John Williams of the New York Times reports on newly released book titles and the world of publishing in The Book Reader.
It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since Nick Hornby perfectly captured music snobs and heartbroken young — or youngish — men in “High Fidelity.”
His new novel, “Funny Girl,” is set in the 1960s. It begins by introducing Barbara Parker, a young woman in northern England who is obsessed with Lucille Ball and moves to London hoping to become a TV star.
Once in the city, she quickly lands a starring role in a BBC sitcom about marriage and adopts the stage name Sophie Straw.
Sophie provides the book its title and some of its charm, but not its engine. That can be found in the sitcom’s lead writers, Bill and Tony. Both men are gay, and deal with that fact in very different ways. They also have different perspectives on one debate at the heart of “Funny Girl,” about how far popular culture should go in challenging its audience.
Hornby describes the sitcom at the center of the book, “Barbara (and Jim),” as “fast, funny and real,” a show that “said things about England that Tony and Bill had never heard on the BBC.” You can tell that Hornby appreciates how the show pushes the envelope. However, he also conveys his belief that creating reliable, broadly appealing entertainment is a noble calling.
Hornby usually manages to be good company on the page, and he is again here. “Funny Girl” is not his liveliest book — or his funniest — but the novelist who shot to fame writing about music can still carry a tune.