Songbook

by Nick Hornby | Entertainment |
ISBN: 1573223565 Global Overview for this book
Registered by notbob of Omaha, Nebraska USA on 10/26/2003
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2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by notbob from Omaha, Nebraska USA on Sunday, October 26, 2003
I bought this at a Waldenbooks last week while picking my sister up from work. It's a series of very good short essays about some particular songs and what they mean to the author. I don't know most of the songs, but as a lover of music, I found the book very entertaining. It's not necessary to know specifically what the author is referring to... his writing allows the readers to understand his feelings about previously-unknown songs and to transfer those feelings to music that has affected their own lives.

From the back of the book:
"All I have to say about these songs is that I love them, and want to sing along to them, and force other people to listen to them, and get cross when these other people don't like them as much as I do." -Nick Hornby

Songs, songwriters, and why and how they get under our skin... Songbook is Nick Hornby's labor of love. A shrewd, funny, and completely unique collection of musings on pop music, why it's good, what makes us listen and love it, and the ways in which it attaches itself to our lives - all with the beat of a perfectly mastered mix tape.

Journal Entry 2 by notbob at Dundee Theatre - 4952 Dodge St. in Omaha, Nebraska USA on Friday, December 12, 2003
Released on Friday, December 12, 2003 at Dundee Theatre - 4952 Dodge St. in Omaha, Nebraska USA.

I'm going to a showing of High Fidelity tonight... I'll try to leave this at the front counter or on the concession stand.

Journal Entry 3 by notbob from Omaha, Nebraska USA on Friday, December 12, 2003
Oh, I forgot to say what I thought of the book... I It's more of the great everyman writing that makes Nick Hornby so readable. [edit: Well I guess I wrote something in the first journal entry, but that was before I was more than a few pages in.]

I only know a few of the songs he wrote about, but that's alright since the essays aren't usually about the songs themselves. Rather, they're about life events or musical styles or sociological patterns or what was happening in his life when he heard the song. The music is a springboard for what Hornby wants to say, but it's not usually necessary to be able to hear the music in your head to enjoy the writing.

One exception is "Samba Pa Ti" by Santana. You must listen to this song. I've played it several times on the jukebox at Big John's Billiards... every time I've seen a few people stop playing to concentrate on listening.

Journal Entry 4 by clocked from Omaha, Nebraska USA on Thursday, January 15, 2004
brilliant. i love Nick Hornby and all of his novels; he's a fantastically cool guy and his thoughts on music just proves it..with his expected AWESOME writing as well. highly recommended.

CAUGHT IN OMAHA NE USA

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