About a Book (About a Boy - Nick Hornby)

Member Name: ryanando

Product:	About a Boy - Nick Hornby
Date:	05/04/08 (278 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: More great comedy from Hornby

Disadvantages: No real point to the story.

Nick Hornby is my future husband, just incase you do not know already. The fact hes old, not all too pretty and doesn't swing my way are minor details. This man understands people. He knows how they work and he knows how to tell you how they work. That in its self deserves a medal.

I got this book for my birthday from someone who knows me all too well along with another of Mr Hornbys books. Needless to say, I was a happy bunny.

I'll start off with the only downside to the book. It's been made into a film. A rather good film I would imagine (never having watched it the whole way through I can't really say for certain) I much prefer going into a book not having a picture in my head of what the character looks like. Mainly because in films they look totally different. That and I don't particularly like seeing Hugh Grant while I'm trying to read. It gets distracting!

Despite the film blurring my 20-20 character vision, About a boy is yet another cracking read (for previous cracking reads see high fidelity, fever pitch, anything by Hornby).

Contrary to the title, the book is less about a boy and more about a group of people and how they get on with life. Sounds dull, no? Think again!

The boy in question (at least I'm assuming he's the boy in question, being the only boy who is a major part of the book) is Marcus, a very strange 11 year old. He's one of those weird kids you would always hope your kid doesn't turn out to be. Lack of friends, humour, style...anything really.

How did he get to be like this? Well! Enter his mother from stage left. Hippie, vegitarian and a depressive to boot!

Marcus wants to try his hardest to make his mother happy, for a while he thinks that a man would be able to do that. (Oh how I laughed at that suggestion) (yes, I'm a bitter man hater, sue me).
Will is a man. Will is a useless man, but a man all the same. Getting stoned, watching tele and trying to pick up women by making up a whole different life for himself are some of his more admirable attributes. On the plus side, Will knows he's a total jerk. Will is, infact, cool with that. He quite enjoys his rather uncomplicated life. That is untill he meets Marcus and his mother.

What follows is a story about how people deal with eachother. It's about growing up, changing, and facing up to responsibilities...and that's just the adults!

Hornby, as always, makes some amazing observations about life and the people in it that will apply to everyone. I guarantee there will be at least ONE random thought that you will totally and utterly agree with (or your money back. Not from me mind you) It's usually the ones that no one wants to admit to, which makes it that little bit more observant. This man knows EVERYTHING!!

The book is laced with some dark humour and plenty of healthy sarcasm (oh how I adore thee) and will keep even the most word shy reader entranced till the very end. Emotionally charged right to the end (although Hornby has a way of making you not realise you're sobbing your eyes out or in fits of laugter till he is done with you) Its a brilliant read.

Cover wise (for all those who are naughty enough to judge a book by its cover) it comes in a few different varieties. If you are a tad nuts like me, you'll want to pick a style and stick with it. Most of hornby's books are published in every variety so you can easily stick with the style you like best.

Value for money? Of course! About £6- £10 or even cheaper if you get a second hand copy.

I can certainly see myself reading this one again. I'd suggest you go do the same!


*review also on Ciao*

Summary: A book about a boy and what he does...thats it really.