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A Long Way Down (ARC)
by Nick Hornby | Literature & Fiction
Registered by editorgrrl of New Haven, Connecticut USA on Saturday, April 16, 2005
Average 7 star rating by BookCrossing Members 

status (set by PrettyPoodle): travelling


This book is in the wild! This Book is Currently in the Wild!

6 journalers for this copy...

Journal Entry 1 by editorgrrl from New Haven, Connecticut USA on Saturday, April 16, 2005

This book has not been rated.

Uncorrected proof received in the mail from West Point, Georgia, through PaperbackSwap. To be published June 7, 2005.

From Booklist
*Starred Review*
In his trademark warm and witty prose, Hornby follows four depressed people from their aborted suicide attempts on New Year's Eve through the surprising developments that occur over the following three months. Middle-aged Maureen has been caring for her profoundly disabled son for decades; Martin is a celebrity-turned-hasbeen after sleeping with a 15-year-old girl; teenage Jess, trash-talker extraordinaire, is still haunted by the mysterious disappearance of her older sister years before; and JJ is upset by the collapse of his band and his breakup with his longtime girlfriend. The four meet while scoping out a tower rooftop looking for the best exit point. Inhibited by the idea of having an audience, they agree instead to form a support group of sorts. But rather than indulging in sappy therapy-speak, they frequently direct lacerating, bitingly funny comments at each other--and the bracing mix of complete candor and endless complaining seems to work as a kind of tonic. Hornby funnels the perceptive music and cultural references he is known for through the character of JJ, but he also expands far beyond his usual territory, exploring the changes in perspective that can suddenly make a life seem worth living and adroitly shifting the tone from sad to happy and back again. The true revelation of this funny and moving novel is its realistic, all-too-human characters, who stumble frequently, moving along their redemptive path only by increments. 

Journal Entry 2 by editorgrrl from New Haven, Connecticut USA on Sunday, April 17, 2005

9 out of 10

This book was so good, I've already finished it & lent it to a friend. It's always fun to discover a great new book before everyone else. For some reason, I kept picturing Dead Like Me's Callum Blue as JJ, even though he's the only American character. (Probably because the actor was just on Grey's Anatomy.) 

Journal Entry 3 by editorgrrl from New Haven, Connecticut USA on Saturday, May 21, 2005

This book has not been rated.

Why do my friends never, ever journal?!

I'm mailing this to cliff1976 in Regensburg, Bayern, Germany, in exchange for Assassination Vacation. I'm including Girls' Guide to Hunting & Fishing as a RABCK, to thank Cliff for creating and hosting his amazing wishlist website. 

Journal Entry 4 by MarahSulloy from Regensburg, Bayern Germany on Saturday, July 09, 2005

This book has not been rated.

Just got this in the mail today - thanks editorgrrl! 

Journal Entry 5 by MarahSulloy from Regensburg, Bayern Germany on Monday, August 08, 2005

9 out of 10

Thank you so much editorgrrl!! I really enjoyed this book. I started it out of boredom on Saturday afternoon and had it finished by Sunday afternoon. It's a really beautifully immersive, detailed, FUNNY story about real people coping with real problems. This one was a real treat, especially after the disappointment of 'How to Be Good.' Cliff's working on this one now. 

Journal Entry 6 by wingcliff1976wing from Regensburg, Bayern Germany on Saturday, August 20, 2005

4 out of 10

Well, I am not nearly as enthusiastic about this one as MarahSulloy is. I know some of the characters are intended to annoy the reader, but I guess in that case, in that aspect the author really excelled with me. I finished it, but only because I disliked unfinished books even more than that one character. It's a shame, too, because I thought the first couple chapters were really promising.

I'm hoping the next reader will like it as much as my wife did. I'm looking to trade this book. 

Journal Entry 7 by wingcliff1976wing from Regensburg, Bayern Germany on Saturday, August 20, 2005

This book has not been rated.

SpikesMom gets it next — thanks for the trade! 

Journal Entry 8 by WestofMars from Mars, Pennsylvania USA on Monday, October 03, 2005

This book has not been rated.

The book has arrived safely here in Mars and is burrowing its way into Mt. TBR for the time being... Thanks to everyone before me for passing it along in such AMAZING shape; I'd have never guessed it's been through so many readers! 

Journal Entry 9 by WestofMars from Mars, Pennsylvania USA on Thursday, February 09, 2006

This book has not been rated.

Reserved for my end of a trade with smartchickdina. 

Journal Entry 10 by WestofMars from Mars, Pennsylvania USA on Friday, February 24, 2006

8 out of 10

Hmm. I think I fall right in the middle of everyone's opinions here. Yes, the characters could be annoying. But know what was even more so? The fact that their voices were so similar, at times I forgot who was really talking. And the fact that I never got a sense of them as real, live, breathing people.

Anyway, parts of this made me laugh out loud, especially the bit about the angel. And parts made me very sad for these pathetic people -- and I'm not talking about Maureen, although on the surface you'd think so. If anything, she was the least pathetic of the bunch.

When I'd picked this up, I hadn't expected to like it at all, but I did. The ending left a lot to be desired, but maybe -- probably -- that was part of Hornby's intent. I'm not sure; it's definitely not the way I'd choose to end a book.

Regardless, I'm glad I read it and it gave me some nice food for thought. I'll ship it out to Smartchickdina in my next post office run. 

Journal Entry 11 by smartchickdina from Elkins Park, Pennsylvania USA on Saturday, March 25, 2006

8 out of 10

Thank you, Westofmars, for sending this book to me. I'm looking forward to enjoying this as much as I have Hornby's other books.

When I read novels by Nick Hornby, I forget that the author is male. He writes so convincingly in both the male and female voice. As for the characters, Jess is such a cow that you wonder why no one thought to push her off that roof. Maureen needs to be fleshed out; I didn't feel that there was enough substance here. JJ could potentially be someone's best buddy, if he wasn't so indulgent in his self-pity. Martin, well, he is flawed on so many levels that making him a better person would only dull Martin.

Thank you again, Westofmars. I am releasing this soon to 'share the love'. 

Journal Entry 12 by smartchickdina at Today's Bookcrossing Members' Meeting! in King Of Prussia, Pennsylvania USA on Thursday, August 03, 2006

This book has not been rated.

Released 5 yrs ago (8/6/2006 UTC) at Today's Bookcrossing Members' Meeting! in King Of Prussia, Pennsylvania USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

This and other books will be in the cafe' at Borders in the King of Prussia mall, along with the KoP BCers!. 

Journal Entry 13 by PrettyPoodle from West Norriton, Pennsylvania USA on Sunday, August 06, 2006

This book has not been rated.

I got this book today at the monthly boocrossers meeting! WOO HOO! I can't wait to read this! 

Journal Entry 14 by PrettyPoodle from West Norriton, Pennsylvania USA on Sunday, August 13, 2006

5 out of 10

I did NOT like this book. Infact I disliked it so much that I actually stopped it mid way through and read ANOTHER book. Then I picked it back up and it got "slightly" better earning the book a rating of a 5. I was very disapointed as I have liked other work by this author much better. Oh well. 

Journal Entry 15 by PrettyPoodle at The Philadelphia Zoo in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA on Saturday, October 07, 2006

This book has not been rated.

Released 5 yrs ago (10/8/2006 UTC) at The Philadelphia Zoo in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

 



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