Permanent Puberty (About a Boy - Nick Hornby)

Member Name: MALU

Product:	About a Boy - Nick Hornby
Date:	19/04/08 (253 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good characters, good plot

Disadvantages: none

I read the novel the first time when it was published in 2000, I've just finished reading it a second time and I'm going to read it again next week, the third perusal will take about three weeks. Even if you've heard that the book is good or if you've read it yourself and are of the same opinion, you may think that it isn't worth so much attention. Let me explain: I read it the first time because everyone did then, I decided to read it in class with my (German) A-level students of English which will take some time and so I read it again quickly to brush up my memory.

The plot: 12-year-old Marcus lives with his mother in London where they've moved after his parents split up. He' s a precocious, un-young child raised according to the principles of hippydom of twenty years ago, oblivious of current youth culture and an easy victim for the bullies in his new school.

Will Lightman (!) is a 36-year-old, forever young (=permanently pubescent), sub-zero cool single [between girlfriends] who doesn't have a job, in fact he's never worked at all because he's never had to due to a substantial heritage. He prides himself on his non-committal attitude to life, "no problem was his problem".

Marcus' and Will's paths cross, the impact they have on each other and on the people around them is what the novel is about. Why do I think that it's a good idea to read the novel with my students?

Marcus lives in a dysfunctional family. "Who doesn't?" the cynic in me feels like asking. It's not so bad in our school, we still have many intact families in our small provincial town, but I think there are enough students in my class that can relate to Marcus' situation and his problems.

Then there is the issue of bullying, maybe the discussion with my students will at last help me to get to its core as the concept of bullying because of the wrong outfit and hairstyle is alien to me, I just can't get it. I can understand bullying if someone wants to climb up the social ladder and has to fend off competitors and rivals, but why the 'wrong' clothes should lead to bullying is beyond me; when I was young in the pre-label age 'wrong' clothes didn't exist.

Will Lightman may seem a bit removed from the world of 17-year-old girls and boys, but as coolness is one of the aims they strive for nowadays, I think we'll find some points for discussion. Not having any roots, commitments, obligations, being free as a bird, only responsible to oneself, is that really desirable?

We can then have look at the construction of the novel, what are Marcus and Will like at the beginning of the novel and at the end? Where , when and why and in what way do they change? In my opinion Nick Hornby has constructed the novel masterly, it has the shape of an X, not that the two main characters change roles, that would be absurd, but they both take something from each other thus moving into the world which was formerly inhabited only by the other character. The genre About A Boy belongs to is the coming-of-age novel, here you get two stories for the price of one as not only Marcus moves on which isn't surprising considering his age but also Will.

I find Nick Hornby's style very accessible, it flows easily, one is drawn into the story at once, it has entertainment value but is also profound. An example: what makes life worth living, one of the great questions of humankind, is answered in a conversation quoting NYPD Blue and the latest Nirvana album, for me one of the highlights of the novel.

Nick Hornby's obsession with pop music is also one of his weaknesses, he connects his plots so tightly with contemporary bands and singers that their sell by date isn't far away what with the speed stars come and go nowadays. Some more years will suffice and future readers will have to google the name Kurt Cobain. Fortunately, I know that my students still know him, it would be absurd if I, their ancient teacher, had to explain the importance of a pop star to them - the more so as I'm not the least bit interested in the subject.

Last but not least the novel contains something *you* don't realise, the so-called regalia of English life. School life, Christmas festivities - many things which are only there to anchor the story in reality are normal for you and you may not even notice them while reading, but they're odd for readers with a different cultural background and therefore worth a look.

No need to tell me that the novel has been made into a film, I know it. I haven't watched it yet, I'll do it together with my students when we've finished reading.

Summary: a boy and a man come of age