Paperback, 288 pages
Published Nov. 6, 2006 by Penguin.
For the film of the same name, see A Long Way Down (film). Not to be confused with the Charlie Boorman series Long Way Down.A Long Way Down is a novel written by British author Nick Hornby, published in 2005. It is a dark comedy, playing off the themes of suicide, angst, depression and promiscuity. The story is written in the first-person narrative from the points of view of the four main characters, Martin, Maureen, Jess and JJ. These four strangers happen to meet on the roof of a high building called Toppers' House in London on New Year's Eve, each with the intent of committing suicide. Their plans for death in solitude are ruined when they meet. The novel recounts their misadventures as they decide to come down from the roof alive – however temporarily that may be.
The whole thing is a bit ridiculous isn't it (why do they let these people on the roof anyway?!), but it's a fun, quick read, with enough twists and turns to keep anyone semi-interested. Good pool or plane read. Great free read
The good - four distinct voices, as the individual characters each get their own chapters.
The bad - this reads like a sitcom - one of the older ones with a laugh track.
The ugly - either a) Maureen is clueless about caring for her own son, or b) the author is clueless about writing this situation. Either way his incarceration in a chair was painful to read.
This is the first Nick Hornby I've read, and unfortunately it lives down to it's rating. While I like much of his writing style (and humour), the plot of this book just doesn't work. The last few chapters are an attempt to escape the corner, and I think they fail. The last lines of the book, regarding the London Eye, are:
"We stared at it for a long time, trying to work it out. Martin was right. It didn’t look as though …
The good - four distinct voices, as the individual characters each get their own chapters.
The bad - this reads like a sitcom - one of the older ones with a laugh track.
The ugly - either a) Maureen is clueless about caring for her own son, or b) the author is clueless about writing this situation. Either way his incarceration in a chair was painful to read.
This is the first Nick Hornby I've read, and unfortunately it lives down to it's rating. While I like much of his writing style (and humour), the plot of this book just doesn't work. The last few chapters are an attempt to escape the corner, and I think they fail. The last lines of the book, regarding the London Eye, are:
"We stared at it for a long time, trying to work it out. Martin was right. It didn’t look as though it was moving, but it must have been. I suppose."
I understand this was made into a movie with pretty horrible reviews also. 1½ stars.
