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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Will is the cool guy. He's rich off of his inheritance and doesn't work. He finds ways to fill his time. He's not expecting to find an accidental family when Marcus shows up. 12 year old Marcus is awkward and lives with his depressed mom. Will finds himself increasingly drug into Marcus's circle and finds that maybe he was missing something in his life other than his next girlfriend.
I was drawn to this one because I saw the move ages ago and thought it was pretty good. The book was good, not great. It was a bit of a mindless read, but might not have been as much if I hadn't see the movie first.
I was drawn to this one because I saw the move ages ago and thought it was pretty good. The book was good, not great. It was a bit of a mindless read, but might not have been as much if I hadn't see the movie first.
Oh, gosh, did I love this novel. I'd seen the movie adaptation years and years ago while home on Christmas break from college, but I didn't remember much of it (nor did I remember being much impressed, to be honest). But I loved this book. It made me feel warm and fuzzy inside, I kid you not; I often found myself smiling absently as I turned pages on the subway. I never wanted it to end.
This story is an unexpected bromance between an adult child and a child who's forced more often than not to act like an adult. What's more, it's a romance about interpersonal relationships, and how family is not always defined by blood relation; nor is friendship founded on similarities or physical proximity. We may find ourselves encountering people whom we are explicably drawn to, but how we maintain and grow those relationships is the true story: not the way you might have met. Will and Marcus meet under unusual circumstances, but as their relationship grows, it becomes more important to each of them, for different reasons, and their friendship has a ripple effect of bringing people in their lives together. It's just so sweet.
One strength of this novel for me, in particular, is how Hornby shapes Will's character. He's the sort of guy I would never want to date (or possibly even meet) in real life, and yet he's impossibly endearing; perhaps it's reading his thoughts that make him seem like less of a jerk than I would consider him otherwise, but even so: Man Children are not my favorite type, but Hornby handles him so well that I found myself annoyed and allured at the same time.
Another strength of this novel is the way that Hornby deals with depression. It's taken seriously, but in a light way; I'm not describing it well, but I think the closest I can get is saying that the characters face such topics as depression and suicide with the appropriate gravitas, but it doesn't define them. It is something to be dealt with, and they are there to support one another, but it is not the direct conflict in the book.
In sum, I loved it. I think I will be rereading this one again around the holidays, because it was the equivalent of hot chocolate for the soul, for me.
This story is an unexpected bromance between an adult child and a child who's forced more often than not to act like an adult. What's more, it's a romance about interpersonal relationships, and how family is not always defined by blood relation; nor is friendship founded on similarities or physical proximity. We may find ourselves encountering people whom we are explicably drawn to, but how we maintain and grow those relationships is the true story: not the way you might have met. Will and Marcus meet under unusual circumstances, but as their relationship grows, it becomes more important to each of them, for different reasons, and their friendship has a ripple effect of bringing people in their lives together. It's just so sweet.
One strength of this novel for me, in particular, is how Hornby shapes Will's character. He's the sort of guy I would never want to date (or possibly even meet) in real life, and yet he's impossibly endearing; perhaps it's reading his thoughts that make him seem like less of a jerk than I would consider him otherwise, but even so: Man Children are not my favorite type, but Hornby handles him so well that I found myself annoyed and allured at the same time.
Another strength of this novel is the way that Hornby deals with depression. It's taken seriously, but in a light way; I'm not describing it well, but I think the closest I can get is saying that the characters face such topics as depression and suicide with the appropriate gravitas, but it doesn't define them. It is something to be dealt with, and they are there to support one another, but it is not the direct conflict in the book.
In sum, I loved it. I think I will be rereading this one again around the holidays, because it was the equivalent of hot chocolate for the soul, for me.
Book 43 of the PopSugar Reading Challenge: A Book Set in the Decade You Were Born
This book and I just were not feeling each other. I felt as if I kept turning the pages but nothing was happening. No plot whatsoever. Which would be fine...if there were character development. There was a little, but it was so blatantly obvious and basic that I don’t think it counts. Overall a bit disappointing.
This book and I just were not feeling each other. I felt as if I kept turning the pages but nothing was happening. No plot whatsoever. Which would be fine...if there were character development. There was a little, but it was so blatantly obvious and basic that I don’t think it counts. Overall a bit disappointing.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A sweet story about parenthood, friendship and finding a connection with the most unlikely people.
Will and Marcus’ lives couldn’t be further apart but it seemed they needed one another to be allowed to grow and develop.
Touching and bittersweet moments that show the ups and downs of what it’s like to be both a slightly awkward pre-teen as well as being a single man in your thirties.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Awww I loved this so much.
Picked it up on a whim after WJEC released the new spec and this was on it (divvied up the reading as a department).
Although this got a fat NO from the teachers for studying purposes, I adored this book it was sweet and funny and had me actually smiling at points.
The audiobook version which I listened to alongside it was really good too, and made it even funnier with the narrator putting on a voice (which as a teacher I know too well) for Marcus.
Will be picking up more Hornby books ASAP
Picked it up on a whim after WJEC released the new spec and this was on it (divvied up the reading as a department).
Although this got a fat NO from the teachers for studying purposes, I adored this book it was sweet and funny and had me actually smiling at points.
The audiobook version which I listened to alongside it was really good too, and made it even funnier with the narrator putting on a voice (which as a teacher I know too well) for Marcus.
Will be picking up more Hornby books ASAP
Innocently funny. After I finished this, I ended up watching the whole series. Nick Hornby did a good job on creating this one.
This was a cute book. It doesn't go into too many details and emotions, but I enjoyed it. I love Marcus! He was just a sweet, socially awkward boy. Will, hmmm, immature much? I'm glad he and Marcus met and that Marcus somewhat helped Will become a better person. I like Nick Hornby's writing and will try to read more of his books.
emotional
funny
medium-paced
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
With his usual doses of wit and wisdom Nick Hornby once again uses a sort of good-for-nothing guy as an example of how live a good life. Will Freeman spends his days doing 30 minute increments of nothing and trying to hide the fact that he comes up as a blank every time he meets an attractive woman. As much to his surprise as anyone else's there is actually something there. Beyond his carefully sculpted persona of cool Will Freeman may actually be a human being. Remembering the days when being cool was in end in itself, I wonder if there was any substance to it...