THE BOY’S OWN MANUAL TO BEING A PROPER JEW

– Eli Glasman This debut gay-t hemed Australian novel has a great deal to recommend it. Although it’s aimed primarily at young adults, older audiences will also f ind it a substantial read. This is primarily due to its fascinating backdrop: Melbourne’s Orthodox Jewish community. Readers are li kely to learn a great deal about t he strict cultural traditions and rules Orthodox Jews are supposed to adhere to. Teenager Yossi is tr ying to rid himself of gay feelings by following t he advice of a Rabbi who advocates conversion t herapy on t he internet. It’s not working. Yossi’s perspective begins to change when he encounters Josh, a new student at his school. Josh is not only very haphazard in religious devotion, he’s also nonchalant about being attracted to guys. This not only provokes a U-turn in Yossi’s sexual awakening but also charges an attraction to Josh. The novel is almost perfectly judged and executed. The only qualm is t hat Yossi’s self-confidence with his sexuality develops too fast and although it provides a lovely climactic scene, it’s not entirely realistic. This contrasts with t he rest of t he book, in particular t he scene where Yossi comes out to his sister and father − t heir dispiriting initial reaction is spot-on. Just as Jeanette Winterson provided a unique view of an unusual coming of age in her f irst novel, Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit, Eli Glasman has achieved something similar by tapping creatively into his experiences.