"Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words." - Mark Twain


Sunday, February 8, 2015

About a Book

High Fidelity was my introduction to Nick Hornby, and I've been hooked ever since. Besides the fact that the story and characters are so incredibly Tower-esque it's spooky, there's something endearing about their flaws and vulnerabilities. That's one of Hornby's great strengths: creating believable characters whose weaknesses hold up a mirror to our own, but stop short of making us squirm. Record store manager Rob from High Fidelity. Would-be single dad Will from About a Boy. Once brilliant songwriter turned recluse Tucker, from Juliet, Naked. Each has his own delightful quirks.

His latest effort, Funny Girl, which takes place in 1960s England, introduces us to Barbara Parker, a reluctant beauty queen who would rather make people laugh, like her heroine Lucille Ball. After moving to London and finding an agent, she becomes Sophie Straw and lands the lead role in a new comedy series that turns her into a star. With the writers, producer and her co-star, Sophie discovers the joys of working toward a common goal while becoming a family of sorts along the way (yet another thing that felt Tower-like to me). Of course nothing lasts forever, no matter how badly you want it to, and Sophie and her TV family eventually realize the show has run its course and they must figure out what comes next.

Another wonderful thing about a Hornby novel is going along for the ride as his characters go about figuring out what comes next. We get to witness their missteps, well-meaning but misguided attempts to get things right and share their victories when they do. Funny Girl is as sweet, charming and funny as the title character herself.  

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