Killing Lizards

1. What is the story mainly about?

Killing Lizards is a story about a young boy shifting from killing lizards, as phallic symbols, to blackmailing his mother to get the love he wants from her, especially since the blackmailing tool shows the father does not control the mother any more. I also loved Hardly Ever, as a frustrated initiation to sex for a teenager. His initiation is purely superficial, unable that he is to go through it, in spite of a real possibility he goes to sleep on (he goes to sleep, with a girl, when that girl is ready for more), but it is always compensated verbally by some bragging about with his school pals. Gifts is even stranger. The young student is unable to get through his initiation and has to satisfy himself with some gifts. Everyone of his conquests presents him with personal or confidential elements. His poverty, caused by some postal strike, makes this experience even funnier, funny-strange, because the poorer he gets, the more private gifts he receives. Boyd is a strange writer about frustrated, and even twisted, initiation for teenagers. Fascinating how they can live on this frustration that becomes their everyday food, or even fodder, the brain being more or less negated.

2.Who are the main characters in the story?

Garvin: He was a thin dark boy with a slightly pinched face and unusually thick eyebrows that made his face seem older than it was.

3.What is the most important event in the story?

I think the most important event in the story is Garvin’s seeing his mother with Ian Swan.

4.What is the main idea in the story?

Love your family and friend but don’t trust anybody.