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northstar 's review for:
Juliet, Naked
by Nick Hornby
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.