Just finished it… I didn’t like it as much as some of his other works, but I thought it was intriguing. I was just wondering what other people thought of the ending. It’s not really a spoiler to say I’m talking about how the last page describes a thunderstorm, and how the main character looks out the window and doesn’t see anything. Meanwhile the husband is leaning out the window trying to prevent rain from coming in.
It just seemed like a bizarre switch in narrative, unless there’s something I’m missing. Thoughts?
Read the book and agree with your summary - not nearly as entrancing as High Fidelity or About a Boy, but a good read.
I can’t remember the last bit in particular (I read it a few years ago) but I seem to remember thinking that it has to do with how you look at the problems around you, which is a central theme of the book - how altruistic and focused on the problems around you do you have to be to be considered good and how trying to be good affects your relationships, etc…
I read this a few years ago—it was my introduction to Hornby. I remember liking the book but being dissatisfied with the ending. Maybe if I get around to it I’ll dig out my copy and refresh my memory and see if I can say anything more about it.
This is the worst Nick Hornby book. The narrative is muddled and there is no clear evolution of the characters. This is like real life. But he should really be able to do better, now that he has taken this semi-supernatural factors in.
My fav is his new one. Suicide and misfits. Clearly what he is comfortable with.
This is the first and to date only Hornby book I’ve read. I hated it. The characters didn’t evolve at all except to become more annoying. I’m glad to see that it’s his worst book. That means I don’t have to banish him to the “Never Again” pile. I’ll give About a Boy a try, I’ve heard good things about it.
I read it and, while I didn’t love it, there was some pretty funny dialogue.
If I remember correctly, wasn’t the ending symbolic of the entire family working together in loopy, haphazard manner to protect their home? The dad is hapless, but doing his best, the wife is (I believe literally in the last scene) trying to be supportive, and the kids are looking to their parents to make it all right again.