I never read the backs of books prior to reading them, but based on the title funny girl by nick hornby was not really what i was expecting. Our funny girl is an almostmissblackpool who escapes the privations of a corriekitchensink life and wangles a contract with a galton and simpson style tv show in the heady years of hancock, goons, steptoe et al. Be the first to read nicks new novel funny girl nick hornby. Nick hornbys funny girl traces a pivotal time in british comedy through the lens of a beauty queen who abandons her title to make her name on tv in the 1960s. Nov 05, 2014 funny girl by nick hornby 352pp, viking, telegraph offer price. Nick hornby tells moving, funny and insightful stories exploring how we live now. His book the complete polysyllabic spree 2006 is an account of his reading and a collection of columns from believer magazine.
Early in funny girl, before recording barbara and jim for comedy playhouse, sophie straw says of the show, i dont want it to go out into the world. There are some in the book who are irritated by barbara and jims popularity edith maxwellbishop and vernon whitfield, for. No, nick hornbys latest is not a retelling of the story made famous by the old barbara streisand movie called funny girl but the allusion to pop culture of the 1960s in this delightful novel is not coincidental. Our funny girl is an almostmissblackpool who escapes the privations of a corriekitchensink life and wangles a contract with a galton and simpson style tv show in. Insightful and humorous, nick hornbys latest does what he does best. Nick hornby s charming, light yet thoughtful tale of the creative team behind a fictional bbc sitcom in the 1960s takes the. Set in the 1960s, nick hornbys new novel, funny girl. Set in 1960s london, funny girlis a livelyaccount ofthe adventures of the intrepid young sophie straw as she navigates her transformation fromprovincial ingenue to television starlet amid a constellation of delightful characters. Hornby makes us smell the amateurism and sheer fun of those pioneering days while signposting the privations as well as the. In funny girl, nick hornby uses the story of a reluctant beauty queen from blackpool as the hook for a rambunctious cultural history of british television comedy. If the simple fact that they were single mothers meant that gorgeous women women who would not ordinarily look twice a will might not only be willing, but enthusiastic about dating him, then he was really onto. Nick hornby was born in 1957, and is the author of fever pitch, high fidelity, about a boy and how to be good. Hornby, including oxford advanced learners dictionary, and oxford esl dictionary for students of american english, and more on. With funny girl, hornby tries out a historical setting for the first time.
Nov 06, 2014 funny girl the muchanticipated new novel by nick hornby, the millioncopy bestselling author of about a boy. Nick hornby is the author of seven internationally bestselling novels funny girl, high fidelity, about a boy, how to be good, a long way down, slam and juliet. Nick hornbys new novel, funny girl, mocks and dismantles two retrograde beliefs common in 1960s london. Nick hornbys funny girl, about a 1960s bbc sitcom star. Hornby s most recent novel, funny girl, about a sixties beauty queen determined to make her mark upon television comedy, was released in late 2014.
Hornby cut his teeth as a journalist, penning features for the sunday times, gq, vogue and many other leading magazines. Its the swinging 60s and the nation is mesmerized by unlikely comedy star sophie straw, the former blackpool beauty queen who just wants to make people laugh, like her heroine lucille ball. Nov 03, 2014 hornby has had significant success as a screenwriter he adapted an education and there are several points in funny girl where it feels like it is a film in waiting, eager to shrug off the formal. As the story opens, barbara parker is a small town beauty queen. Yet another genius idea from the hornby hit machine. Nick hornby books list of books by author nick hornby. Funny girl by nick hornby 352pp, viking, telegraph offer price. Nicks eagerly anticipated new novel funny girl is finally being. Funny girl is the sixth fulllength novel by british author, nick hornby.
Funny girl the muchanticipated new novel by nick hornby, the millioncopy bestselling author of about a boy. Ron charles ron charles writes about books for the washington. Its a promising trajectory but hornby abandons his funny girl for more of his hapless men. In funny girl, nick hornby uses the story of a reluctant beauty queen from blackpool as the hook for a rambunctious cultural history of british television comedy 50 years ago. It differs from his previous books its set several decades in the past, for one thing while retaining their eagerness to please. Set, for the most part, in the midtolate 1960s, hornbys latest novel gives the reader an intimate look at the making of a tv comedy series.
Forster award by the american academy of arts and letters. Whether writing about male obsessions or insecurity. Beginning the book, as it followed a young woman in the 1960s named barbara who wants to follow in the footsteps of lucille ball, i was expecting a story that followed her as the protagonist as she dealt. From the bestselling author ofhigh fidelity, about a boy, anda long way downcomes a highly anticipated new novel. An amazon best book of the month for february 2015. Hugely enjoyable sunday mirror vivid, sparky, a bit schmaltzy, and it rattles along independent i loved this hymn to. Nick hornby one of the most popular british authors of the last twentyfive years, nick hornby is the writer responsible for the iconic bestsellers fever pitch and high fidelity. Funny girl the latest novel from nick hornby, the millioncopy bestselling author of about a boy make them laugh, and theyre yours forever.
With its focus away from contemporary times, this might not be vintage hornby, but is a memorable evocation, nevertheless, of the swinging sixties in ntinued. Hornby has also developed a career as a screenwriter, and has said that he enjoys the challenge of working in film as opposed to writing novels. As befits a novel about a popular sitcom, this novel packs in lots of laughs, but its also got. Nick hornby has 75 books on goodreads with 974982 ratings. Nick hornby is the author of seven internationally bestselling novels funny girl, high fidelity, about a boy, how to be good, a long way down, slam and juliet, naked and several works of nonfiction including fever pitch, songbook and ten years in the tub. Hardcover with lightly bumped foot of spine and dust jacket with lightly worn upper leading corner and some light creases on upper edge in very good clean condition.
Hugely enjoyable sunday mirror vivid, sparky, a bit schmaltzy, and it rattles along independent i loved this hymn to the 1960s, their infinite creative possibilities scotsman funny girl may be read as hornby s latest defence of popular entertainment against highculture elitism. Set in 1960s london, funny girl is a livelyaccount ofthe adventures of the intrepid young sophie straw as she navigates her transformation fromprovincial ingenue to television starlet amid a constellation of delightful characters. Nick hornby is the author of the internationally bestselling novels high fidelity, about a boy, a long way down, slam, juliet, naked, and funny girl, as well as several works of. He also edited the collection of short stories speaking with the angel. Will freeman may have discovered the key to dating success. Nick hornby mines the hearts and psyches of four lost souls who connect just when theyve reached the end of the line. He is also the author of songbook, a finalist for a national book critics circle award, and editor of the. Hornbys most recent novel, funny girl, about a sixties beauty queen determined to make her mark upon television comedy, was released in late 2014. From the bestselling author of high fidelity, about a boy, and a long way down comes a highly anticipated new novel set in 1960s london, funny girl is a lively account of the adventures of the intrepid young sophie straw as she navigates her transformation from provincial ingenue to television starlet amid a constellation of delightful characters. Set, for the most part, in the midtolate 1960s, hornbys latest novel gives the reader an. Set in 1960s london, funny girl is a lively account of the adventures of the intrepid young sophie straw as she navigates her transformation from provincial ingenue to television starlet amid a constellation of delightful characters. Nov 06, 2014 funny girl is the sixth fulllength novel by british author, nick hornby. I would like to say classic hornby but the thing i most like about his writing is that the stories.
The independent criticized the change of focus in the novel, stating. Barbara parker is miss blackpool of 1964, but she doesnt want to be a beauty queen. On the surface, this funny girl is about a working class english girl who comes of age as a tv star in the. Funny girl by nick hornby yes, you read that right. A near fine uk first edition, first printing hardback toning in a near fine unclipped dustjacket all my books are always securely packed with plenty of bubblewrap in professional boxes and promptly dispatched within 23 days signed by nick hornby pictures available upon request. Nick hornby is the author of several internationally bestselling novels including high fidelity, about a. A wise, affecting novel from the beloved, awardwinning author of funny girl, high fidelity, and about a boy. Funny girl offers a captivating portrait of youthful exuberance and freedom at a time when britain itself was experiencing one of its most enduring creative bursts. There is something about hornbys writing that is so simple, so easyto. Funny girl, by nick hornby, chronicles the fictional tale of a young, rags to riches, girl, who longs to become the next lucille ball during the 1960s in london. Nick hornby, signed abebooks abebooks shop for books. Jan 29, 2015 nick hornbys funny girl traces a pivotal time in british comedy through the lens of a beauty queen who abandons her title to make her name on tv in the 1960s. Set in the 1960s, nick hornbys new novel, funny girl, traces the rise of a sitcom star funny girl by nick hornby.
Nick hornby recreates a rich, believable swinging sixties in his new novel, funny girlphthe inspiration for nick hornbys first novel in five years came after he. Set in 1960s london, funny girl is a lively account of the adventures of the. Oxford intermediate learners englishchinese dictionary by a s hornby, e c parnell and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Journalist and bestselling novelist nick hornby is best known for his portraits of dysfunctional peter pans clueless postmodern males in various stages of arrested development who discover, often to their chagrin, that growing up is a process involving far more than the passage of time. Further suggestions might be found on the articles talk page. Hornby has had significant success as a screenwriter he adapted an education and there are several points in funny girl where it feels like it is a film in waiting, eager to shrug off the formal. As befits a novel about a popular sitcom, this novel packs in lots of laughs, but its also got more heft than mr. On the surface, this funny girl is about a working class english girl who. Buy funny girl by hornby, nick from amazons fiction books store. If the simple fact that they were single mothers meant that gorgeous women women who would not ordinarily look twice a will might not only be willing, but enthusiastic about dating him, then he was really onto something.
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