New Years Eve at Toppers House, North London's most popular suicide spot. And four strangers are about to discover that doing away with yourself isn't quite the private act they'd each expected.
Perma-tanned Martin Sharp's a disgraced breakfast TV presenter who had it all - the kids, the wife, the pad, the great career - but he 'pissed it all away'. Killing himself is Martin's 'reasonable and appropriate response' to an unliveable life.
Maureen has to do it tonight, because of Matty being in the home. He was never able to do any of the normal things kids do - like walk or talk - and loving-mum Maureen can't cope any more. Dutiful Catholic that she is, she's about to commit the 'biggest sin of all'.
Half-crazed with heartbreak, loneliness, adolescent angst, seven Bacardi Breezers and two Special Brews, Jess's ready to jump, to fly off the roof. Lastly, there's JJ - tall, cool, American, looks like a rock-star (was, in fact, a rock-star before his band split) - who's weighed down with a heap of problems and pizza.
Four strangers, who moments before were all convinced that they were alone and going to end it all that way, sit down together, share out the pizza and begin to talk.
Funny, sad, and wonderfully humane, Nick Hornby's A LONG WAY DOWN is a novel that asks some of the big questions: about life and death, strangers and friendship, love and pain, and whether a slice of pizza can really see you through a long, dark night of the soul.
Well that's on the back of the book. But here's my take on it:
Nick Hornby, the same guy who gave us "About a Boy", takes on suicide in a charming and funny way. I would have never been able to write a story like this. It starts with Martin who's a social pariah due to his scandal who end up on the roof of a building attempting suicide. While he's up there, Maureen calls up to him asking if she could borrow his ladder. How boggling is that? Then one by one the characters turn up and share a meal discussing their wretched lives. And they may a pact to meet up again on Valentine's Day, to see if they all wanted to jump.
Along the way to V-day, they mess up together (the Angel story that Jess comes up with is hysterical), try to solve each others' problems and come to understand who the other person is. In a strange way, they become friends, people they rely on.
Well here's a little spoiler for all of you: The ending of the book is a loud awakening to the four of them.
I think this book makes you think about your life. And about how you want to look at things. You can change what you see, you can change the "lenses" that you see the world with. You just need new perspective.
I give it a 4.5/5 . Its a good read for anyone who appreciates sardonic humour.. and strangely anyone contemplating death.Labels: Nick Hornby |
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