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Summary: About A Boy
Review: I'm not an avid reader, but I thought this book sounded interesting, and it really was. The characters are very likeable and intriguing, especially the two leading roles, Marcus and Will. Its a very funny book, yet at the same time it addresses some serious issues without becoming depressing. I got really into it and read it in a couple of days. They're making a film about it now starring Hugh Grant.. I'm a bit apprehensive but I'm going to have to go see it because I'm sure they can ruin it too much and I'm interested to see how they interpret everything. So read it quick before the film comes out!
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Summary: Hornby Scores Again
Review: Die-hard Hornby fans would probably argue over which of his first two books is the best - High Fidelity or About A Boy. Despite my love for High Fidelity, I honestly believe that About A Boy is a stronger, better book.In his first three novels, Hornby focuses on relationships in various stages. In High Fidelity, his focus was on dating and the fear of commitment while How To Be Good found Hornby exploring the end of a relationship (among other things). About A Boy finds a single 30-something exploring a pseudo-parental relationship with 12-year-old Marcus. The end-product is both emotionally satisfying and absolutely hilarious - especially the duck incident). If you're not yet a Hornby fan, check out About A Boy. If you are, what are you waiting for?
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Summary: Everyone else wrote long reviews, but......
Review: all i have to say is that this is a great book. The way that the author ties in Nirvana and Kurt Cobain with the characters experiences really made this a fun book to read.
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Summary: about this book -- it's great! read it!
Review: "About a Boy" refers ostensibly to 12-year-old Marcus, an uncool only child being raised by his unconventional single mother in London. But it could just as well be refer to 36-year-old Will, very cool aging guy who can't understand his friends' new obsessions with marriage, babies and home ownership (I'm with you there, pal.) For lack of anything else to do (he is independently wealthy living off the royalties for a Christmas carol his father penned), Will discovers a population of women with whom he could have flings -- single mothers. He joins a support group by claiming he has a little son whom his fictitious ex-wife won't allow him to see very often. He even goes so far as to buy a car seat, put it in his car and mess it up with cookie crumbs so it looks like his son was there! Marcus takes a liking to Will and wants him to go out with his mom. They have one disastrous date. But though the date doesn't work out, Will somehow ends up being a big brother, if not a father figure, to Marcus. Because Marcus needs someone to teach him how to be cool. It is intriguing how Will does 'adopt' Marcus even though he no longer wants a relationship with his mom. Perhaps he isn't so selfish after all .... The great thing about this book is there is no pithy life-affirming change or epiphany -- events simply unfold that involve Will and Marcus, the way they would in real life.
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Summary: Wry, sardonic, sly, hip, insightful and hilarious.
Review: Will Lightman is a professional lightweight-and he's proud of it. This hip, eccentric 30ish London single drifts through life without really engaging in it. Free to do whatever he wants thanks to a family inheritance he specializes in ephemeral relationships high in sensual satisfaction and bereft of emotional attachment. Unfortunately, Will's having difficulties maintaining his life style as all his mates are growing up-getting married, having kids, taking some sort of stab at responsibility. Will alights on the notion of participating in a single-parent's get together as a means of meeting new romantic possibilities-and has some success. Unfortunately for Will, these single parents all seem to have children that become part of the equation-particularly Marcus, a fatherless lad in need of some guidance, who attaches himself to Will like a leech. This is when the fun really begins. No contemporary author has as firm-and comical-an insight into the idiosyncrasies and absurdities of the male psyche. The great fun in Hornby's novels is how much of yourself (and your friends) you see in them. Are we all really this weird? Yes, we are. And Hornby has the knack for hitting the nail on the head in the manner most likely to to get the most humor out of the situation possible. This book isn't quite in the same league as High Fidelity, the author's previous work, but it is darn close. An excellent and amusing read.
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Summary: Fantastic
Review: This totally surprised me. As good as Hi Fidelity. Once again Hornby managed to produce a storyline that was very personal and thought provoking. His characterisation was brilliant and he managed to make an extremely humurous story from a somewhat tragic and depressing subject. A good film director could produce a classic comedy from this story.
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Summary: Not too hot, not too cold, just right.
Review: " About a Boy " is really about two boys. One, Marcus, is the twleve year old son of a single mother. The other, Will, is a 32 year old single man who has never had to grow up. Marcus is the school misfit who wears the wrong clothes, has the wrong haircut and listens to the wrong music. Will, on the other hand, has it all and he has it all down. He has the right car, the right music, and the right clothes.
One fine day, Will decides that the pool of young single mothers is probably a fine place to look for women. To fit into the single parent crowd, he needs a cover story. He invents a wife, actually an ex wife, and a son. Thus begins a story of the two boys, how they become compadres, and how they both, eventually, grow up.
The story is an easy and enjoyable read. Like the porridge in Golidlocks and The Three Bears, the temperature of the story is just right. It has drama, but not too much. There is humor, but it's not a farce. The characters are warm without being corny. The plot ends with an upbeat note, but it is not an implausibly happy fairy tale ending. All in all, an enjoyable story that you will be glad that you read.
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Summary: About so many boys..
Review: What a delightful exploration of how a thirty-something (can't remember exactly how old) boy turns into a man. This book draws the lives of the two main characters together and shows how they develop through their interaction. Nick Hornby writes in a simple yet not patronising manner, and takes the reader on an interesting, fun, enlightening journey. BUT please don't take my word for it... have a read, and a laugh :-)
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Summary: Good story...can relate to and appreciate..yet very funny
Review: This was my first Nick Hornby book and even despite my high expectation I was not disappointed. The story is outrageous, very creative and funny yet with a tinge of seriousness and goodness about it. It was captivating and without a dull moment in the book. Although it was tinged with humor throughout, there were quality points being addressed...the troubled adolescent, dysfunctional families, "lost souls" (rain dogs) and how people are always seem to be looking for something and often need help along the way in one way or another, yet these issues were delt with in a humerous and lighthearted manner. I really enjoyed the book.
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Summary: About an Author
Review: I think that Hornby is a very talented writer. Both "High Fidelity" and "About a Boy" are great. Although the movie adaptation of "High Fidelity" is pretty good, the book is definitely worth reading. Luckily, I read the book before seeing the movie. I have just purchased two more of his books and look forward to their arrival.
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