Originally Posted by Karen 26th September 2005


Nick Hornby took a really different slant on telling his story of these 4 characters, Martin, Jess, JJ and Maureen. He chose to tell it through each person's point of view so you see how the events are seen by this character.

How did this work for you?

MerryK


Did it work for me? Honestly at first, I was getting confused as heck. I had to keep turning back the page to see who was talking. I cant ever recall reading a book written in such a way. But.. there's always a but.. after I got further into it.. it became easier.. and I found it kind of refreshing in a way.. something different.

I think what made it so difficult at the beginning was that you were trying to learn who the characters were and by it switching off like he did.. that made it a bit more challenging to keep straight.. at least for me it did.

ShannonHollis


I liked the presentation of each character in his/her own point of view--and I especially liked the way each voice was distinct. Maureen uses very precise diction and careful sentences. JJ is kind of breezy and sloppy and Jess uses contractions and slang a lot.

And I thought the differences between the way the other three saw Jess and the way she saw herself was really interesting. It's nearly impossible to know how other people see us unless they tell us, right? And most of the time we don't want to know

Jeppody


I have to agree with MK here.

I found it a bit hard going to begin with. Admittedly they all "sounded" different, but I still kept forgetting who was who.

It improved though, the further into the book I got, the easier it became. Probably because they became "real" people in my mind...but I was surprised at how long that took me, I don't normally have this problem.

Captainjacksparrow


Ok..thank you MerryK and Anne for letting me know that I was not the only one getting confused....I have yet to finish the book...only because I have had to start over 6 times....I read and put the book down and then start where I left off and get so confused on who and what that I start over....and over...and over

JP


This method of telling the story made complete sense to me. I do have to confess having to look back for a bit until I got to know the "voices" better, too, but once that occurred, the story flowed quite easily. I feel that this approach to telling the story enhanced my appreciation for the events.

I have enjoyed reading books done in this manner, and I feel that it allows the author to really delve into the minds of the characters more deeply without clouding the telling of the story.

Ellen


Gosh, I hate being a copycat, but everything I was thinking has been said. I think his way of writing is amazing. I was mixing them up for awhile too, but soon, I could tell who was speaking without Mr. Hornby having to say.

P


I really enjoyed the way he wrote it.. I liked it that each character had their say. In a way it is almost like having 4 books to read about the same story. All of them different but also the same.. does that make any sense?

Karen


I think it's an interesting read...and one that makes you stop and consider what voice you are hearing. Good points everyone... about each one having their own style and that it's like 4 different stories.

But at the end, were you glad that he wrote it this way? Or would you have preferred the more "usual" way of telling a story...or 5 of them really... each person's story and the story that was them all combined-- the story of the group?

MerryK

I found myself right at the beginning doing the exact same thing too.. having to keep turning back the pages and going HUH?!?!?!? and actually restarting it once.

Jeppody


To be honest, if it wasn't that we were going to have this discussion, I probably wouldn't have bothered to persevere with this book after the first 20 pages. I found it annoying. BUT, once I really got into it, I actually enjoyed the way it was written.

So thank you Karen. I am grateful for being forced to push on and keep reading.

Deppraved


It certainly was a unique approach to storytelling, and I did find I sometimes had to check back on exactly who was talking. It was always crystal clear with Jess, though! I've always enjoyed the first person, train of thought type of writing as opposed to straight narration and exhaustive description, so it did actually work out quite well for me. Although I prefer more action in a story, I didn't get at all bored.

Gronki


I loved the 4-point narration that he used - to me, it was what made the novel. I had also just read TRAINSPOTTING which uses a similar technique (but, of course, is a whole different monster unto itself) so I was prepared. I adored hearing the different voices, the different humour especially. Martin's "voice" was an hysterically funny one, IMHO, Jess got on my nerves a little - but I think that was an integral part of her character, JJ amused me with his endless semi-pretentious art-schoolyness (which was completely hypocritical to his character, but I think Hornby did that intentionally), and Maureen with her constant restraint - I think she said more in what she DIDN'T say than what she did.

Also - it served to prove how unreliable a narrator can be at times (be it a fictional or real-life character), and I found that really interesting.

Some of you said that you found it a little boring, but I don't think Hornby was relying on an driving plot to keep his readers buried in the narrative, I think he was relying on the strength of his characters with all their COMPLETELY endearing witticisms & eccentricities: it was a totally "warts and all" approach. I, for one, completely fell in love with them all and was sincerely sad to have to see them go when I finished!

Jae


Excellent points Gronki, I love your take on it. I liked seeing how the characters developed based on their own narrative and then the often contrasting edge that the other characters conveyed about each other. They were all harder on themselves then they were each other and I think that that contrast helped to take me through the gamut of emotions with them. Sometimes I was made at the character and then you would hear another characters take on it...and my understanding grew as the story unfolded. So, yes, I did like Hornby's approached with the four narratives. Its not a comfortable subject matter and not something easy to explore, and I think this method allowed you to see suicidal tendencies...and more importantly, healing from suicidal tendencies as a process.