Miss Blackpool | 
pickBook 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!
pickI 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.
pick⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 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.
so-soMaybe 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.
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.
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. 🤭
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...❤️
Found this in the bargain bin at Barnes and Noble yesterday. I love getting a good deal on a book!
so-soFun 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.
Finally getting to this, which I've been meaning to read this for a while. Also, Lunchable, because I am a grown-up.
so-soI wanted to love it but unfortunately this one was hard for me to finish.
Communication was complicated back in the day. Could you imagine your local bartender taking messages for you?
pickThis was very entertaining on audio. I really enjoyed it. 🤓
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. 🐶📚❤💖
#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!
so-soI tried real hard to like it but... it was so nothing... aggressively nothing. Not bad not good... just nothing.
Ooooh look what was on clearance at Barnes & Noble! #bn #barnesandnoble
pickLoved 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.
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.")
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."
pickI 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.
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).
I loooove Nick Hornby, so this one is perfect! #girlinthetitle #readjanuary @RealLifeReading
Already shared this on my blog, but I forgot to share here! My 2016 year in books! #MyYearInBooks
@Blueberry
#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.
pickI 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.
pickI 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
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!!
pickI really liked this on audio. It's a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ IMO.
I'm loving this. Hornby writes men so well.
Watching this debate and happy that Hillary is getting a couple of zingers in. #imwithher
Word!!
Starting this on audio :)
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.
pickI 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.
Book club book I get to read in the next few months. 😍
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
pickI loved this story. Memorable characters and an easy read. But it's pretty thick so I feel super smart for having finished it.
pickMy 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.
