A good read, doesn't quite reach the heights that "About a boy" & "High Fidelity" did. Still well worth the read.

This book got lost somewhere I reckon, so it is stagnant. If, by some miracle, it starts up again, then below is a list of remaining people who were on the original bookring.

Bookring participants (shipping pref):

hunnyb - Australia (Intl)
alanfoxboro - USA (Intl)
dospescados - USA (USA pref)
Xanocas - Portugal (Eur)
- Then back to me...

Sorry for the delay in journalling. I started the book yesterday, and am enjoying it so far.

Finished on the train today. I did enjoy it, but I found that towards the end I was itching to finish. It was a little too much of the same.

There were bits I really liked though. Most notably the section where Nick describes the differences he discovers between men and women, that men generally tend to have more single-minded interests and women - though they can be obsessive - tend to change their interests more often and also often know about more varied subjects. That women tend to have the practical side of their interests filled by men (i.e., men provide the CD's for the love of music) certainly rang true for me, although I am very good at buying my own books:)

As far as the football goes, I can relate to the teenage fascination. I was an Ajax fan for a number of years, and it pretty much neared obsession. But it's faded away, and though I retain a sympathy for the club I barely watch football now. Therefore, I had little sympathy for Nick, especially when he's talking about missing friends' birthdays, weddings etc. because there's a home match he has to go to. How warped is that! If I knew Nick in real life I would become totally irritated with the Arsenal preoccupation, and probably not be friends with him. But reading the book, it reminds you of the capacity that men sometimes have for remaining twelve years old for the rest of their life. Most of the time I just wanted to give him a big, motherly hug.

I have sobergirl's address, and will get the book out this weekend.

Thank you Sublevel4 for setting up the bookring!

I have loved the other books by Hornby that I have read but I'm sorry I just didn't like this one that much. I don't like football.
Will give it to Piiku who's next on the bookring list!

The book was waiting for me when I got home from Copenhagen. Thanks Sobergirl for sending it, hope to see you soon.

I'm sorry, this was not "my cup of tea". I think you have to be a football fan to really enjoy this one. But -as always- I'm sure that there are lots of people who love to read this book even though I didn't.

Sending to Falmouth tomorrow.

Received it today from Piiku. Will start on it tomorrow as I have to finish another one first.

I grew up among football maniacs, so I truly know what Hornby talks about. I remember grown-up men shedding some tears just because of the fact that their favourite club didn't make it!
I liked the way Hornby unfolded his life "around" Arsenal's scores, although I think that you have to be a football-fan to really enjoy this book.
For somebody who doesn't fancy soccer so much the book becomes a bit lengthy after a while.

RELEASE NOTES:

It's on its way to Flaming-Ice.
Happy reading!

Recieved earlier this morning. I, unfortunately, will not be able to read this right now, since alot is going on around here. I will, however, try as much as possible to read it and send it off within two weeks. Thanks !

This book was one of the funniest I ever read. I liked it alot, and I could honestly relate to it, being a soccor fan. My older brother loves Arsenal more than anything, and he too read this book and liked it alot. He read it in two days, before I started reading it. He says he didn't like the American version of the book; they turned it into a movie and it was about baseball, instead of soccor. Thanks, Sublevel, for giving me the opportunity to read this book. It was truly a great getaway. I'll send it to countessa as soon as I get her address :-)