Best book ever

I read this book right after a heavy therapy session and I laughed my guts up. Nick Hornby is so funny I could die of pleasure. His characters are despairing losers just like the rest of us, horrible people really, but Nick loves them and laughs at them. You've got to read it.

Making it all Fit

What makes Nick Hornby such a memorable and fun writer is his ability to create obscure characters who somehow fit into mainstream society. Upon closer examination though we see how they don't fit. Then, ultimately they discover how to fit in anyway. It's the pattern he used to great success in all of his books ("High Fidelity", "About a Boy", "How to Be Good" for example), and it's the same formula that works so winningly here. In this case his four central characters are as winningly off center as ever: JJ - a has been American rocker that has so far fallen from his cult band status he is now delivering pizzas to pay the rent; Martin - a has been talk show host who got fired for sleeping with a teenager; Jess - the misunderstood daughter of a government official; and Maureen - the ever-suffering Catholic mother (his most sympathetic character ever). "A Long Way Down" works and works well. Fans of Hornby's earlier works will be excited with new life and new direction. New fans will delight in fantastic characters and a witty story. Those enjoying "A Long Way Down" will also enjoy "The Wonder Spot", "Puff", "Losers Club", "Saturday" and "My Fractured Life."

The Hornby We've Been Waiting For!

"A Long Way Down" is Hornby's best since "High Fidelity", it's a humorous, touching, always unique story of four disparate souls in crisis. Hornby does a masterful job of differentiating the "voices" of each character and I couldn't help mentally casting it for the sure-to-be movie version. Hugh Grant - call your agent, you'd be a perfect "Martin"!