I'm tempted to say it's not the masterpiece that is About a Boy, but then Hornby seems to be daring reviewers to say he's getting soft in his middle-age. The book is, after all, an exploration of what makes art valuable and to compare it to his earlier works would be to miss the point entirely. It was a brilliant book, and I suspect that in twenty years or so, experiencing the decisions and revisions of middle-age, I might pick it up again and understand the characters better.Hornby's work is always incredibly character-driven, and this time we meet an obsessive fan, a critical reviewer and a fallen artist. The story revolves around cult rock musician Tucker Crowe, silent and reclusive for the last twenty years. Scoring a demo version of Crowe's most famous album, die-hard fan Duncan is sent into a spin and his long-term partner Annie writes (horror of horrors) a bad review. Her review reveals the fractures in their relationship, but it also captures Crowe's attention.
I was fascinated by the exploration of the nature of art. The reader is confronted with the paralysis experienced by an artist who has produced, for once and for all, his 'masterpiece' and doesn't know where to go from there. There are also questions about the lies we tell to make sense of things, and the way we rely on other people's art to illuminate our own lives.
For an interview with Hornby about the book, click the 'Nick Hornby' label which appears at the bottom of this post, and the page will display an earlier blog with a link to said interview.
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