A Long Way Down
5 journalers for this copy...
I'm always excited by a new Nick Hornby, no waiting around for the paperback for me. This is perhaps not quite up to the usual standard, but it is a good book. The characters are larger than life and there are some wonderful pieces of dialogue that had me chuckling out loud. The plot centres around 4 people who meet unexpectedly when they go to the top of a building to commit suicide. They are the most disparate group you could expect to meet and while a true friendship is out of the question they do come to help each other in the most innovative of ways. And it's set in North London - some things never change ;-)
This book is going out in a ring. Participants as follows:
Lyzzybee
Beebarf
Catrionamoore
Barefootmum
Lucycat
Normy
blaisezabini12
Lyzzybee
Beebarf
Catrionamoore
Barefootmum
Lucycat
Normy
blaisezabini12
Released 18 yrs ago (7/2/2005 UTC) at
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RELEASE NOTES:
Passing to LyzzyBee at the Unconvention.
Passing to LyzzyBee at the Unconvention.
Passed to me by Anfield at the Unconvention - thank you! I am currently reading a hard book by Umberto Eco and a quick one by Bharati Mukerjee, then this one will be next. Will PM Beebarf for her address soon.
I've read Part 1 so far - ever so good and back to form I think - should read it quite quickly.
Have PMd beebarf for address as I should get this finished within the next couple of days.
Have PMd beebarf for address as I should get this finished within the next couple of days.
I enjoyed this (thank you Anfield) - it's good to have a new Hornby to read.
This was funny, sweet, wry, well-observed - classic Hornby. I said that "How to be Good" was a good novel but not a great Hornby - this is good for him. I wonder if it's because of the musician character, as I have always found him at his best writing about musicians and the love of music.
It was a little calculating, a little like an exercise - but very well done, a page turner with some surprising events. The different voices were delineated well and overall a good book. And a good Nick Hornby.
Just waiting for beebarf's address and will send it on!
This was funny, sweet, wry, well-observed - classic Hornby. I said that "How to be Good" was a good novel but not a great Hornby - this is good for him. I wonder if it's because of the musician character, as I have always found him at his best writing about musicians and the love of music.
It was a little calculating, a little like an exercise - but very well done, a page turner with some surprising events. The different voices were delineated well and overall a good book. And a good Nick Hornby.
Just waiting for beebarf's address and will send it on!
Journal Entry 7 by LyzzyBee from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Thursday, July 14, 2005
I have Beebarf's address now so will get the book sent out in the next couple of days.
Released 18 yrs ago (7/15/2005 UTC) at
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Posted to beebarf today - hope you enjoy!
Posted to beebarf today - hope you enjoy!
A new Nick Hornby is always a good thing (even though I didn't really take to How To Be Good) so I'm looking forward to this. The subject matter intrigues me (both as an ex-Samaritan and because of my own struggles with depression) so I hope it lives up to my expectations!
Journal Entry 10 by beeofgoodcheer from Stowmarket, Suffolk United Kingdom on Friday, August 19, 2005
A return to form after "How to be Good". The characters are much more sympathetically drawn, the events of the novel (once you get over the fact that four people meet on top of the tower plot) a logical progression, yet with surprises, and each character has a clearly defined voice - although it would have been nice for some to move on a little more.
I also thought it a well drawn account of suicidal ideation, the reasons for wanting die - and why the suicidal live. It isn't always a flash of blinding realisation that "ain't life grand" !
I also thought it a well drawn account of suicidal ideation, the reasons for wanting die - and why the suicidal live. It isn't always a flash of blinding realisation that "ain't life grand" !
Journal Entry 11 by beeofgoodcheer from Stowmarket, Suffolk United Kingdom on Saturday, September 10, 2005
Being mailed today
Journal Entry 12 by beeofgoodcheer at A Bookcrosser in A BookCrosser, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, September 10, 2005
Released 18 yrs ago (9/10/2005 UTC) at A Bookcrosser in A BookCrosser, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
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Journal Entry 13 by appletreen from Coalville, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 13, 2005
I thought "Oh Crap I won the sweepstake just when I'd promised that a fair proportion of the books in my dining room/office were only briefly in transit so hubby can decorate it" when I saw a huge pile of post this morning. Thankfully it was a book hubby had ordered from Greenmetropolis, junk mail and this book.
I have a couple of books to read ahead of this one but I've been looking forward to it since I saw it reviewed in one of the broadsheets back in January.
I have a couple of books to read ahead of this one but I've been looking forward to it since I saw it reviewed in one of the broadsheets back in January.
Journal Entry 14 by appletreen from Coalville, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Friday, October 14, 2005
After reading a fantastic review in the New Year I was really excited to be able to read this book. Sadly I just did not get on with this book, reading it was a test of endurance. Would I commit suicide before the main characters? Sometimes it felt like a close run race. The only character I could remotely relate to was Maureen, and even then I felt she was lacking any truly realistic quality. Jess I would have loved to shove over Toppers House, purely because she was so like so many of the girls I seemed to go to school with. If I hadn’t already abandoned so many books this year then this one would have been consigned to the forget it pile too.
Journal Entry 15 by appletreen from Coalville, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Posting either today or later this week.
Recieved safely. Will be reading this soon.
