Slam -- Nick Hornby

I am a failure.

I started this book over a month ago—a month ago!—and I am only now giving myself permission to give up.

I kept trying to get through it because everyone and their mom has seemed to really like it. I kept trying to get through it because I've liked a lot of Hornby's adult novels and because I was actually* looking forward to this one—he seemed like a good fit for the YA crowd.

But it's just not happening. Sam—and the rest of the people in the book—they're not people. They're just characters.  I don't believe in them**. Therefore, I don't care about them. Therefore, the book isn't holding my interest whatsoever, and, I'm finding it, in a word, boring.

So, here I am. One lone dissenting voice in a sea of Slam-lovers.

Whatever. I'm okay with that. As long as I don't have to read one more page.

_______________________________________

*I say 'actually' because it's unusual—I'm usually very suspicious of grown-up authors suddenly up and writing YA.

**And it's not the time travel. If I can read fantasy novels—like the one I talked about yesterday—and believe wholeheartedly in them, then a little time travel isn't going to trip me up.

Comments

[Sandy]

Eh, I didn't like it either, if it makes you feel better to know that you're not alone! I ended up skimming it to find out the gist of the story, but decided I didn't care all that much.

[i hate emo kids]

good for you! i've forever been alone in thinking speak was crap, so i know how you feel!

[Lisa Yee]

Oh no! Say it isn't so. I love Nick Hornby, but haven't read SLAM yet.

[Leila]

I'm a big fan of High Fidelity and About a Boy, so it really was especially disappointing. But like I said -- I'm in the minority. Every review I've read has been positive.

[Brent Hartinger]

All the buzz I've heard is bad.

That said, ABOUT A BOY is one of my favorite books of all time.

Couldn't finish HOW TO BE GOOD (or whatever it was) either.

[Eric Berlin]

Count me among those who really liked Slam. I thought it was better than How to Be Good and that last one, about the four suicial types.

[Tony Dirksen]

I love Nick Hornby. I love YA lit. I hated this book. I finished it, but I didn't care anything about anybody in it.

I love Sherman Alexie. Slam made me doubt again if Old Adult writers could deliver for Young Adult readers. But "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" is one of the most brilliant and touching and innovative books I've ever read. I was happy to see a long waiting list for it at our local library (although admittedly "local" = "Seattle" so this is his home turf).

[Jackie]

Wait. Time Travel?

[Abby]

I havnt finished this book yet but i like it so far im only 13 but i saw the word skateboarding and about relationships and stuff so i decided to read it im at the part where he ranaway to somewhere i forget what its called

[Nick]

i really liked it maybe because I am fifteen and can relate to a lot of the book(not the whole getting my girlfriend pregnant part)