About A Boy
Mon, 2002-07-01 18:37
#1
About A Boy
I know it's an old novel but I read this the other week and wondered what anyone else thought. I enjoyed it, but had seen the film and really loved it. The book didn't do it for me after that. I thought the ending in the film was far better - although I realise now that they changed it so that the defining moment of character building belonged to Hugh Grant's character, rather than the boy's, as in the novel. I thought the script for the film was cracking. I haven't read any other Nick Hornby although I saw the John Cusack version of High Fidelity and quite enjoyed it.
Ralph
'whistles in background.'
fish
*summons bert*
Matt
Not following you chaps...
fish
oh sorry matt ... there has been some long running argy bargy on these discussion forums about nick hornby ... ralph is a fan ... i liked about a boy but hated how to be good ...
you have inadvertantly stirred up some stuff and given us reason to carp enjoyably at one another once more ...
Ralph
Matt
I am a huge fan of Hornby and have had some fantastic barneys over the last year concerning him, usually with my sparring partner Fish (whom I love deeply). So dony panic. I liked the film but prefer the book by miles.
Ralph
Stephen Gardiner
Bless.
Simultaneous postings and they both say nice things about each other.
fish
*growls*
Matt
*feels cockles warmed*
I won't mention the climactic scene in the film then when Hugh Grant starts to sing "Strumming my pain with his fingers..." while looking shiftily around, which manages to be simultaneously cringe-inducing and amazing thrilling visceral moment of cinema. I'll be honest with you, I love films much more than reading novels so this will maybe help to explain my attitude to this book!
Trouble is I've finished reading all my fave author's novels - John Irving - over a year ago and not found anything nearly half as good since. Don't like re-reading books as it seems a bit of a waste when there's so many more out there. But no modern author I've read since comes close.
fish
well matt .... i have been a great fan of john irving for 20 years ... i would say he is the author who has had most influence on me ...
setting free the bears is probably my favourite one of his ... and the water method man ... i didnt like son of the circus but enjoyed widow for one year ...
have you read restoration by rose tremain? ... if not ... try it ... i found it a marvellous read ...
and i like films ... i enjoyed the about a boy film ... that moment you mentioned brought a tear to my eye ... *sniff*
Matt
Me too. I went in thinking it was going to be a kind of cool film, but it had a big heart and I found it moving really. I know the lad in it has been criticised for being wooden but I thought he was 100% believable. I don't know who wrote the script - unless it was the directing brothers, but the rewritten ending was effective for me.
I read all John Irving's novel one after the other over about 18 months - being a slowish reader. My favourite was always Son of a Circus as I thought the story was so brilliant and some strong characters. I got round to Setting Free The Bears last, and this became my favourite. When on form he's such a good writer. I didn't like his last book, did you? I felt he'd got a bit distracted by the screenwriting business... I was disappointed when I picked up the last one for the first time as I could see (by the weight) how short it would be. You get used to 700-800 pages or so don't you? I hope he's working on another long one.... I didn't like the film of Cider House Rules as it kind of massacred the book - or not massacred, more like filleted, taking bits here and there, but destroying the sweep of the novel.
I'll look for "Restoration" - thanks for the tip!