About a boy first edition authornick hornby countryunited kingdom publishergollancz publication date 1998 media typeprint pages278 isbn0575061596 oclc39002367 preceded byhigh fidelity followed byhow to be good about a boy is a 1998 coming of age novel written by british writer nick hornby which has sold over a million copies. If you like novels which tackle serious subjects with propriety, wit and candour, youd do far worse than to start with about a boy. His notable books included the novels high fidelity and about a boy and the autobiographical fever pitch. The title indicates that it is all about a boy and this extract particularly is about a boy, a twelveyearold boy named marcus. Set for life in london with royalties from a sappy christmas song his father wrote, will lightman does. He is also the author of songbook, a finalist for a national book critics circle award, shakespeare wrote for money, and the polysyllabic spree, as well as the editor of the shortstory collection. Londonbased writer nick hornbys second novel, about a boy, divides its time between two male misfits. We believe every one of us deserves equal access to factbased news and analysis. Inappropriate the list including its title or description facilitates illegal activity, or contains hate speech or ad hominem attacks on a fellow goodreads member or author. I highly recommend if you have read anything else by hornby. In his second novel, about a boy 1998, hornby turns from his earlier firstperson narrative to a more ambitious, limited, thirdperson point of view that mostly shifts from will freemans perspective another bachelor in his thirties to that of twelveyearold marcus brewer and back again. On the contrary, with this book, hornby began exploring a wider literary canvas and more ambitious themes whilst still retaining the unique voice upon which he made his name. He has written screenplay adaptions of lynn barbers an education, nominated for an academy award, cheryl strayeds. Author nick hornby has a definite skill for conversation, drawing relatable people, and infusing it all with plenty of bone dry quips and emotional engagement.
About a boy quotes nick hornby this study guide consists of approximately 27 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of about a boy. Through the course of the novel, however, we see there is a common theme. The originality and fun spilling over in hornbys acclaimed debut, high fidelity 1995, run deep and strong through this second novel, as a playboy pretends hes a single dad so he can date single moms, but finds his fantasies warped by the real needs of an unusual 12yearold boy. About a boy is a 1998 coming of age novel written by british writer nick hornby which has sold over a million copies. Hornby s previous novel, the hugely popular high fidelity, was essentially a belated comingofage tale, centered on the hilarious misadventures of a musicobsessed londoner in his mid30s. At the end of the book, nevertheless, we see how katie solves it and says. Apr 19, 2015 in this presentation video i am doing my book report about about a boy by nick hornby. About a boy 1998, by english novelist nick hornby, is a comingofage, comedic novel. A wise, hilarious novel from the beloved, awardwinning author of funny girl, high fidelity and a long way down.
About the author 1999 nick hornby is the author of seven internationally bestselling novels funny girl, high fidelity, about a boy, how to be good, a long way down, slam and juliet, naked and several works of nonfiction including fever pitch, songbook and ten years in the tub. Nick hornbys book fever pitch, the bestselling account of being a depressiveobsessive soccer fan, is now a film. About a boy expands upon this proven formula to portray the dual comingofage rituals of a precocious adolescent and a terminally hip slacker on the verge. Literary analysis how to be good by nick hornby is. Will freeman is a thirtysix year old man who lives off the royalties of a song that his father. Choose from 500 different sets of about a boy nick hornby flashcards on quizlet. Nick hornby this novels title is a word play to nirvanas song about a girl and the band is dragged through the book as a motive, mostly used to describe ellie and her behavior. Marcus is a twelve years old boy that had just moved to london with his mother fiona. Marcus has problems with fitting in to the new school. In 2002 the book got a movie adaptation of the same name, directed by the brothers weitz. What interferes with wills career arc, of course, is reality in the shape of a 12yearold boy.
Set for life in london with royalties from a sappy christmas song his father wrote, will lightman. He is the author of five novels, high fidelity, about a boy, how to be good, a long way down shortlisted for the whitbread award and slam. The story is a rather simple one single man who is a bit of a jerk grows as a person in the presence of a young boy in dire need of a father figure. About a boy nick hornby haftad 9780241969878 bokus. About a boy text 1 is an extract from about a boy by nick hornby. Learn about a boy nick hornby with free interactive flashcards. Will is commitmentphobic, so when he meets a single mother and discovers that this type. Jan 02, 2014 nick hornby is the bestselling author of eight novels, including high fidelity and about a boy, and several works of nonfiction including his groundbreaking debut, fever pitch. Discussion of themes and motifs in nick hornby s about a boy.
Nick hornby was born in redhill, surrey, england, in 1957. Apr, 2020 nick hornby, british novelist, screenwriter, and essayist known for his sharply comedic, popculturedrenched depictions of dissatisfied adulthood as well as for his music and literary criticism. Nick hornby is the author of seven internationally bestselling novels funny girl, high fidelity, about a boy, how to be good, a long way down, slam and juliet, naked and several works of nonfiction including fever pitch, songbook and ten years in the tub. The originality and fun spilling over in hornbys acclaimed debut, high fidelity 1995, run deep and strong through this second novel, as a playboy pretends hes a single dad so. I hadnt watched the about the boy movie before reading the book and so i knew nothing about the plot nor the characters. I hadnt watched the about the boy movie before reading the book and so i knew. Best of nick hornby 47 books meet your next favorite book. A collection of new football writing 1993 and the picador book. About a boy shows nick hornbys maturity in his writing. I was therefore very surprised to find that its narrated by marcus as well as will. Hornby published his first book in 1992, a collection of essays about american writers such as tobias wolff and ann beattie, titled contemporary american fiction. Set in 1993 london, about a boy features two main protagonists. The story begins with 12yearold marcus brewer moving to london in.
You cant do anything else until youve finished them. May 11, 1998 nick hornby is the author of the novels a long way down, slam, how to be good, high fidelity, and about a boy, and the memoir fever pitch. In what ways are the notions of what it means to be good explored in this novel. Hornbys work frequently touches upon music, sport, and the aimless and obsessive natures of his protagonists. If the simple fact that they were single mothers meant that gorgeous women women who would not ordinarily look twice a will might not only be willing, but enthusiastic about dating him, then he was really onto. Most of this is spent smoking pot, following what the rest of the. Fever pitch, 31 songs, the complete polysyllabic spree and stuff ive been reading. Will, the single jerk, starts off trying to bang single moms because he realizes they are easy targets. The novel analyses the growing up theme, humans relations and the responsibility we are supposed to take in life. Nick hornby emerged at the literary forefront with the publication of fever pitch, his 1992 memoir that focuses on his life as a fan of british football, or soccer, specifically the arsenal. Later, he taught english to foreigners and worked as a. This novels title is a word play on nirvanas song about a girl and the band is dragged through the book as a motive, mostly used to describe ellie and her behavior. Write a newspaper article on an event of the novel 1. He has written numerous awardwinning screenplays for film and television including brooklyn, wild and, most recently, state of the union.
Nick hornby, british novelist, screenwriter, and essayist known for his sharply comedic, popculturedrenched depictions of dissatisfied adulthood as well as for his music and literary criticism. Discuss the role of goodness in the couples relationship to each other, their children and their community. This novels title is a word play to nirvanas song about a girl and the band is dragged through the book as a motive, mostly used to describe ellie and her behavior. The story about a boy by nick hornby is about a twelveyear boy called marcus who had problems at school with bullies, because he had weird clothes and a strange haircut. Will freeman, thirtysix, does not want children as far as he knows, and he cant understand why everyone keeps recommending them.
He is he author of four novels to date fever pitch, high fidelity, about a boy, how to be good. His first book, a series of critical essays on american novelists, was published in 1992. The story begins with twelveyearold marcus brewer moving to london in 1993 with his loving, but suicidal, mother. About a boy nick hornby there had been times when he knew, somewhere in him, that he would get used to it, whatever it was, because he had learnt that some hard things became softer after a very little while. Marcus is a twelve years old boy that had just moved to london with his mother, fiona. This 41page guide for about a boy by nick hornby includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 36 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of. Dive deep into nick hornby with extended analysis, commentary, and discussion. Will is commitmentphobic, so when he meets a single. Hes wearing jeans, and tom and i grab hold of one back pocket each in an attempt to anchor him, while molly in turn hangs on to us, purposelessly but sweetly. If the simple fact that they were single mothers meant that gorgeous women women who would not ordinarily look twice a will might not only be willing, but enthusiastic about dating him, then he was.
About a boy by nick hornby reading journal content 1. Will is a 36year old man who has never had to work because his dad wrote a famous christmas song. This is why, i think, she felt she needed perspective to make up her mind. Incorrect book the list contains an incorrect book please specify the title of the book. Nicholas peter john hornby born 17 april 1957 is an english writer and lyricist.
This novel is about the sweet relationship between a 12yearold outcast and a 36yearold playboy, both of whom narrate the story. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. About a boy pearson education limited 2015 about a boy teachers notes 1 of 3 level 4 teachers notes teacher support programme about the author nick hornby was born in 1957 in surrey, england and graduated in english literature at cambridge university. Will is commitmentphobic, so when he meets a single mother and discovers that this type of woman is just as reluctant to commit as he, he makes up. Spam or selfpromotional the list is spam or selfpromotional. At 36, the terminally hip north londoner is unmarried, hyperconcerned with his coolness quotient, and blithely living off his fathers noveltysong royalties. Will, a 36yearold bachelor, and marcus, an eccentric, introverted, bullied 12yearold. Will freeman, a 36yearold bachelor, and marcus brewer, an incongruous. Now a major motion picture from universal pictures. Dive deep into nick hornbys about a boy with extended analysis, commentary. About a boy by nick hornby meet your next favorite book.
Marcus, the boy, is tragically unhip and is horribly teased at his school. Nick hornby is the author of the novels a long way down, slam, how to be good, high fidelity, and about a boy, and the memoir fever pitch. About a boy is nick hornbys comic and heartwarming millioncopy bestseller how cool was will freeman. Will freeman may have discovered the key to dating success. Nick hornby is the author of six bestselling novels high fidelity, about a boy, how to be good, a long way down, juliet, naked and funny girl, as well as a novel for young adults, slam, and four works of acclaimed nonfiction. Nicks bestknown books are the internationally bestselling novels high fidelity, about a boy, how to be good, a long way down and juliet, naked. In this presentation video i am doing my book report about about a boy by nick hornby. Never having to work thanks to the royalties from his fathers christmas noveltysong hit, will has a lot of time on his hands. Hes single, childfree, goes to the right clubs and knows which trainers to wear. About a boy, by nick hornby, is a comingofage, comedic novel. Will freeman is a thirtysix year old man who lives off the royalties of a song that his father wrote nearly seventy years ago. This 41page guide for about a boy by nick hornby includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 36 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. In 2002 the book got a movie adaptation with the same name, directed by the brothers weitz.
He is best known for his memoir fever pitch and novels high fidelity and about a boy, all of which were adapted into feature films. Hornby s second book, fever pitch, also published in 1992, is an autobiographical story detailing his fanatical support for arsenal football club. Helen oneill, august 1617 1997, the australian magazine. He must adjust to a new school with strict social norms for behavior and appearance. About a boy by nick hornby is a novel of coming of age at middle age. The novel was later adapted into a feature film in 2002 and a television series in 2014. Choose two or more characters to write characterisations 6. Wherever you go, you take the book along, so you can stuck your nose into it, every free second. About a boy is a sweet, charming, and dryly humorous novel, one that was a joy to read. Like high fidelity, about a boy is as consistently fun to read as it is substantial, a highly entertaining, unforgettable book. Best of nick hornby score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. About a boy shows nick hornby s maturity in his writing. Nick hornby is the author of six internationally bestselling novels high fidelity, about a boy, how to be good, a long way down, slam and juliet, naked and several works of nonfiction including fever pitch, songbook and ten years in the tub, a collection of his stuff ive been reading columns from the believer. How do katie and david carr each represent or defy these notions.
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