About a Boy

By: Nick Hornby

Narrated by: David Case

Length: 7 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

Now a major motion picture from Universal Pictures.

Will Freeman may have discovered the key to dating success: If the simple fact that they were single mothers meant that gorgeous women - women who would not ordinarily look twice at Will - might not only be willing, but enthusiastic about dating him, then he was really onto something. Single mothers - bright, attractive, available women - thousands of them, were all over London. He just had to find them.

SPAT: Single Parents - Alone Together. It was a brilliant plan. And Will wasn't going to let the fact that he didn't have a child himself hold him back. A fictional two-year-old named Ned wouldn't be the first thing he'd invented. And it seems to go quite well at first, until he meets an actual 12-year-old named Marcus, who is more than Will bargained for...

©2014 Nick Hornby (P)2014 Penguin Audio

Like the movie, love the book

I hate it when I see a movie first and then read or listen to a book only to find out what I lived was added in Hollywood. This was NOT that situation. The movie is wonderful and I will always love it, but I am happy to report that the book provides more depth and resolution to each of the characters that I loved in the movie as well as insight from different perspectives. So glad I took the chance on it!

love the movie, love the book, love the audio!

I fell in love with the film first, and read the book when I was in high school. I wanted to reread the book and decided to try out the audiobook. I STILL love the story, and found that I got more out of it as a late twenty-something than I did as a 16 year old. I really enjoyed the narrator. His voice reminded me of Hugh Grant's (who played Will in the film) and that helped set the tone - especially on Will's chapters.

a feast of vulnerabilities!

This was the most satisfying Audible experience I've had, yet. I wish I could meet these characters in person. Marcus and Will and Fiona are the people you see in the grocery store, at the restaurant, in the car you're trying to pass. We get to experience the brilliant spectrum of thoughts and emotions of each which constructs this gorgeous kaleidoscope experience.

brilliant

A story about when it is right to be incredibly intospective and self aware and when is it healthy to drop all that and live on the surface, and when the reverse is true too. Totally worth the journey.

excellent

Nick Hornby doing what he does best, and I absolutely could not pick a better narrator.

Which character is the child?

Great coming of age story—for both the child and the adults in his life.

A story that you will remember

This was a fun, enjoyable listen. I thought I would try this audible selection after reading "Fever Pitch" which I found quite hysterically funny most of the way through. I did enjoy the humor in this book also, although it was a darker type which came mostly at the expense of a misfit kid. Good character development of the slightly off kilter adults that surround this poor kid, and his lack of being understood and nurtured by them. Luckily Marcus ( the boy) and the other characters mature through their interactions. The story will stick with me.

I like Nick Hornsby but…

I made myself listen to this book although I’m not sure why. I was thinking something would happen but very little does. I realize the author is trying to explore many issues but they are presented in a way that I found uninteresting. It never grabbed me.

Hornsby is a master of character development

I was unfamiliar with the author and had my doubts at first but came away a fan. I look forward to more books by this author.

Love the book and the movie!

I grew up with the movie, I wish I had read the book sooner. It was very good! In some parts the movie follows the book Word for Word. Both are great and this audio book was easy to listen to.