Boys have a penis (About a Boy - Nick Hornby)

Member Name: Glory_FishesII

Product:	About a Boy - Nick Hornby
Date:	07/01/05 (1897 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: I liked it

Disadvantages: I dont like the film

After enjoying Fever Pitch and High Fidelity, I was feeling quite smug to come across ‘About a Boy’ in the local library. The strange thing is that whenever I read a Nick Hornby book I never actually realize I’m doing it. One minute I’m on Chapter One, the next I turning the last page. He sort of creeps up on you, I guess. I suppose the best thing he’s done in my shallow female mind is cast Colin ‘Mr. Darcy- I am undone ‘ Firth in Fever Pitch. But then again anyone who can distract me from the TV heaven of The Sopranos deserves a pint or two in my book......

It is 1993, Marcus is a twelve year old who is a misshape without any friends, Will is a thirty six year old who tries to keep up with the trends. He is free to watch Home and Away and wonder about Marks and Spencer sandwiches, until Dead Duck Day brings them into each other’s lives. What the buggery is Dead Duck Day? Well ,Marcus accidentally kills a duck at a picnic. A picnic for single parents that Will views as an ideal pulling scenario after discovering the concept that single mothers are an untapped resource. The cad, the bounder even makes up a false child and goes as far as to go to Mothercare for a car seat. (All is not well in Will’s prepackaged and seemingly hassle free life, how can it be when he relies on Richard Whitely as a source of entertainment?)

Meanwhile, Fiona, the dippy hippy mother of Marcus, is suffering from depression. Oh yes, everyone’s at it these days. Hornby nevertheless, highlights this well, as Marcus is a sensitive boy who is rather in tune with things. He effect this situation has on him is quite telling to say the least. On top of the Joni Mitchell melodrama that resides in his home life, Marcus is constantly bullied at school.

As a person who was a Marcus, I thought that Nick Hornby dealt with this subject in a very thought provoking way. At the end of the book I was like Oh balls, I despise the whole teenage thing and I am sooooooo glad that I’m out of it. Well out of it. But if Will’s thirties are anything to go by, I shall not be resting on my laurels just yet.

As for Joni Mitchell, what exactly do you have against her Hornby?

He slags her a bit in this novel, which I thought was a bit harsh. Ok so I am the only person in the world to think that Joni Mitchell is cool. I was obviously a loser in 1993 because I didn’t really care all that much when Kurt Cobain died. I was more bothered by River Phoenix. I could never get into the whole cardigan wearing Kurt thing and much preferred Dave Grohl. Why am I wittering on about Nirvana? Good question. Well for some reason Nirvana are seen like the epitome of cool. They were good like but were they ever all that cool? All the people I knew who liked them were as much of an outsider as me. Ah well. Yes. So, Marcus listens to Nevermind and makes a few unlikely friends.

This book in itself raised a few very interesting questions for me. I will not share them just yet as I want you to read this book for yourself. It may not be as sharp as High Fidelity, but it still knocks the socks off some of the guff I've read recently.

I hope that you will give this book a go; it doesn’t end the way you think it’s going to. Trust me, I’m a psychologist.

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