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3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
As usual, I enjoyed Hornby's (fictional) mixing of famous and non-famous characters. I also hoped to love this book in the way I loved Almost Famous, in that there are bands/singers I adore and can't get enough of, and sometimes daydream about meeting them in person. But, for some reason, this one just didn't take off for me as much...I suppose the Tucker Crowe character was too flawed, and the Annie character was too perfect in her strength and resolve.
Either way, it's a fun read, I just didn't fall in love with it the way I have with some of Hornby's other books.
Either way, it's a fun read, I just didn't fall in love with it the way I have with some of Hornby's other books.
Music (and the power of), fandom and romance. Typical Hornby, sweet and readable, but not his best.
I hope my reviewing abilities are better than Duncan's!
Among many things he does in this book, Nick Hornby captures the experience of midlife very well. I particularly like his observation that life is a series of ongoing story lines that never really end. There is very little punctuation in one's life's narrative. Certainly there are few periods, only lots of commas. All of the transitions and resolutions that seem to punctuate your life only serve, in the end, to connect you to your past. But despite that, you will probably go on making the same mistakes. This seems especially true during the transition commonly called the midlife crisis. The book captures this through three different characters in different ways. And he captures so many aspects of this so well, including parenting, sex and relationships, career, artistic talent, and family ties.
The jacket blurb describes the novel as "quintessential Hornby" and this seems to be the case. There are countless lines that bear repeated quoting, humor, keen insights, true emotion and universally indentifable characters.
Among many things he does in this book, Nick Hornby captures the experience of midlife very well. I particularly like his observation that life is a series of ongoing story lines that never really end. There is very little punctuation in one's life's narrative. Certainly there are few periods, only lots of commas. All of the transitions and resolutions that seem to punctuate your life only serve, in the end, to connect you to your past. But despite that, you will probably go on making the same mistakes. This seems especially true during the transition commonly called the midlife crisis. The book captures this through three different characters in different ways. And he captures so many aspects of this so well, including parenting, sex and relationships, career, artistic talent, and family ties.
The jacket blurb describes the novel as "quintessential Hornby" and this seems to be the case. There are countless lines that bear repeated quoting, humor, keen insights, true emotion and universally indentifable characters.
This book suffers from the same problem as every Nick Hornby novel since High Fidelity. It is not High Fidelity. You might even read a bit of that into the character of Tucker Crowe, a semi-famous 80s songwriter who released his definitive album, Juliet, then walked out of his concert tour after a gig in Minneapolis (shout-out) and disappeared. He is certain nothing he can do now will match Juliet, so he does nothing (Hornby did not do this; he's published multiple novels and nonfiction books since HF). Crowe's fans stay alive on the Internet, dissecting his music and making pilgrimages to the club where he ended his career. It is after such a trip that Duncan and Annie, an English couple, begin to part ways. Duncan is obsessed with Tucker Crowe, but it is Annie's post on the Crowe web site that launches an email conversation between her and the musician.
I like Annie and I identified with her a bit. She is my age and regrets not having children; I have two kids but no one gets to age almost-39 without regrets and a bit of rearview-mirror gazing. She is cautious in a way I recognize. Tucker's self-absorbed musings are familiar ground for Hornby and for once, I think the female character is the strongest, but Tucker's real self seeps out amid his multiple ex-wives and children, and his relationship with his youngest son rings authentic. Duncan is awful but you kind of root for him anyway. The story does not have the pat ending of High Fidelity and the epilogue felt a bit off to me, but overall the denouement works and I am picky about book endings. I believed all of it. Just because it isn't High Fidelity is no reason to skip this one.
I like Annie and I identified with her a bit. She is my age and regrets not having children; I have two kids but no one gets to age almost-39 without regrets and a bit of rearview-mirror gazing. She is cautious in a way I recognize. Tucker's self-absorbed musings are familiar ground for Hornby and for once, I think the female character is the strongest, but Tucker's real self seeps out amid his multiple ex-wives and children, and his relationship with his youngest son rings authentic. Duncan is awful but you kind of root for him anyway. The story does not have the pat ending of High Fidelity and the epilogue felt a bit off to me, but overall the denouement works and I am picky about book endings. I believed all of it. Just because it isn't High Fidelity is no reason to skip this one.
Still think Hornby is awesome, no matter what English teachers or other people might say.
I always need some time to get into his books, but when finished with this process I just love the way he writes... The sweet little jokes, that humours way to write (a humour probably not everyone likes) and so on.
If you like Hornby, Juliet, Naked ist worth reading.
I always need some time to get into his books, but when finished with this process I just love the way he writes... The sweet little jokes, that humours way to write (a humour probably not everyone likes) and so on.
If you like Hornby, Juliet, Naked ist worth reading.
My favorite of Nick Hornby's books (and I've read most of them)...
I sped through this re-read! I remember enjoying it so much when it had come out. I still enjoyed it but I guess I’m a bit older now lol.
Definitely was a good read
Definitely was a good read
Excellent read on the act of an immature man and his realization that he has not grown up yet.
The central question for this novel is how do you find meaning in life. It's an interesting question and while I might not agree with all the answers the characters come up with, it was an interesting read. The exploration of the lives of the 3 interconnected characters was well done. They all felt like fully formed people, not just one dimensional characters. It made the story totally believable. The audiobook performance was amazing!
Annie's significant other of 15 years is obsessed with reclusive musician Tucker Crowe, who mysteriously cut his illustrious career short 22 years ago after a visit to a restroom in a Minnesota bar. Duncan maintains a fan website dedicated to Crowe and drags Annie on a tour of the States to see pivotal locations related to his idol, who is something like Dylan or Waits, and most notable for his concept album developed around a love affair gone wrong.
Upon the couple's return from the US, Annie discovers a rough, unplugged version of Crowe's album, Juliet has been sent to Duncan in the mail. Her act of listening to it first is practically one of adultery. She thinks it's trash, he thinks it's genius. When their conflicting reviews are posted to Duncan's fansite, it's her remarks that garner a response from Tucker Crowe himself. She keeps their correspondence a secret, and it becomes something of a salvation as her stagnant relationship falls apart, and she tries to figure out how to compensate for fifteen wasted years.
There is wonderful irony here, both in the persona Crowe's fans create for him, and his real life and in the love affair Annie begins with a man who is practically her boyfriend's mistress. The story is engaging, but firmly entrenched in middle age and it's issues, and thus of primary interest to the 35 & up set. The additions of ephermera like email, wikipedia entries and bulletin board style postings add a certain charm, and Hornby, whose novels are often their musically allusive, if not music centric, is adept at writing about songs, composition and the rock & roll lifestyle in a way that makes me want to her Tucker Crowe's work.
Upon the couple's return from the US, Annie discovers a rough, unplugged version of Crowe's album, Juliet has been sent to Duncan in the mail. Her act of listening to it first is practically one of adultery. She thinks it's trash, he thinks it's genius. When their conflicting reviews are posted to Duncan's fansite, it's her remarks that garner a response from Tucker Crowe himself. She keeps their correspondence a secret, and it becomes something of a salvation as her stagnant relationship falls apart, and she tries to figure out how to compensate for fifteen wasted years.
There is wonderful irony here, both in the persona Crowe's fans create for him, and his real life and in the love affair Annie begins with a man who is practically her boyfriend's mistress. The story is engaging, but firmly entrenched in middle age and it's issues, and thus of primary interest to the 35 & up set. The additions of ephermera like email, wikipedia entries and bulletin board style postings add a certain charm, and Hornby, whose novels are often their musically allusive, if not music centric, is adept at writing about songs, composition and the rock & roll lifestyle in a way that makes me want to her Tucker Crowe's work.