| Product: |
Nick Hornby in general |
| Date: |
16/05/02 (182 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: well written, funny books, widely available and standard prices
Disadvantages: only 3 novels so far
Nick Hornby is a name on everyone’s lips at the moment with the recent release of the film version of his second novel, About A Boy, starring Hugh Grant. With 3 out of his 4 books having been made into films already, and all achieving critical acclaim, he’s not doing all that badly for himself.
Born in London (and seeing as most of us here are British, I’m going to resist the urge to add an “England” to the end of that) he read English at Cambridge (again, resisting the urge). A former journalist and English teacher, he turned his attention to writing full time a number of years back, and you’re now reading the results.
Hornby is a writer who shows a lot of himself through his work – I doubt, for example, you could make up that level of devotion to all things musical, whether they be record shops or one hit wonders. Then there’s the obsession with football, and the almost automatic romantic problems that his characters face. He’s currently married, but I guess like all of us, he’s had moments in the past when it’s all looked a bit bleak. Plus, almost all of his work is set in London – the area in which he now lives. Hornby describes his writing by saying “my content is British, but my style American” and lists Irvine Welsh and Roddy Doyle as the two literary figures he admires most.
He seems to like to change now and then though, despite the underlying themes outlined above. We’ve had books told from the point of view of men, women and pre-teenagers for example.
As well as novels he’s adapted his work for the big screen, and is currently, according to numerous websites, working on a completely original screen play with Emma Thompson of all people. In 1997 footbally Fever Pitch became more romantic than originally for the cinemas, and started Colin Firth of Mr Darcey fame. A couple of years later, John Cusack stared in an American bas
ed version of musical High Fidelity. The film of About A Boy has to be the most like the book through – I saw the film last weekend and am currently re-reading the book, and I keep getting flashbacks of Hugh Grant saying the exact same words that my eyes are going over.
On top of all this, he’s edited a number of anthologies.
The Books:
*** Fever Pitch ***
ISBN : 0140293442
Published by Penguin Books
Rrp £6.99
Zoë Rating : yet to be read
This is the one I haven’t read, but amazon describes it as
“…both an autobiography and a footballing bible rolled into one. Nick Hornby pinpoints 1968 as his formative year--the year he turned 11, the year his parents separated, and the year his father first took him to watch Arsenal play. The author quickly moved "way beyond fandom" into an extreme obsession that has dominated his life, loves, and relationships”
That actually sounds much better than I thought – I’ll have to get my hands on a copy.
*** High Fidelity ***
ISBN : 0140293469
Published by Penguin Books
Rrp £6.99
Zoë Rating : ***
Horby’s first novel, this was the second I read, having ended up with About A Boy the week before for some reason or other. High Fidelity portrays music the way I imagine Fever Pitch portrays football if the above review is accurate – as an obsession. Rob is 35, recently dumped (again) and in love with the albeit not that thriving record shop he owns. As we meet him he’s just setting out on a voyage of self discovery which reveals a side of him he never knew existed. From Top 10 everythings to new girlfriends who, well, don’t like music all that much, Rob takes us with him as he tries to stay afloat in his business and personal lives. Funny, but not Hornby’s best.
*** About A Boy ***
ISBN : 141007338
Publishe
d by Penguin Books
Rrp £6.99
Zoë Rating : ****
I really loved this book when I first read it, and I don’t think the film does it justice. Will is again, 35 ish. He is a man wot lunches in a way, never having done an honest day’s work in his life, but also never having had the need to thanks to the royalties from a rather dodgy song his father once wrote. He is rich and shallow and happy enough until things start getting difficult. Marcus is 12 and everything Will’s not – a geek, broke and vegetarian, but when their paths cross, both of their lives begin to change. I enjoyed this book because although I was somewhat in-between the characters age-wise, and not male, I could identify with the pair of them throughout. Either Hornby’s got a great memory or he regular plays with 12 year old boys (now, now, not like that), because the character of Marcus is spot on.
*** How To Be Good ***
ISBN : 0140287019
Published by Penguin Books
Rrp £6.99
Zoë Rating : *****
Horby’s latest novel, recently released in paperback, is my favourite by far. There are a few changes afoot here: first off, the narrator is female. Secondly, she’s a “professional” with a “proper” job, as a GP. Katie is having marital problems and seriously thinking about ending it all (i.e. getting divorced, not killing herself) until husband David undergoes an almost worrying transformation into all round good guy. Cue mystery faith heelers, strange homeless children and laughs a plenty. (If you want more on this book, I’ve written an op on it…..)
*** My Take On It All ***
Hornby is to London based books what Sutcliffe is to foreign based books – the king. Maybe that’s taking it a bit far, but I do really enjoy his work. The characters are real and the stories normal enough that they’re believable. One thing I especially like is that he
’s not afraid to tackle a lot of “controversial” issues – like class (a personal favourite of mine, don’t ask), race, religion and homelessness. Plus he’s really funny. I like seeing how the other half (men) live and think, and even if this isn’t a true representation, I still like the books. There’s just a real, wholesome aspect to his work that seems to be missing from a lot of chick-lit these days – he seems to realize that there’s more to life than snagging a rich and gorgeous boy (or girl) friend, getting the right shoes and having the latest lip liner, and it’s really refreshing.
*****
Thanks to
http://books.guardian.co.uk/
www.penguin.co.uk
www.amazon.co.uk
for the facts and figures
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