I have read all of Hornby's novels. HF is still my favorite, followed closely by About a Boy and The Long Way Down. The only one I couldn't warm to was How to Be Good. Thanks for a wonderful review of one of my favorite books and writers.
Top 10 Best Bookchemist Videos ... One thing I think Hornby captures & is all too rare in fiction is that we all want what we want & yet mostly try to do the best we can at the time. Only in retrospect can we acknowledge what a jerk we were then & how our acts were less than decent. At some point we start trying to be a person that won't have to look back with regret, or becoming mature. There's also a whole lot about differences between the sexes, but that's all too much for now.
At 12:00 you mention that this is not a Bildungsroman novel. I'm literary writing an essay right now (due tomorrow) that's built on how this is a bildungsroman novel haha. College is so stupid sometimes.
I only read A Long Way Down, which is rather sentimental, but not in any negative way. I loved the way Hornby pictures his characters, who come along as laugh-out-loud caricatures, but at the same time appear very convincing, which enables the reader to be emotionally triggered by their misfortunes and yet enjoy the hilariously funny story. I can also see the parallels to Chabon, but A Long Way Down is an exceptionally easy read. Feel-good novel at its best!
Thanks. It’s a good read. ‘Fever Pitch’ by Hornby is a great read. It is about a fanatic Arsenal Football Club supporter that is semi autobiographical. It is very funny in parts. I am a book nerd (with an accounting background) and know many book nerds who aren’t writers or wanna be writers.
I also love this book & movie. I'm glad you brought up the movie in your review because, like you said, it is so faithful that I found that it creates such an odd and unique experience when I try to re-read the book. I've seen the movie countless times, so have parts memorized and it's very odd to read the parts that I have memorized. As a fellow music nerd, I think Rob does awful things (or questionable things) and we forgive him, because we relate to him... which is what we tend to do as humans. Because we see ourselves in him, we know that he is not -all- bad. About A Boy is also good (though I read it a very long time ago, so maybe it hasn't aged well) with a similar character that is, on the surface, not great & also has some parts that are very influenced by music/a love of music.
I seem to remember that they're friends, but I can't quite point to where the idea comes from! And sure - they're two novels with lots to say to what another :)
High Fidelity the movie is my favourite movie of all time. The book is terrific and I love your assessment of it- I feel like I want to reread now. I have red two other Hornby books and would highly recommend About A Boy.
I have read all of Hornby's novels. HF is still my favorite, followed closely by About a Boy and The Long Way Down. The only one I couldn't warm to was How to Be Good. Thanks for a wonderful review of one of my favorite books and writers.
Top 10 Best Bookchemist Videos ... One thing I think Hornby captures & is all too rare in fiction is that we all want what we want & yet mostly try to do the best we can at the time. Only in retrospect can we acknowledge what a jerk we were then & how our acts were less than decent. At some point we start trying to be a person that won't have to look back with regret, or becoming mature. There's also a whole lot about differences between the sexes, but that's all too much for now.
At 12:00 you mention that this is not a Bildungsroman novel. I'm literary writing an essay right now (due tomorrow) that's built on how this is a bildungsroman novel haha. College is so stupid sometimes.
I only read A Long Way Down, which is rather sentimental, but not in any negative way. I loved the way Hornby pictures his characters, who come along as laugh-out-loud caricatures, but at the same time appear very convincing, which enables the reader to be emotionally triggered by their misfortunes and yet enjoy the hilariously funny story. I can also see the parallels to Chabon, but A Long Way Down is an exceptionally easy read. Feel-good novel at its best!
Thanks. It’s a good read. ‘Fever Pitch’ by Hornby is a great read. It is about a fanatic Arsenal Football Club supporter that is semi autobiographical. It is very funny in parts.
I am a book nerd (with an accounting background) and know many book nerds who aren’t writers or wanna be writers.
Can you please do a review on Light in August
I also love this book & movie. I'm glad you brought up the movie in your review because, like you said, it is so faithful that I found that it creates such an odd and unique experience when I try to re-read the book. I've seen the movie countless times, so have parts memorized and it's very odd to read the parts that I have memorized. As a fellow music nerd, I think Rob does awful things (or questionable things) and we forgive him, because we relate to him... which is what we tend to do as humans. Because we see ourselves in him, we know that he is not -all- bad. About A Boy is also good (though I read it a very long time ago, so maybe it hasn't aged well) with a similar character that is, on the surface, not great & also has some parts that are very influenced by music/a love of music.
I love this book! He is a very good writer. I wouldn't be surprised if it influenced Chabon's "Telegraph Avenue."
I seem to remember that they're friends, but I can't quite point to where the idea comes from! And sure - they're two novels with lots to say to what another :)
High Fidelity the movie is my favourite movie of all time. The book is terrific and I love your assessment of it- I feel like I want to reread now. I have red two other Hornby books and would highly recommend About A Boy.
Love this book! Please do "About a Boy." One of my favorite novels. Edit: Your videos are wonderful.
Halfway through The Nickel Boys! Really enjoying it
About a Boy is another excellent book by Hornby
And, as with High Fidelity, the film adaptation is more than solid.
Stop by 1:41, the whole gist
I wonder if you've ever read WG Sebald?
No, but I would really like to read The Rings of Saturn in the not-too-distant future!