About a book

"Marcus was right, of course, but being right was no use if the rest of the world was wrong"

Oh how many teenagers end up in that special place, which society forces you to leave if you don't want to end up an outcast! Watching Skins on E4 last night - coincidentally starring Nicholas Hoult, who also played Marcus in the film version of About a Boy - I couldn't help but think of my teenage years, when anything seemed possible as long as your parents didn't know about it.

I only got cautioned once in secondary school. We were in our maths class - typical - and the window was open. A wasp flew in and thanks to some genetic fault from the paternal side of our family, I jumped up and squealed like a pig. No wonder me and my classmate next to me ended up laughing, but our teacher wasn't too amused. An argument with the head teacher didn't prove very fruitful, and we ended up having to clean the back steps of the school.

It was my first experience of the cruelty and immobility of society, and Nick Hornby can tell us a lot more in his classic About a Boy. Before I force myself to steer clear from it, let me immediately compare it to the film: there is no notice of Hugh Grant in the book. Although Marcus and his mom are rather similar in both media, the character of Will is more of a boy in the book, and more of a snob in the film. There are several plotlines which I don't remember from the film, and which are definitely worth reading. I'd like to see the film as a welcome addition to the story of Marcus' life, rather than a perfect rendition of the book.

The book is actually about two boys, Will and Marcus, both convinced the world is an odd place that should be avoided at all cost. They end up forming a somewhat surrogate father-son relationship, and help each other become part of society - though Marcus' help is unintentional.

Nick Hornby achieved two impressive feats in this novel. Contrary to High Fidelity, it doesn't need numerous references to pop culture to be a sign of the times yet timeless. Of course, the references are still there, but since the main characters don't own any record stores, the references are attributive rather than scene setting. The second achievement concerns the most obvious pop reference: the death of Kurt Cobain. The miracle here is that the death - possibly the most significant event in the 90s history of pop - doesn't lead to a soppy teen drama story, yet it plays an integral in the plot evolution.

Finally, the book is incredibly funny, especially towards the end. Where the film remains sweet - though never too sweet - and mainly is a Hugh Grant vehicle, the novel involves a natural transformation of both Will and Marcus. Both boys form a successful double act, making me laugh with their sarcasm - again unintended in Marcus' case. About a Boy is definitely not the best book I've ever read, but it must be one of the most amusing ones.

Plot: ****
Fun: *****
Novelty: ***
Overall: ****