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Funny Girl
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
Five minutes after being crowned Miss Blackpool 1964, Barbara Parker has ditched the tiara and is off to London to make her fortune. A chance encounter, a shrewd change of name and one audition later sees Sophie Straw with her own BBC comedy series - and there the trouble starts. Sophie works with a team of producers, writers and actors all vying to make this funny girl even funnier, and the nation loves her. This is the Swinging Sixties: freedom and creativity are booming in London. But everything is changing and nothing lasts forever. Sophie and her colleagues are in the limelight but how long can they stay on top? And when is it time to change the channel? 'Warm, funny, touching . . . winningly perceptive about human relationships and changing social trends.' Daily Telegraph 'Like all Hornby's best work, it is both hugely enjoyable and deceptively artful.' Spectator 'Everything Hornby writes is addictively readable and clever, but with Funny Girlhe has surpassed himself.' Red 'A beguiling, thoroughly enjoyable read.' Sunday Times 'Hornby's sunniest novel.' Metro
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BeeMagical
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Pickpick

Book 109🎧
Oh Nick Hornby, you have done it again!❤️
Non-thrillers aren‘t by go-to but Hornby is definitely an exception. I loved About a Boy and now I love Funny Girl.
Barbra/Sophie is loveable, relatable and hilarious❤️

Barbra moves from Blackpool to London to make it big as a comedy actress in the more reserved 60s!

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marleed
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Pickpick

I was expecting something different- well funnier - than what this was, but still found Sophie Straw an intriguing story. I love the reference, ‘Lucille Ball was our Jane Austen‘ - I get that.

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rebbyj
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
Pickpick

I just adore Nick Hornby. Just.

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MommyWantsToReadHerBook
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Pickpick

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I loved this book so much! It was laugh out loud funny, but also has characters that you become truly fond of. The last bit bummed me out... But that's Hornby - he can be so funny but also not afraid to write about serious matters. An incredibly fun read overall.

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Buechersuechtling
Miss Blackpool | Nick Hornby
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Mehso-so

Maybe this book is more for people with a weak spot for the 60‘s. Although there are very few passages that “needed” this setting. In my eyes the story about life, friend- and relationship would mostly also have worked in any other decade. Maybe I think so because I can‘t see the revolutionary element of the 60‘s – I‘m too young.

Overall, it lacked Hornby‘s usual charm.
So: no must. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Almost liked the last hour better than all the rest.

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Buechersuechtling
Miss Blackpool | Nick Hornby
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Sort of unwieldy at first but I either got used to the setting/style after 2 hours or how the plot is told improved – simply because I now seem to have reached the point where all starts to get going.

But still – I can‘t really appreciate Hornby‘s idea because I know nothing of the 60‘s. Not of those TV-series or those actors.
And if all that is fictional I don‘t recognise.

I can‘t even say if Hornby hits the attitude towards life of this time.

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Buechersuechtling
Miss Blackpool | Nick Hornby
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Look, I found a novel by Nick Hornby in my online library‘s audiobooks.
The original title is “Funny Girl“.

I expect a typical bittersweet Hornby-story, just like “A long Way down“ or “High Fidelity“ which I both loved. Even if, to be honest, I at the moment can‘t see how Hornby‘s stories will make 10 hours of aloud-reading-time. 🤭

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SheReadsAndWrites
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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I'm officially in love with this show. I know it's not book related, but the writing is so fantastic! I love great stories in all forms...❤️

Tanisha_A I loved loved loved this show! Just so good 6y
Caroline2 I love this show too!! 😍 6y
Itchyfeetreader Yup loved it as well so quick and funny yet also quite kind too 6y
TheBookgeekFrau I've heard such good things about this show. If my TBR wasn't so big I'd watch it 🤷‍♀️😂 6y
37 likes5 comments
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BridgetteM
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Found this in the bargain bin at Barnes and Noble yesterday. I love getting a good deal on a book!

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Hooked_on_books
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Mehso-so

Fun idea (pretty young woman from a smaller city wants to be funny rather than rest on her looks), but it just didn't quite pan out for me. The reader, Emma Fielding, was stellar, though. I will definitely look for her on other audiobooks.

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Jacobwakeup
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Well now I'm bawling.

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Jacobwakeup
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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I swear I like this book but it's taking me forever to get through.

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quietjenn
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Finally getting to this, which I've been meaning to read this for a while. Also, Lunchable, because I am a grown-up.

thegirlwiththelibrarybag 👏 👏 👏 7y
bitterbear "because I'm a grown-up" ??? 7y
62 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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hfpotier
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Shelfie #riotgrams

TrishB Lovely 💚 7y
7 likes1 comment
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JennaRoot
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Mehso-so

I wanted to love it but unfortunately this one was hard for me to finish.

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Jacobwakeup
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
This post contains spoilers
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Communication was complicated back in the day. Could you imagine your local bartender taking messages for you?

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Brenda
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Pickpick

This was very entertaining on audio. I really enjoyed it. 🤓

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Brenda
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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A perfect companion for Saturday morning cleaning. 🎧📚

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JennaRoot
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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This book has been on my TBR for ages! Found it on the sale table at B&N today, yahoo! Now for reading and snuggling with my poochie. 🐶📚❤💖

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Jacobwakeup
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Take 2. #nickhornby

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kendrastephaniekaryn
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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#marchintoreading #happyread
I had to search through my shelves to find a "happy" book, because most of the books I read are pretty dark and serious. I listened to this audiobook a couple of years ago, and loved the retro British vibes!

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KatyAliceReads
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Mehso-so

I tried real hard to like it but... it was so nothing... aggressively nothing. Not bad not good... just nothing.

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BillAicher
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Ooooh look what was on clearance at Barnes & Noble! #bn #barnesandnoble

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aubergine123
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
Pickpick

Loved this one, particularly as an audiobook (the actress did a great job). It really brought the time period and early days of British tv alive, even not knowing all of the references. My one criticism is with one final section of the book which is set long after the main part of the story. I sort of wish it had ended after the biographies of the main characters. But over all, it was lovely and I would strongly recommend.

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katedensen
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Alright, Littens. I need to laugh. Hit me with some funny book recommendations for #recommendsday (please and thanks!)

(Update: love audiobook recs, keep 'em coming, but I'm hoping to find something that, as I so eloquently put it, "I can read with my eyes.")

BookishFeminist Funniest book I've read/listened to in a long time: 8y
readordierachel Made me laugh out loud multiple times. It's got a lot of important social commentary, but her delivery is hilarious, and I recommend the audio. 8y
katedensen @BookishFeminist @ReadOrDieRachel Thank you both! These both seem like great audiobook recs (Shrill has actually been on my TBR for awhile). Any ideas for things I could read with my eyes? That sounds weird. (edited) 8y
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kalinichta One of the few books to ever make me laugh out loud is What the Dogs Have Taught Me by Merrill Markoe. 8y
readordierachel For physical books, if you like comics at all, this was really funny and charming: 8y
EvieBee Gosh. My stomach hurt from laughing too hard. Listen to the audio. 8y
katedensen @kalinichta Ooooh sounds good. I'll definitely look into it. @ReadOrDieRachel I've been wanting to read that one! @EvieBee84 LOVE David Sedaris. @Gayan I started listening to the audio in September but couldn't stand her voice -- maybe I'll try the text. Thank you all! 8y
katedensen @Beachesnbooks Good call!!! I'm obsessed with the author. 8y
mcipher Anything by Christopher Moore!! My favorite is The Stupidest Angel if you don't care that it's Xmas. 8y
katedensen @mcipher I totally read Lamb ages ago and really liked it. Did he also write a parody vampire series? 8y
mcipher @katedensen Yes!! They are funny too (except the latest one, not a fan). 8y
katedensen @mcipher I read them YEARS ago on my first nook when e-readers had just come out. I vaguely remember three of them? 8y
CherylDeFranceschi One of my favorites. 8y
mcipher @CherylDeFranceschi Yea! That book is hilarious. @katedensen Try Dirty Job - another favorite(I've read it 3 times) and SO funny! 8y
katedensen @CherylDeFranceschi I can't believe I never read Good Omens. Wtf is wrong with me. #stacked @mcipher Will look into that one too! 8y
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lennearb
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Just finished this as an audiobook and trying to decide if the long end section 50 years on was the best or worst possible ending. Really, it was Dennis's death that felt kind of overwhelming in the story. And I also wondered if the book was trying too hard to mimic the end of the original run of Barbara [and Jim]: "Here's your happy ending, but we won't give you time to enjoy it."

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lennearb
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
Pickpick

I am not a big fan of some of Hornby's earlier books, but I was looking for an audiobook to listen to with my husband, who is a Hornby fan, and it seemed like it might be the ticket. It was! We laughed out loud at his witty dialogue and sharp, funny cgaracters. Both of which sound like they could be descriptions of some of the performances within the book.

aubergine123 I'm listening to the audiobook right now and I love it. Bill regularly cracks me up, very deadpan. 8y
lennearb Yes! 8y
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katedensen
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Here's my contribution to today's #ReadJanuary theme of books with #girlintitle (#girlinthetitle), also #tbr specific.

I would like to point out that the title of the center book (and the one I chose for this post) is super appropriate/relevant to my life right now (see my previous post about performing in my first UCB show tomorrow or any posts about my podcast, #MyWeekInTinder).

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Bkwurm
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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I loooove Nick Hornby, so this one is perfect! #girlinthetitle #readjanuary @RealLifeReading

Blaire He's an author I keep meaning to read and has been recommended many times, but somehow have never gotten around to it. 8y
27 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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NataliePatalie
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Already shared this on my blog, but I forgot to share here! My 2016 year in books! #MyYearInBooks
@Blueberry

RadicalReader @NataliePatalie love the background you used on this photo. Where do you get them from? 8y
NataliePatalie @RadicalReader Thanks! All my backgrounds come from the app PhotoGrid 😊 8y
13 likes2 comments
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Katerina
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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#seasonsreadings2016 Day 10 #thisshouldbeamovie I'm always scared when books I really like get turned into movies and prefer not to watch them (ie. One Day, Never let me go), but I think this book could even benefit from an adaptation, if the cast is right.

aubergine123 I had the same thought, I can totally picture it. Casting would be really important. 8y
7 likes1 comment
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booksbaconglitter
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Pickpick

I ended up listening to the audiobook of Funny Girl because I needed to finish it before my book club meets this weekend. The audio was great and I enjoyed the reader a lot. This was my first Nick Hornby book and it was just as funny & charming as his movies.

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booksbaconglitter
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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💃🏼✨

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Karli
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Books and cat.

LauraBrook Aw, what an adorable fluff ball! 8y
18 likes1 comment
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EloisaJames
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Pickpick

I was gobbled up this book (as rec'd by Litsyers!) yesterday. It's a fun look at the backside of a 60's British TV show. There's even a romance. That said...look above. There's an emotional distance to the heroine--a coolness that made me feel as if she was describing her life, not living it. #romantsy

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GidgetsTreasures75
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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10-1-16: When I walked into this part of the used bookstore in the Winter Park library, I saw the book Funny Girl and was reminded of how much I enjoyed that book and also how much I enjoy the author, Nick Hornby!! It's on the top shelf. I also loved seeing this lamp!!

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McFarchie
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Pickpick

I really liked this on audio. It's a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ IMO.

lynneamch I just picked up used paperback, but think I'll get the audio now. Loved Horby since High Fidelity! 8y
McFarchie @lynneamch High Fidelity is awesome. All women should read it to better understand how men think 😉 8y
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McFarchie
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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I'm loving this. Hornby writes men so well.

Laura317 Is this what the movie was based on? 8y
EloisaJames Just got it--thanks! It sounds like fun. The 60s and Hornby's wit--how could it go wrong?? 8y
rubyslippersreads @Laura317 I don't think it has anything to do with the Barbra Streisand movie about Fanny Brice, although that's originally why the title caught my eye. 8y
Tillie Read this. Fell in love with Nick Hornby's word skills...lost in the 60's, me! 8y
McFarchie @Tillie @EloisaJames he is the master of writing insecure men. 8y
86 likes4 stack adds5 comments
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BrooklynBookGirl
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Watching this debate and happy that Hillary is getting a couple of zingers in. #imwithher

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McFarchie
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Word!!

Tillie Oh! I loved this book so much. Hornby speaks to the life I remember. Juliet, Naked, too. 8y
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McFarchie
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Starting this on audio :)

GinaAnderson I really enjoyed this one. 8y
paige84 I liked this one even though I took a month break halfway through to read something else 8y
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Sfox414
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Last minute #laidbackbooks pick for the #Augustphotochallenge! I read this one on a plane last summer and it's super cute and low stress--it'd be a decent pick-me-up palate-cleanser book between heavier reads. It's about a Lucille Ball-esque actress in 1960s London and it's pretty much delightful.

paige84 I'm currently reading this and you're right - it's a cutesy, laid-back, easy read. This is my first Hornby and I might pick up a few more! 8y
Sfox414 The only other Nick Hornby books I've read are Juliet, Naked (which I didn't like) and High Fidelity (which I did--although honestly I think I like the movie even better). So I'm two for three so far, but I've heard really good things about his nonfiction stuff! 8y
Sfox414 Whoops meant to tag you in that one👆🏼 @Ashley.Paige -- I always forget to tag people in comments! 🙈 8y
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books_boegerpaastribe
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Pickpick

I really liked this one. Its not a big epic or the next winner of a Nobel Price. But its entertaining and unputdownable. FUNNY GIRL is a clever and funny read about a sitcom in London in the sixties. Its about creaitivity, freedom and relationships.

MrBook Nice pic! 8y
5 likes1 stack add1 comment
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booksbaconglitter
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Book club book I get to read in the next few months. 😍

Megabooks I go back and forth on Nick Hornby. Please review!! 😃 8y
booksbaconglitter @Ebooksandcooks I'll definitely let you know what I think. 😊 8y
Daisey This is on my TBR; I'll be interested to hear what you think! 8y
18 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Spiderfelt
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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This is most creative Little Free Library I've seen. The books are held between two bicycle tires, and the whole display spins on its axis. The collection changes often as it is in a high traffic spot, and the books are clearly visible. I was tempted to pick up Funny Girl, but not sure it's for me

MrBook That is really cool! 8y
itsbrb Love this! 8y
ValerieAndBooks Pretty cool! Must be in a relatively dry climate though! 8y
Spiderfelt Seattle! We do have drought conditions in the summer. They take it down in late September. 8y
Spiderfelt @ValerieAndBooks forgot to tag you 8y
21 likes1 stack add5 comments
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WriterLeahKNew
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Pickpick

I loved this story. Memorable characters and an easy read. But it's pretty thick so I feel super smart for having finished it.

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KendallMorganHall
Funny Girl | Nick Hornby
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Pickpick

My rating for this book is probably somewhere between "liked it" and "so-so." It wasn't my favourite Nick Hornby, and my expectations were so high for it that I couldn't help but be disappointed, but I think others would probably really enjoy it.

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