little novel arises from the humour of the situation a modern teenage boy faces when confronted by his uncontrollable libido, because that is what the novel is about, a teenage boy with a cock with indiscriminate tastes. Perhaps you have to be male and honestly remember just how treacherous your body was at that age to really sympathise.
Although this novel is declared to be YA I didn't read it as such twenty years ago and neither was it sold as such, nor was it shelved by my local library as a YA novel. It can and should be read by teenagers, but it would be a great shame to restrict its audience. It is too good.
"Sutcliffe has managed to pull off a worthy British companion to Portnoy's Complaint" Jay Rayner, Observer
"Well-written,clever and very funny" Literary Review
"Smart,entertaining stuff...somewhere between Adrian Mole and Holden Caulfield" Philip Hensher, Mail on Sunday
I don't know about now but in 1996 you couldn't ask for higher praise than plaudits from the Observer and Literary Review and though I hold my nose where the Sunday Mail is concerned Philip Hensher is a novelist whose praise is worth having.
I often think the problem with writing good fiction about schoolboys is schoolboys. The problem is to be truthful your hero, like Mark in New Boy, will inevitably be monomaniacally self centered and self absorbed. That's what being a teenager is. If you don't like it go back and read all those morally improving and adult approved Victorian style school fictions like 'Tom Brown's Schooldays' of 'Eric, or, Little by Little'. Mark may not be very nice but the only people who like teenage boys are other teenagers and their mothers. When I read other reviewers complaining of his being unlikeable I can't help wondering how likeable they were at 16/17? The point is not how awful Mark is at the beginning of the novel but what he is like at the end. That is the point of a bildungsroman, it is a journey of discovery and growth.
Of course what makes this novel interesting, and maybe upsets many, is that this is a story of boy who isn't queer dealing with what appear to be queer feelings. Most of the strength of this little novel arises from the humour of the situation a modern teenage boy faces when confronted by his uncontrollable libido, because that is what the novel is about, a teenage boy with a cock with indiscriminate tastes. Perhaps you have to be male and honestly remember just how treacherous your body was at that age to really sympathise.
Although this novel is declared to be YA I didn't read it as such twenty years ago and neither was it sold as such, nor was it shelved by my local library as a YA novel. It can and should be read by teenagers, but it would be a great shame to restrict its audience. It is too good.
April 14, 2024
Juvenilia narrated by a character you would never, ever tire of slapping.
April 10, 2013
A funny account of the narrator's school life and the disruption to his equilibrium by the arrival of 'new boy' Barry. The narrator can't see what the reader sees and his stubborn blindness to himself and the situation leads to a conclusion that might be unsatisfactory to some but, in the context of this character, is perfectly apt...
October 26, 2020
Mark is a very unlikeable main character, and - at least to me - not in a particularly interesting or relatable way. Also, he's established early on as an unreliable narrator, making it almost impossible for me to immerse myself in the story. Did not like that at all, though I guess you could say that like Mark himself, this book deals with emotional issues while keeping its distance from others.
Maybe that's also why New Boy has to be quite on-the-nose about the message it tries to send, where it would probably have benefited from a bit more subtlety.
Other than that: nice ending, and occasionally quite funny.
Maybe that's also why New Boy has to be quite on-the-nose about the message it tries to send, where it would probably have benefited from a bit more subtlety.
Other than that: nice ending, and occasionally quite funny.
July 9, 2018
I'm a big fan of William Sutcliffe; he's very funny while making serious points and providing a gripping story. Above all, he's excellent at getting into the heads of characters at various stages of life - here, sixth-form public schoolboys in all their insecure, unpleasant ways.
October 24, 2012
Very funny book! Easy read - easy laugh ))
January 19, 2013
Found this book to be very funny at times and the author was successful at delving into the mind of a teenage boy...being a guy there were several moments where I could relate and recall my own inhibitions, fears, failures, and realizations at Mark's age. However there were times when I felt the plot to be disjointed, jumping all over the place, with no real direction, and the final outcome felt abrupt, pointless, and as if the author had enough of writing and decided to just end it. That being said there were several hilarious moments where I burst out laughing or blushed at scenes all too familiar from my own teenage years. It's also a very quick read. It's worth a read but not something I would recommend wholeheartedly.
January 10, 2013
Uggh. The protagonist is just so horrible. It goes beyond adolescent egotism or narcissism. At times I felt he was psychotic. It was made worse that the story seemed to be narrated from some time in the future, after the story's events had already taken place, but there was no sign that the protagonist had grown or gained any real perspective. The boy we're left with at the end of the novel is just as entitled, confused, mean, and lacking in empathy as he was when we first met him. The only notable exceptions for me were the 'decades' party and some of the dialogues with Barry, during which the protagonist took on the air of a real person.
June 10, 2020
Story of a confused and sometimes cruel teenage boy in the homophobic 1980s. Supposed to be funny, but I found it mostly sad. Barry is so lovely, and Mark is such a terrible friend. Well written, however, and probably true to the sad and cruel life of many teenage boys.
January 18, 2013
Funny, but the end is a bit depressing. Still a good read though
September 28, 2020
Quick read. Funny. Several laugh out loud moments - mainly from shock factor.
Read
July 16, 2021very funny :)
March 11, 2020
First I have to say what I love about William Sutcliffe. This is a writer who really does know how to write. He can be funny and interesting, and his books don't suffer for being clones of other people's work. If I could write as well as this author I would be a happy (and presumably richer) man.
Nevertheless, after erading his absolutely wonderful "Bad Influence" (which I really do recommend strongly), I found this book a little of a let down. This book contained much of the same gritty realism, and insight into the young adult mind. Part of the problem here was the subject matter was just too painfully realistic and reminiscent of an awkward stage of late adolescence. The language is extremely "school yard" - which is again realistic, but just fely that much stronger in print. When I got to the page with the phallic drawings, I was extremely embarrassed to be reading this book in a public place.
I had a skim through some other reviews before writing my own for this book, and the reviewer who gave this book 1 star claims he could not even finish it. Well I did finish it, but like him I found myself wondering why I was bothering. The book seemed almost tediously long (and it really isn't that huge). By the end I just wanted it to be over.
Nevertheless I cannot give this writer less than 3 stars because the book fails for the same reason that it is so strong. This is a marvelously insightful view on a self obsessed boy, Mark, and his relationship with the new boy at school, Barry. Mark worries about his own sexuality, especially as he is turned on by Barry.
I have read, I think, three or four other books ever with similar sexual confusion amongst the main characters and this was really the only one that explored the themes honestly and faithfully through the eyes of the teenage protaganist. All the others seemed to be romantic visions of how the authors wish they had behaved at that age. This was the first book that actually read like the character really was a teenager.
So in summary, this is a wonderfully perceptive work that faithfully captures the teenage mind and a snapshot of a teenager's life, complete with plenty of humour. The only question for potential buyers is whether that is really a place you want to go.
Nevertheless, after erading his absolutely wonderful "Bad Influence" (which I really do recommend strongly), I found this book a little of a let down. This book contained much of the same gritty realism, and insight into the young adult mind. Part of the problem here was the subject matter was just too painfully realistic and reminiscent of an awkward stage of late adolescence. The language is extremely "school yard" - which is again realistic, but just fely that much stronger in print. When I got to the page with the phallic drawings, I was extremely embarrassed to be reading this book in a public place.
I had a skim through some other reviews before writing my own for this book, and the reviewer who gave this book 1 star claims he could not even finish it. Well I did finish it, but like him I found myself wondering why I was bothering. The book seemed almost tediously long (and it really isn't that huge). By the end I just wanted it to be over.
Nevertheless I cannot give this writer less than 3 stars because the book fails for the same reason that it is so strong. This is a marvelously insightful view on a self obsessed boy, Mark, and his relationship with the new boy at school, Barry. Mark worries about his own sexuality, especially as he is turned on by Barry.
I have read, I think, three or four other books ever with similar sexual confusion amongst the main characters and this was really the only one that explored the themes honestly and faithfully through the eyes of the teenage protaganist. All the others seemed to be romantic visions of how the authors wish they had behaved at that age. This was the first book that actually read like the character really was a teenager.
So in summary, this is a wonderfully perceptive work that faithfully captures the teenage mind and a snapshot of a teenager's life, complete with plenty of humour. The only question for potential buyers is whether that is really a place you want to go.
January 31, 2025
Любимая книга моих школьных лет. Очень живой роман с ироничным отражением неловкой подростковой жизни с ее оскорбительными шутками и неприятными персонажами по типу главного героя, который к концу повествования, как это обычно бывает в романах взросления, должен был что-то понять, должен был измениться, должен был вырасти, но он этого не сделал.
<<Он улыбнулся.
– Ты же понял, что я тебя считаю мудаком? – сказал он.
– О да, – ответил я. – По-моему, ты достаточно ясно выразился.
– Это хорошо, – сказал он.
– Надеюсь, ты примешь во внимание, что ты – самое потрясающее ничтожество, что мне только встречалось.
– Абсолютно, – ответил он.
– Отлично, – сказал я.
Он взглянул на меня, улыбаясь и не улыбаясь одновременно. Потом взял Левина за руку, и они ушли между деревьев.
Я вообще-то думал, что мы помирились, что это был притворный спор, а не настоящий. Но вот что странно – Барри действительно со мной больше никогда не разговаривал.>>
<<Он улыбнулся.
– Ты же понял, что я тебя считаю мудаком? – сказал он.
– О да, – ответил я. – По-моему, ты достаточно ясно выразился.
– Это хорошо, – сказал он.
– Надеюсь, ты примешь во внимание, что ты – самое потрясающее ничтожество, что мне только встречалось.
– Абсолютно, – ответил он.
– Отлично, – сказал я.
Он взглянул на меня, улыбаясь и не улыбаясь одновременно. Потом взял Левина за руку, и они ушли между деревьев.
Я вообще-то думал, что мы помирились, что это был притворный спор, а не настоящий. Но вот что странно – Барри действительно со мной больше никогда не разговаривал.>>
April 21, 2025
Всю книгу я пыталась понять кого же мне напоминает главный герой и только в конце до меня дошло - это же Стифлер (тот самый с Американского пирога). Но нужно добавить, что наш герой Еврей и Урод. Почему с большой буквы? Да потому что столько еврейства и уродства я еще нигде не встречала. И это не я антисемит, а сам герой. Он постоянно ноет о своей внешности и постоянно хвастается своим еврейством. Ладно внешность "не очень", главное чтобы человек был хороший. Но и здесь - мимо. Такого гавнюка, как наш ГГ еще поискать нужно.
Сюжет вялый и непонятный. Последние два года школы, первый секс, непонятности с ориентацией и... все. В конце хочется кричать "Ну и к чему это было?!!" Единственное, было приятно читать про Барри, довольно интересного парнишку и до поры до времени лучшего друга ГГ.
Сюжет вялый и непонятный. Последние два года школы, первый секс, непонятности с ориентацией и... все. В конце хочется кричать "Ну и к чему это было?!!" Единственное, было приятно читать про Барри, довольно интересного парнишку и до поры до времени лучшего друга ГГ.
August 2, 2019
The humor of this book is o.k . It reminds me writing styl of C.D. Payne and his Nick Twisp series. However in Nick Twisp was coming out newer the biggest theme of his books.
In general I do not like so much English novelists with several exeptions such as terry Prachett but this book was on several times quite hilarious.
In general I do not like so much English novelists with several exeptions such as terry Prachett but this book was on several times quite hilarious.
December 3, 2022
very weird, i forgot that men write books too
February 21, 2023
Boring, didn't finish it.
June 10, 2024
Я не ханжа, и меня не шокируют рассуждения о сексе от литературных персонажей школьного возраста. Я не испытываю приступов тошноты от описания подростковых мастурбаций и повествования о школьных дискотеках со всеми вытекающими. Меня даже не трогают гомосексуальные настроения!.. Но меня ужасно беспокоит пустота. Точнее так - она меня совсем не беспокоит, а вот бездарно потраченное время очень.
Мы следим за развитием отношений между двух мальчишек - красивого и некрасивого, обаятельного и не очень, ироничного и серьезного (насколько можно быть серьезным в его возрасте). Попутно мы слышим много рассуждений о том, что и должно бы беспокоить мальчишек такого возраста, и даже отправляемся с ними в путешествие... Проблема в том, что нет никакой проблемы. Все события высосаны из пальца, не имеют ровным счетом никакого значения и совершенно не трогают читателя (по крайней мере, меня). Я все ждала чего-то эдакого - того, что зацепило бы меня и потащило дальше по книге, по главам, без удержу и без сна. Но нет, этого не случилось, а случилось недоумение.
Что, кстати, странно, потому что другие книги автора мне ОЧЕНЬ понравились. Они были остроумными и остросюжетными, яркими и честными, - словом, такими, какими должна была быть и эта книга.
Мы следим за развитием отношений между двух мальчишек - красивого и некрасивого, обаятельного и не очень, ироничного и серьезного (насколько можно быть серьезным в его возрасте). Попутно мы слышим много рассуждений о том, что и должно бы беспокоить мальчишек такого возраста, и даже отправляемся с ними в путешествие... Проблема в том, что нет никакой проблемы. Все события высосаны из пальца, не имеют ровным счетом никакого значения и совершенно не трогают читателя (по крайней мере, меня). Я все ждала чего-то эдакого - того, что зацепило бы меня и потащило дальше по книге, по главам, без удержу и без сна. Но нет, этого не случилось, а случилось недоумение.
Что, кстати, странно, потому что другие книги автора мне ОЧЕНЬ понравились. Они были остроумными и остросюжетными, яркими и честными, - словом, такими, какими должна была быть и эта книга.
February 3, 2011
Interesting read, told from the point of view of a precocious but sexually confused Jewish English school-boy. (I'm sure at least some of that was redundant)
His confiding in a friend but not taking you too-seriously narrative style is consistently interesting and the story that he tells is familiar enough to be compelling while being honest and original enough to be entertaining.
The book suffered a bit from the same confusion as its protagonist. The reader couldn't really tell where it was all headed and while that strung you along, you were glad when it was finished but not sure if it was all worth while.
There is an elaborate "decades" party described that was the unintended highlight for me. It somehow felt more real than the rest of the book. I somehow guessed the surprise reveal a bit before I think I was supposed to and that made the later part of the book interesting as well.
Overall, this was not a bad first attempt.
His confiding in a friend but not taking you too-seriously narrative style is consistently interesting and the story that he tells is familiar enough to be compelling while being honest and original enough to be entertaining.
The book suffered a bit from the same confusion as its protagonist. The reader couldn't really tell where it was all headed and while that strung you along, you were glad when it was finished but not sure if it was all worth while.
There is an elaborate "decades" party described that was the unintended highlight for me. It somehow felt more real than the rest of the book. I somehow guessed the surprise reveal a bit before I think I was supposed to and that made the later part of the book interesting as well.
Overall, this was not a bad first attempt.
February 17, 2016
I didn't love it or hate it to be honest. It read much like the diary of a sixteen-year-old boy, which was embarrassingly similar to my own highschool diary. At points this worked, and in other places this fell flat.
It was irritating to read two pages only to be told by the speaker that they're lying, and then another two pages until they decide to tell you 'the honest truth.' This was the most frustrating aspect of the novel. I understand what Sutcliffe was trying to do with this, but it simply didn't work for this modern reader.
Sutcliffe does, however, have a sense of humour that takes the reader by surprise, and since he made me laugh quite a few times I can't say I hated it completely.
It was irritating to read two pages only to be told by the speaker that they're lying, and then another two pages until they decide to tell you 'the honest truth.' This was the most frustrating aspect of the novel. I understand what Sutcliffe was trying to do with this, but it simply didn't work for this modern reader.
Sutcliffe does, however, have a sense of humour that takes the reader by surprise, and since he made me laugh quite a few times I can't say I hated it completely.
August 23, 2013
This was a mixed bag. I felt like the initial promised storyline (boy questions his sexuality when he becomes attracted to the new boy in school) changed focus a number of times. A teacher/pupil relationship and a trip to Europe seemed to confuse the plot rather than drive it forward, and it lapsed into funny schooldays anecdotes (which again didn't really move things along). Having said that I enjoyed it; it was laugh out loud funny in places and, even if it the plot lurched and faltered in places, it was never boring. If the focus had been tightened then it would have been even better...
March 28, 2014
Set in my old school - thinly, indeed hardly, veiled incidents and people. Captures all that was excruciating about it, though little of what was charming. Nonetheless enjoyed the trip down memory lane as I've not been back to the place since the day I left. This is enjoyable enough in a sub-Nick Hornby sort of way and Hornby is pretty sub himself.
April 5, 2016
bought this book back in 1998 and have finally got around to reading it...i know it took a long time to get round to it but I had genuinely forgotten I'd bought the book, quite enjoyed it, kind of an Adrian Mole for the 90s/00s generation.
March 25, 2009
Its for sure good enough to read. Read it. come on. well if you can find it.
Want to read
September 26, 2010I read a reference to this book in Moment's article on the Baron Cohen family. Sounded interesting.
Read
August 5, 2011Candy for the funny bone, laugh out loud but shallow
October 21, 2013
Reading it was fun. Funny. Very.
Now that it's done I wish it hadn't left me with a dull feeling of dissatisfaction. Still gets four stars from me on the grounds of very funny.
Now that it's done I wish it hadn't left me with a dull feeling of dissatisfaction. Still gets four stars from me on the grounds of very funny.
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