About a Boy by Nick Hornby

Author: Nick Hornby
Original title: About a Boy
Pages:  320
Edition Language: Russian
Series: no
Genres: Contemporary, Comedy, Drama,
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Name: About a Boy
Year: 2002
Director: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz
Cast: Hugh Grant, Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Language: English
Country: UK, USA, France, Germany
Time: 101 min


Blurb:    
Too cool! At thirty-six, he’s as hip as a teenager. He’s single, child-free, goes to the right clubs and knows which trainers to wear. He’s also found a great way to score with women: attend single parents’ groups full of available (and grateful) mothers, all hoping to meet a Nice Guy.
Which is how Will meets Marcus, the oldest twelve-year-old on the planet. Marcus is a bit strange: he listens to Joni Mitchell and Mozart, looks after his mum and has never owned a pair of trainers. But Marcus latches on to Will – and won’t let go. Can Will teach Marcus how to grow up cool? And can Marcus help Will just to grow up?

My thoughts:
     This is the first book by Nick Hornby that I have read. I have heard so much about the author from the very beginning of his carrier, he is also one of the most favorite author of my best friend. So eventually I have no choice but to read his books one day. About a Boy is a good start as the book has positive reviews and has a movie adaptation. Frankly speaking the book did not rock my world, it was a funny, cozy read, sometimes thought provoking, but most of the time just satisfying. The book is read quite quickly and leave a nice aftertaste. I like how Hornby puts serious topics in a funny form. The book might seem easy and almost fluffy at the same time it is quite problematic and reveals some contemporary issues. I just loved the child's perspective on a family: rational and mathematical:

Suddenly I realized - two people isn't enough. You need backup. If you're only two people, and someone drops off the edge, then you're on your own. Two isn't a large enough number. You need three at least.

     The movie has left the same impression as the book: nice, cozy and funny. I did not like the ending where the boy singing a song on the stage: it was really painful and did not invest much in Marcus's character change as the book's critical point connected with Kurt Cobain's suicide. But altogether it is a good and thorough adaptation.

Rating: 

    3,5/5