We have finished the book!

After reading all day we have finally finished the book. Therefore I'll post a short summary to update you on the "final details". I hope you have enjoyed our blog.

The novel is about Will Freeman, a 36-year-old bachelor, and Marcus, the oldest, bullied 12-year-old with a suicidal mother, Fiona. Will, who never had to work thanks to his father's Christmas song hit, has a lot of spare time. Most of this he spends smoking, watching TV, listening to albums and looking for women. After a pleasant relationship with a single mother, Angie, Will comes up with the idea of attending a single parents group as a new way to pick up women. He invents a two-year old son called Ned.

It is at one of these single parents meetings he comes to know Marcus, and they develop a relationship. Will helps Marcus to fit into the modern world and helps him to fit in like the rest of the kids. He takes him shopping, buys him shoes and introduces him to the music like Nirvana and Hip Hop. As the story progresses, so does Marcus and Will's friendships. Marcus is madly in love with a girl called Ellie McRae, a very tough fifteen year old girl, who is constantly in trouble at school because she insists on wearing a Kurt Cubain jumper.

He also spends some time with his dad, Clive, who visits Marcus and Fiona for Christmas, together with his new girlfriend, Lindsay, and her mother. Meanwhile Will starts going out with a single mum called Rachel, who has a son called Ali who is about the same age as Marcus.

In the end Marcus evolves and becomes a “normal” kid for his age. Will becomes more mature and he ends up wanting to marry Rachel. Therefore, both Will and Marcus have started to live according to their age. Will grow up, and Macus gets to be a "normal" twelve-year-old like the rest of the kids. I think the development of the book is amazing, because every character find their trough selves at the end. Even though I'm not the biggest fan of reading, I actually enjoyed this book, because of the way It's written. Its both funny and ironic, but at the same time deep and full of emotions.

Blog leader, Lise.

Nick Hornby

Here are som facts about the author of the book:

Nick Hornby is, as we already know, an english essayist and novelist. He was born 17. April in Redhill, Surrey, England.
Nick is best known for the novels High Fidelity, About A Boy and for the football memoir Fever Pitch. About A Boy is Nick's third novel, published in 1998. There is an movie version of the book, Hugh Grant playes one of the main characters; Will.
Hornby received the E.M. Forster Award of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Hornby has also written essays on various aspect of popular culture and he has become known for his writing on opo music and mix tape enthusiasts. For the montly magazine The Believer he has began writing a book review column "Stuff I've Been Reading".

Several of Honrby's books have made it from the pages in a book to the screen at a movie. About A Boy were released in 2002.

Just for fun:
In November 2008, Nick Hornby came No 4 in The Times list of the "50 Worst Famous Football Fans". He was credited for, amongst other things, the fact that one is now likely to be sat next to a solicitor at a football match.

Btw, it's allowed to comment ;- )

This weeks's question

Question 3


Questionmakers: Mia and Kristina.
How do you experience Will as a person?

Add answears at comments!

This week's question

Question 2

Questionmakers: Niclas and Aslak

This week's question:

What kind of emotions does the author try to make with this scene were Marcus mother, Fiona, try to take her own life?
To answer, click on "comment" and add a comment to the question.

A little summary

Marcus now starts visiting Will at his home regularly. Will gives him advice on "trendiness", and buys him some expensive sneakers. The very next day, these are stolen at school, and Marcus has to explain to his mother how he and Will have become friends, and how Will is trying to save him from the bullies at school.

Fiona has started crying again. Marcus tries to get help from Will, who refuses, now his old selfish self. Marcus remembers that his mum loves to hear him sing, expecially "Killing me softly" ! This is bound to make him un-popular.

This week's question

Question 1

What is characteristic for Marcus, and how is his relationship with his mother? Comment to answer.

Mia and Kristina