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Title: Speaking With the Angel by Nick Hornby ISBN: 1-57322-858-3 Publisher: Riverhead Books Pub. Date: 06 February, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.15 (52 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: A lot of bang for your buck
Comment: Here's a short story collection that gives you a fantastic collection of contemporary authors (and one actor/author) who donated their stories for a very worthy cause--a school for autistic children. I bought it because I'm a Nick Hornby fan (and also a Helen Fielding, Colin Firth, and Dave Eggers fan)--but now I've been introduced to more writers to explore and enjoy. Hornby gives a nice intro about his personal and poignant connection with the cause.
These stories run the gamut and are really fun--coming of age tales, unusual narrators (like dogs, humiliated prime ministers, and death-row cooks), and stories that ask the big question: "What is art?" They're fresh, provocative, and often humorous.
Do yourself and a good cause a favor and get this book. It's at the top of my list for gift-giving this year.
Rating: 4
Summary: An Excellent Sampling of Emerging Writers, A Great Cause
Comment: The first thing you should do when you pick up this collection of short stories is to read Nick Hornby's touching introduction. A portion of the proceeds for this book goes to support schools for autistic children, and in his introduction Hornby reveals that his own son is autistic. He goes on to describe what life is like living with an autistic child, and why quality schools are so essential. If you have a heart, you'll already be half-way to the register before you've even checked the list of authors, but you won't be disappointed.
Hornby has assembled an all-star team of emerging young writers, most of whom hail from the UK. Actor Colin Firth pens a sort of twisted fairy tale in "The Department of Nothing." Giles Smith gives a portrait of a cook for deathrow inmates. Helen Fielding (Bridget Jones) checks in with an expectedly sarcastic mother/daughter relationship study. American Dave Eggers (A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius) writes from a dog's point of view in "After I Was Thrown in the River and Before I Was Drowned." Melissa Bank's romantic tale, "The Wonder Spot," was one of my favorites, and Irvine Welsh's unsettling commentary on homophobia, "Catholic Guilt," was also interesting. Hornby himself examines the different effects a work of art can have on people in "Nipple Jesus." Other contributing authors are Robert Harris, Patrick Marber, Zadie Smith, Roddy Doyle, and John O'Farrell. This is quite a collection.
Rating: 5
Summary: Cool stories by hip writers
Comment: I think Nick Hornby is the coolest writer in the World today. This compilation was a way for me to find out other writers who are as cool as Nick. I wasn't disappointed. Here is my review of the short stories:
PMQ: Wonderful comedy piece about a Prime Minister's wild night out.
The Wonder Spot: Kind of too "New York Hipster" for me, but still a nice read.
Last Request: Great story. Mix of a serious topic with a light point of view.
Peter Shelley: Funny story about a boy losing his virginity. My favorite story in the book.
The Department of Nothing: Not bad, but a bit too sentimental for the tone of the book. This was my least favorite story. I wouldn't say Colin Firth should keep his day job, but hey, his day job is awesome.
I'm the Only One: Very short and a bit unsatisfying story about a kid's getting a visit from a super-tall friend. I still liked it.
NippleJesus: My second favorite story. A blue-collar man (a bodyguard) who admires an artsy-fartsy museum piece. Really funny.
After I was Thrown in The River...: I particularly didn't care much for this dog. My second least favorite.
LuckyBitch and The Slave: Both are about middle aged people. One seen from a woman's point of view and other from a man's. Both are equally a riot.
Catholic Guilt: My third favorite story, and being from Irvine Welsh, is also the edgiest. A homophobic hooligan gets his afterlife punishment. Simply hilarious.
Walking into the Wind: Just when I thought I couldn't laugh any harder comes this story about a mime to finish it off.
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Title: Songbook by Nick Hornby ISBN: 1573223565 Publisher: Riverhead Books Pub. Date: 07 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby ISBN: 1573226882 Publisher: Riverhead Books Pub. Date: March, 1998 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: How to Be Good by Nick Hornby ISBN: 1573229326 Publisher: Riverhead Books Pub. Date: 30 April, 2002 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: About a Boy by Nick Hornby ISBN: 1573227331 Publisher: Riverhead Books Pub. Date: May, 1999 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: High Fidelity by Nick Hornby ISBN: 1573225517 Publisher: Riverhead Books Pub. Date: August, 1996 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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