A Long Way Down, by Nick HornbyISBN: 1594481938 Compare prices at fetchbook.info Categories: European authors |
It is a strange book that begins with four strangers meeting on a roof all seeking to commit suicide; it is even stranger when that book is a comedy of sorts. In Nick Hornby's hands, though, it seems natural. His talent is for creating flawed protagonists (including himself in Fever Pitch) who manage to evolve a bit during the course of a book without ever really finding redemption, or even necessarily changing all that much. Much as for families, each of our unhappy protagonists/narrators is unhappy in his/her own way, but there is no fairy godmother with her magic problem-solving wand to be found. In Hornby's tale, life is a messy, complicated affair, and the people who get themselves into difficult situations, either actively or passively, are unlikely to extricate themselves from them all that easily. Instead, Hornby does a surprisingly subtle job treating the compromises we sometimes make during the course of our days to get to the next one, embracing with a surprising amount of warmth and humor the distinction between leading an acceptable life and leading a happy one, at least in the short (or even medium) term. Though known better for his love of music and sports, Hornby probably deserves mention for being something of a humanist as well, in an era where some level of ironic detachment is more prevalent; he respects his literary creations almost more for their flaws rather than in spite of them.
Posts
Help us buy a llama!
5 comments:
Mmm yes. A good read. Though I lost all respect for Hornby after reading Fever Pitch. Flawed protagonist indeed. Sports fanatics are losers. :-P
Hey, among the various addicitons out there, sports addiction is among the least dangerous. Drugs and alcohol will kill you, and gambling involves running with a dangerous crowd. Sprts addiction leads only to occasional rioting, primarily at the college level.
I dunno, it can also make you a bore at many dinner parties. Unless it's a superbowl party i guess.
Yeah, but Hornby talks about missing best friends' weddings and stuff to watch Arsenal games. That really is a sickness that interferes with normal life. And I hate to think about his poor first wife dealing with their handicapped kid while he's preoccupied with fucking football (soccer, in American).
I guess the other thing I really hate about sports is that it commands so much more attention than other hobbies and interests, and those of us who aren't interested are expected to be. I mean, an entire section of the paper, every day? The arts usually only get a Sunday section.
Hey Alexis, weren't you the one who suggested we leave the Illinois-Penn State game when it was 56-3 at halftime so we could go watch the White Sox vs. Houston in the World Series?
On a slightly more serious note, I need a judgment from the masses as to whether or not I qualify as a fanatic, so I know where the baseline is.
Evidence against me: The only movie that can really bring a tear to my eyes is Field of Dreams, especially the army of steamrollers speech. On a previous anniversary, during a trip to St. Louis, we took in a Cards game (among other activities during the weekend).
Evidence in favor: Despite being a die-hard Mets fan, I missed several of their playoff games this past year to take a salsa dance class. I think I missed the most of the world series final game as well. I have never missed a wedding to attend a game.
Side note: This is partially related, BTW. I'll note for the record that I tend not to drink during sporting events, either in person or on tv, because they can distract you from the game and I really hate Bud and Miller. I believe this has a TON to do with a lot of sports culture out there, including much of its unsavory aspect, but little of its charm.
So, am I a fanatic? Just a lost soul in need of help but still redeemable?
Post a Comment