Rating: 
Summary: Incredible improvement!
Review: "About A Boy" shows Nick Hornby's maturity in his writing. This novel is about the sweet relationship between a 12-year-old outcast and a 36-year-old playboy, both of whom narrate the story. Marcus, the boy, is tragically unhip and is horribly teased at his school. Will, the man, is living easily on royalties of his father's work without a care in the world. When their paths meet, the story is a rich coming-of-age for both, with its share of humorous and heartbreaking moments.Will joins a single parents group in hopes of meeting a sector of women he didn't knew existed. Through a racked chain of events, he meets Marcus (and Marcus's mother). Marcus comes to enjoy Will's company, and when he discovers Will's little secret, he blackmails Will into helping him. Will can teach him how to be cool and tell him important stuff like who Kurt Cobain is. But when Marcus is confronted by his mother about the mysterious trips he takes after school, it looks like the jig is up--for both Marcus and Will. Hornby wrote this book in the third person, and I believe that gave him a little more "room to breathe". He cane look at situations from more than one point of view and write with a more objective frame of mind. This makes "About A Boy" highly enjoyable and accessible to all audiences.
Rating:
Summary: ABOUT TRUE WIT
Review: With Hornby's trademark of downbeat wit and charm, this is a delightful novel about boy Marcus and man Will. Why can't they both act their age? The author here explores the connections people make when the so-called ideal family model does not apply. A brilliant book which tells us more about late-1990s cultural life than any quantity of social treatises ever will - and keep us entertained along the way with a funny, observant and good-hearted style. I must say that I particularly enjoy Hornby's writing and his easy way of conveying feelings through his delicate wording of emotions: you don't notice it at first, but then it insinuates itself into your mind and you start sharing the narration in a personal way. Just as his previous book "High Fidelity"... I like it, I like it!
Rating: 
Summary: Well written ... but a little light
Review: I went into this book with definite preconceptions--Nick Hornby's previous books (which I hadn't read) have created quite a buzz about him. And while I was quite entertained, as I finished it one question kept creeping into my head: is that all? This is a very nice coming-of-age story, unique in that two characters, 24 years apart in age, are both beginning to get a sense of themselves. An interesting juxtaposition, well-written, likeable characters and plenty of absurd situations, mixed with Hornby's breezy style make this eminently readable, and quite enjoyable. But that's also the problem. I won't dare compare Mr. Hornby with Umberto Eco, but with a buzz like his I'd expect to expend a little more brain power on his books. No go. I felt like I'd just eaten fast food--enjoyable, yes, but not something that will stay with me forever.
Rating:
Summary: about a boy
Review: I have just finished reading an excellent realistic fiction book called "About A Boy" by Nick Hornby . I found this book very interesting and well writen as well . The author is obviously very talented as he manages to have a well developed charactor with a completely shallow personality.I thought this book is funny in a sarcastic kind of way . I would recommend this book to any one who enjoys humorous books.
Rating: 
Summary: Better, more mature than High Fidelity
Review: Even though About a Boy sometimes moves in circles, and the ending seems like a beginning and therefore I WANT MORE (so goes life), I loved it! Since Will doesn't work and can afford anything he wants, all of the feelings he finds himself surprised to be feeling are shockingly intimate and purely interpersonal (I visited a lecture on the English novel at Columbia, and the professor was saying that the characters are often upper-crust people so that the steamy emotional problems they get mixed up in are unadulterated by more elementary worries, and Hornby seems to adopt this framework for his novel so that he can delve more deeply into Will than, say, the main character in High Fidelity). Marcus is a graceful character, and Hornby has the writer's imagination required to tell a story from a child's purer point of view. Will and Marcus balance each other perfectly, and About a Boy was a refreshing read, surprisingly optimistic.
Rating:
Summary: Great to read following "High Fidelity"
Review: Did you read "High Fidelity"? If you liked that, then CHECK THIS OUT. Same dry humor. Great writing. Funny. Flows. I really cared about the main characters (man & boy) and loved reading about them growing up--both of them. Also, do check out the film, "High Fidelity." I loved it.
Rating:
Summary: Addictive and hilarious!
Review: From 8:15 yesterday morning my eyes had been glued to this novel. I loved it. Conversations between personas, especially Will and Marcus, are so quirky and make you laugh out loud. Nick Hornby's characters are vivid and alive. The events throughout the reading can be so horrifying, pleasing and hilarious. During the last twenty four hours my parents had to suffer my reading the best parts of the book to them. I was scared that maybe towards the end of the book I would get tired of everything, but unlike most books read in a short period of time, I didn't. It all went quickly and easily like the breeze. I recommend this book to anyone!
Rating:
Summary: A JOYOUS READ, WITH A DEADLY SERIOUS SUBTEXT
Review: Nick Hornby's About A Boy is a novel that is set up like a romantic comedy, complete with the single mom, the cute kid and a love/hate relationship. That is how he involves us into his story, but he's on to much more. Will Freeman is a man with no job, and no plans to get one anytime soon. And yes according to formula he starts out as a sworn bachalor, cynical and wary of the idea of steady relationships and children. And according to formula we've learned from countless other novels and movies this will be the story of his redemption and retraction from that position. But it is in his highly original characters and acute observations that Hornby makes this novel so much more then it looks. One character observes about Will Freeman that the very fact that he can survive without a purpose, without a hanger to hang his life on is in fact quite an achievement. "THERE IS NOTHING STANDING BETWEEN YOU AND DESPAIR". Ofcourse as his detachment and cynical attitude towards romance fades, his dispair grows. I'm reminded of that great line from Springsteen "YOU CAN'T SHUT OUT THE RISK AND THE PAIN WITHOUT LOSING THE LOVE THAT REMAINS." The other side of the story involves a twelve year old and his mother, who is a woman who "SHUTS HER EYES WHILE PLAYING THE PIANO", who in her passion and romantic dreams exposes herself to the pain so often inflicted when these dreams crash and burn. She is linked to Will through her son and what develops is not your average sugary sweet romance at all. I don't think I'm giving anything away by saying that the romance in this book is not between her and Will. Readers who buy this book, will undoubtly do so for the slice of life London setting, for the music, for the romance and for Hornby's honest and funny writing, yet as if these things weren't enough, the book will pleasantly surprise all its readers with it unexpected insight. I actually believe this to be superior to High Fidelity, because as good and honest as that book was, it suffered from its singular prespective, the narrator's one, who just slightly wears out his welcome towards the end. About A Boy has more points of view, more scenes and the same unflinching honesty. Do yourself a favorand read this one, because in its own way it will reach and surpass your expectations more then any Booker prize winner ever could.
Rating:
Summary: Left me Wanting....
Review: I'm a big fan of Hornby's after ripping through High Fidelity in 2 days, but was not turned on by About A Boy. Hornby's style of writing is still quite entertaining and the story idea is brilliant...but the author chose to work too hard on the form of the chapters over the function of the book. There are dual main characters, making for a fresh & different read...but the story moves achingly slowly and never once surprised me. And not once did I laugh out like when reading High Fidelity! Thankfully, they did the story GREAT justice in making the movie.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting But Not Quite Brilliant.
Review: A friend of mine loaned this book to me. I read it very quickly because it has an interesting story, but it doesn't really have much of a point. It's written in a very informal style that lends itself well to easy-reading, and it's good if you don't have a lot of time on your hands. The characters are very lovable and real. Ellie was my favourite because she is very similar to me. This book deals with things like suicide, conformity, and splitting families. It's a fun read, but it doesn't go very deep. Enjoy it anyhow!
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