The Rory Gilmore Book Club discussion
Rory Book Discussions
>
The Polysyllabic Spree
date
newest »
newest »
I finished the book on the weekend and really liked it.
You are right, Meredith: The essays don't really connect - but as I read it in one sitting, I was able to compare his books with each other because what he had read in previous months was still on my mind. As you said, some of his stories are touching and illuminating - others I found rather annoying, don't really know why. Overall, I realized that I had imagined Nick Hornby a lot different through reading his novels and was a bit disappointed by what seemed to be his "real" self now. (Does anyone know if there is a good Hornby biography?)
I liked his selections, especially the ones about Cricket, together with his comments it made me think of Douglas Adam's description of the sport.
The whole TPS made me want to read all the books and listen to the music that is mentioned - Maybe I'll try to read as much as possible until, say, Christmas, and then reread it.
(By the way, I googled Marah, Hornby's favorite band that is mentioned somewhere. Their music is really good, some sort of indie-rock-stuff. Check them out.)
You are right, Meredith: The essays don't really connect - but as I read it in one sitting, I was able to compare his books with each other because what he had read in previous months was still on my mind. As you said, some of his stories are touching and illuminating - others I found rather annoying, don't really know why. Overall, I realized that I had imagined Nick Hornby a lot different through reading his novels and was a bit disappointed by what seemed to be his "real" self now. (Does anyone know if there is a good Hornby biography?)
I liked his selections, especially the ones about Cricket, together with his comments it made me think of Douglas Adam's description of the sport.
The whole TPS made me want to read all the books and listen to the music that is mentioned - Maybe I'll try to read as much as possible until, say, Christmas, and then reread it.
(By the way, I googled Marah, Hornby's favorite band that is mentioned somewhere. Their music is really good, some sort of indie-rock-stuff. Check them out.)
I finished the book on the way home today and overall I still stand by my earlier comments. I didn't read it all in one sitting, but it was a quick read. 3 days maybe?
I did find a great quote.
"I suddenly had a little epiphany: all the books we own, both read and unread, are the fullest expression of self we have at our disposal."
I did find a great quote.
"I suddenly had a little epiphany: all the books we own, both read and unread, are the fullest expression of self we have at our disposal."
Mod
I loved that quote, too.
My other favorite was the one about books being the best of all art forms (although I personally wouldn't go that far):
"Books are, let's face it, better than everything else. If we played cultural Fantasy Boxing League, and made books go 15 rounds in the ring against the best that any other art form had to offer, then books would win pretty much every time. Go on, try it. The Magic Flute v. Middlemarch? Middlemarch in six. The Last Supper v. Crime and Punishment? Fyodor on point And every now and again you'd get a shock, because that happens in sport, so Back to the Future III might land a lucky punch on Rabbit, Run; but I'm still backing literature 29 times out of 30."
My other favorite was the one about books being the best of all art forms (although I personally wouldn't go that far):
"Books are, let's face it, better than everything else. If we played cultural Fantasy Boxing League, and made books go 15 rounds in the ring against the best that any other art form had to offer, then books would win pretty much every time. Go on, try it. The Magic Flute v. Middlemarch? Middlemarch in six. The Last Supper v. Crime and Punishment? Fyodor on point And every now and again you'd get a shock, because that happens in sport, so Back to the Future III might land a lucky punch on Rabbit, Run; but I'm still backing literature 29 times out of 30."
Mod
I also thought the "books best of all art forms" was hilarious. Though I totally disagree. And who references Back to the Future 3. The western?! I guess he didn't want to reference the original--because that might take his RABBIT, RUN and pound it! I don't mess around with BTTF.
And the part about improper use of punctuation and the book EATS, SHOOTS AND LEAVES. My best friend and I have a long running joke about improper use of quotation marks. So I really enjoyed this.
"I had never before heard of the Oxford comma (used before the 'and' that brings a list to a close), and I didn't know that Jesus never gets a possessive 's,' just because of who He is. I never really saw the possessive 's' as profane, or even very secular, but there you go."
And the part about improper use of punctuation and the book EATS, SHOOTS AND LEAVES. My best friend and I have a long running joke about improper use of quotation marks. So I really enjoyed this.
"I had never before heard of the Oxford comma (used before the 'and' that brings a list to a close), and I didn't know that Jesus never gets a possessive 's,' just because of who He is. I never really saw the possessive 's' as profane, or even very secular, but there you go."
I loved Hornby's humor and conversational style. I haven't encountered his approach to a book review very often -- I felt like I got a window into his life and how each work intersects with it. He nearly convinced me to pick up a few of his favorites - even those that would normally have NO attraction for me. I loved his recommendation of Moneyball, for example: "If you know anything about baseball, you will enjoy it four tims as much as I did, which means that you might explode." It's stirred my interest in reading more of his work. I noticed that Marion was disappointed with this set of essays after reading his novels... does that mean I'll be even more impressed by his fiction?! Does anyone recommend Long Way Down?
As much as I didn't like David Sedaris and Me Talk Pretty, that's how much I love Hornby's book! My first favorite line was in the first section: "(And, before any outraged poets explode I'd like to point out that I'm one of the seventy-three people in the world who buys poetry.)" I'm trying to pin down the difference between Sedaris and Hornby, what made me respond to the latter and not the former. Maybe it's that Hornby and I are close in age and experience, and have very similar taste in music. In fact, I downloaded several Marah songs from itunes after reading that section. I think it comes down to whining. Sedaris whined. Hornby doesn't. He bitches at times, but no whining. He's at home in his own skin, and he has the expectation that writers, books and his readers are at home in theirs, as well. Everybody that is, except the Polysyllabic Spree! They don't seem at home in their skins at all.
Erin, maybe that means that you'll be blown away by his fiction, yes :-)
I recommend Long Way Down and also About A Boy (maybe you have seen the movie... If you thought it was hilarious, you'll like the book even more).
I was not exactly disappointed by his prose, I liked his jokes, his writing style and everything... It was more that I had imagined HIM, his character, to be somewhat different. Maybe it is because his fictional characters are mostly nerdy, wise people and I imagined him to be the same.
I recommend Long Way Down and also About A Boy (maybe you have seen the movie... If you thought it was hilarious, you'll like the book even more).
I was not exactly disappointed by his prose, I liked his jokes, his writing style and everything... It was more that I had imagined HIM, his character, to be somewhat different. Maybe it is because his fictional characters are mostly nerdy, wise people and I imagined him to be the same.
oh man, I am *loving* this book! And like Deb, I'm enjoying it so much more than Me Talk Pretty. The contrast is really a pleasure. Sedaris comes off as a spoiled snotty whiny kid compared to Hornby and I think that's a big part of the difference. Hornby is more mature, and his writing seems more intelligent, empathetic, and insightful, while still being humorous. Part of that I think can be attributed to life experiences; I wonder how Sedaris would fair with a child with autism, or any children at all for that matter.I keep picturing John Cusack in my head when reading this, though that's probably thanks to High Fidelity.
Any one else mark the "lost victorian classic" (No Name) as to-read before getting to the next chapter? heh.
Deborah... you make me feel better. I also didn't like Me talk pretty, and was not sure if I was going to read this one but I will for sure pick it up now!
Going back to "books as best art forms"
For some reason, I had a full week of art forms. Some weeks are just like that I guess. Trying to cram a lot in before leaving for a week of vacation. Two plays, a movie, a concert, and a gallery opening, with a smattering of television. Plus finishing TPS and starting a new book. I can attest that this week live music can trump almost anything. Normally I might go the film route. This week it was MAN ON WIRE vs The Black Keys. For me, I think, it would have to be a week by week basis. I enjoy all of it too much.
For some reason, I had a full week of art forms. Some weeks are just like that I guess. Trying to cram a lot in before leaving for a week of vacation. Two plays, a movie, a concert, and a gallery opening, with a smattering of television. Plus finishing TPS and starting a new book. I can attest that this week live music can trump almost anything. Normally I might go the film route. This week it was MAN ON WIRE vs The Black Keys. For me, I think, it would have to be a week by week basis. I enjoy all of it too much.
Read this yesterday-the whole thing. I like Hornby a lot, I've read 3 or 4 of his books plus the short story collection he put together to raise money for the Treehouse school for autism (proceeds from this book benefit Treehouse too.) I loved the conversational style and definitely want to check out some of the books he mentioned.I thought it was so funny that he got all bugged up about Zoe Heller writing "Aresenal won" and the score she used in Notes on a Scandal. I can get that way about books-I can harp on the tiniest little detail and it will totally irritate me for the rest of the book. On the other hand, if I really like a book I can usually overlook a multitude of things. It's clear that Hornby is a true book lover.
Mod
Heather, I TOTALLY marked that book as a "to read" until the next month! That completely cracked me up - that he was such a good salesman and then the bottom fell out.
Interestingly, I read About a Boy as a result of the movie (a really rare thing), and I honestly didn't like his writing style much. It was okay. He's very "male" in his style at times. I did, however, still buy both Songbook (also on Rory's list) and Fever Pitch (because I'm a huge Premiership fan). Will get to them eventually. LOL But loved TPS!!
Mod
You know in TPS when he says something like, "I imagine there are some people who've never been to a soccer match..." something like that. He can hardly believe that someone hasn't. But that's me!! But I want to!!
Anyway--prior to this, I have read a few other of Hornby's. I would recommend About a Boy and High Fidelity. They suited my tastes--but I can't say they would suit everyone's (obviously some people already said that they weren't for them). Long Way Down and How to Be Good were really a chore for me to get through. Remember how Hornby said he hated reading negative reader reviews on Amazon? I was thinking...you'd really hate GoodReads. Stay away from my page!
Anyway...this was short, but interesting. I can't say that I'm in love either. It read like a series of magazine essays (which obviously it was), but I'm glad I bought it full price since the proceeds go to charity. I was also very interested when he spoke of his autistic son.
The thing is--when the books sounded good...I was interested in what he was saying. But when the books sounded boring--I wanted to skip that whole part. One book I did add to my queue (addendum: and bought on Saturday) was "How to Breathe Underwater" as he spoke so highly of it. (Hint, hint...let's read it here some day soon!) I also enjoyed the David Copperfield chapter, as I also read DC this year. And all that he said about Dicken's characters and long-windedness in story-telling (the opposite of "spare") was clever and true.
Not a bad little read for me--awfully short. (Which, as Hornby noted, is better than awfully long). I can see why it was on Rory's list. Rory (the character) would have truly loved this one.
Mod
Alison, I went to a football match in Italy when I lived there - one of the most amazing experiences I had there! Seriously great stories from that experience. I'm a HA-YOU-JAH fan of Newcastle United in the Premiership and WILL one day see a game in St. James Park. I bought Fever Pitch after I found out the baseball movie was fashioned after his book on football. Oddly it took forever to find a copy. I've been wanting to read it, but then there are SO MANY I want to read. Your comments are making me want to read it sooner rather than later!
Mod
I just read "How to Breathe Underwater" and it is highly recommended. It is NOT a feel-good collection of stories, though, so keep that in mind. But they're very interesting and I read then in about a day (or less).
I went into Fever Pitch knowing NOTHING about British football (still don't, really). His big team is Arsenal (as he mentioned in TPS), like...THE MAN IS OBSESSED. I'm jealous that you've experienced that. I'm going to have to put it on my bucket list (cheesy, I know, but you know what I mean!)
So far I am a little bored! Is the whole book reviews on other books? I am about to start Dec 2003. Though I am interested in reading Fortress of Solitude now. :) I can tell it is going to be a quick read so I will probably be able to finish it tomorrow.
Finished! Well I didn't really enjoy this book. I think if I was reading it in the magazine then I would probably enjoy it more. I loved the section where he was talking about not being able to remember books he's read. I feel the same way! Sometimes I look at my books and think what was that book about?
Mod
Overall, I really enjoyed this. I felt a camaraderie with him, as I do with you all -- the need to track, to record one's bought it - read it - thumbs up or down on it. I was interested in much of what he had to say about his enjoyment or dislike of things, and I suppose he hits the right note with me too, humor-wise. I found myself loving his turn of phrase often, and some of the best have already been posted -- in particular, about the books you own being so representative of who you are, even if they haven't been read -- the idea that you chose it says something about you.And yes, I was totally intrigued with the lost Victorian classic. :)
Finally, I was amused to see how often the Rebecca effect worked its way into his reading choices!
But overall, I'm not in love. I think if I was reading the individual passages in a magazine, they would be one of the first things I read. But every time I get into it, I'm pulled out again. Because of the nature of essays I guess. I don't seem them connecting together well. But one didn't originally read them all lumped together. You had the time to read and think and wait for the next issue.