Status
Available
Genres
Collection
Publication
New York : Riverhead Books, 2009.
Description
Annie initiates an e-mail correspondence with Tucker Crowe, a reclusive Dylanish singer-songwriter, and a connection is forged between two lonely people who are looking for more out of what they've got. What happens when a washed-up musician looks for another chance? And a childless woman looks for a change?
Media reviews
Hornby seems, as ever, fascinated by the power of music to guide the heart, and in this very funny, very charming novel, he makes you see why it matters.
For all the bits and bytes flowing through it, this is not a particularly electrifying setup. Any novel about a rock star must first get past the ekphrastic nightmare of trying to describe music with prose. But more than that, this is a novel about people who have wasted massive chunks of their
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lives.. They're trying to make the best of what's left, but what's left just isn't that great. Juliet, Naked is a bleaker book than Hornby's A Long Way Down, and that was about four people trying to kill themselves. Show Less
Without the tangents and occasional tedium of its middle section, Juliet, Naked could have been a classic novella about our current, internet-fueled pop-culture moment. As it is, the novel is still Hornby’s most inspired in more than a decade; now, if only he could find a way to apply that same
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inspiration to a greater variety of situations that aren’t so obviously near to his own heart. Show Less
A more treacly writer than Mr. Hornby would engineer new happiness for each of [its] characters. But in its diffident way, “Juliet, Naked” is as candid as the unplugged music on “Naked.” It knows its characters too well to lie about them.
Hornby’s first novel, “High Fidelity,” demonstrated the author’s passion for music and the magical effects it can have on its fans. In “Juliet, Naked,” he shows how obsessing over music isn’t the road to love and self-actualization. It’s the road to heartbreak.
User reviews
LibraryThing member teaperson
An entertaining an insightful book. Hornby captures, in a way that I have not read in another work of fiction, some essential truths about the way the Internet functions these days: the connectedness, the cloak of anonymity, the niche expertise. It also deals with some of Hornby's basic themes of
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growing up and music. Plus it contains a good plot to keep things moving along. His female characters are once again a bit weaker, but that's a minor quibble. Show Less
LibraryThing member traciolsen
Hornby gets shit from critics sometimes for being "readable" (because, hey! let's all waste our summers reading Infinite Jest!) and therefore trite, but for me, his cleverness is occasionally jaw dropping. Not giving anything away, the end has a funny little clue in it. The cleverness comes not
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from the clue, but from the Turn-It-Right-Around-On-You, Look!-Here's-A-Mirror! -ness of it. A main character of the book, who you only occasionally like and is mostly an idiot, is obsessive to the point of social awkwardness about an obscure musician. Duncan's main folly is his over-reading of lyrics and superfan analysis of minute details, which end up clouding the reality of the object of his obsession. Juliet, Naked, ends obscurely, like many good books do. But the last few pages contain a partial set list of an album, one of which is a remake of an actual, real life song, which then gives you a clue to "what happened next". Of course, you would never do that unless you were...well. You see where I am going with this.3. Gorgeous book, in a Nick Hornby kind of way. Relateable situations, if you have ever, you know, had any kind of interpersonal relationship ever. If you have ever sent an email and didn't know what to expect back; if you've ever been in a relationship much too long; if you've ever broken up, or got together, or weren't sure which one of those things you wanted to do.2. Review book received, started, in process of loving. 1. not actually currently reading, but as soon as Katy gets home with my copy I will be helpless to do anything but start reading. Show Less
LibraryThing member francophoney
This book had a lot going for it. A good premise.
Unfortunately the last few pages really brought it down. I left feeling as though the characters were rather two-dimensional and like the ending was rather a cop-out.
Still worth reading, but maybe closing before the end?
Unfortunately the last few pages really brought it down. I left feeling as though the characters were rather two-dimensional and like the ending was rather a cop-out.
Still worth reading, but maybe closing before the end?
LibraryThing member nnschiller
I'm starting my review before I finish the book.
Two random things that are influencing my enjoyment of the book. One: I put off reading this for quite a while since I used to date someone named Juliet and whenever I was looking for the next thing to read, the title seemed intrusive and creepy. I'm
As for the book itself: I'm enjoying the hell out of the first half, but I'm having trouble separating the book itself from the headspace that it puts me in. I think that is a sign of a successful book, but it also means that my experience of reading it will vary greatly from the experience of anyone reading this review. It is a novel that promotes introspection and introspection isn't something that always translates between readers.
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At the end of the book, I'm enormously satisfied. Nick Hornby is a bard to middle-aged men. He very successfully exposes significant flaws in all of his characters and has the grace to keep them somewhat sympathetic characters though the process. I do wonder if his female characters ring as true as his male characters do, but I think that he does interesting things w/ Annie's voice in the novel regardless.
The story moved to interesting places, the characters made signification progression as well, and the novel as a whole dealt with interesting and important themes. I think this was a huge success for Hornby.
Two random things that are influencing my enjoyment of the book. One: I put off reading this for quite a while since I used to date someone named Juliet and whenever I was looking for the next thing to read, the title seemed intrusive and creepy. I'm
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very happy that Juliet, Naked is the name of an album and not an undressed person. Second: Nick Hornby has a way of writing male characters that skewer many of my faults and things that I don't like about myself. He does it in a way that isn't shaming and helps me both laugh at myself and prods me to be a better person. It's a mitzvah and I'm grateful for his talent and work.As for the book itself: I'm enjoying the hell out of the first half, but I'm having trouble separating the book itself from the headspace that it puts me in. I think that is a sign of a successful book, but it also means that my experience of reading it will vary greatly from the experience of anyone reading this review. It is a novel that promotes introspection and introspection isn't something that always translates between readers.
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At the end of the book, I'm enormously satisfied. Nick Hornby is a bard to middle-aged men. He very successfully exposes significant flaws in all of his characters and has the grace to keep them somewhat sympathetic characters though the process. I do wonder if his female characters ring as true as his male characters do, but I think that he does interesting things w/ Annie's voice in the novel regardless.
The story moved to interesting places, the characters made signification progression as well, and the novel as a whole dealt with interesting and important themes. I think this was a huge success for Hornby.
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LibraryThing member gaskella
I don’t know how he does it, but there’s something about a Nick Hornby book that so hooks me that I feel part of the story – I can always identify with some of the characters.
Juliet Naked is the story of a lost rock star, a completist fan and his partner. Annie and Duncan have reached that
The release of the demo sessions from Crowe’s best album ‘Juliet’ as ‘Juliet, Naked’ that is the catalyst for change in all of their lives. Duncan raves about it, Annie hates it preferring the honed final version, and unusually for her she posts a review on the net and Tucker reads it and emails her. This schism is driving a wedge ever further between Duncan and Annie and when Duncan is unfaithful they split; anyway Annie is becoming rather entranced by her growing virtual relationship with Crowe, who will come into both their lives in reality soon…
Hornby’s big themes of lives wasted, mid-life crises, that families require work, and obsession are worked out in his characteristic fluent and witty style with some moments of pathos thrown in. He is sympathetic to all of them, yet doesn’t let them get away with it, they have to suffer the consequences of their actions. He knows them, understands their needs and obsessions (as I felt do I!), and this makes for an engaging and satisfying read with all ends tied up neatly. As a companion piece to the wonderful High Fidelity, if you liked that you’ll certainly enjoy Juliet, Naked which could be seen as the next chapters in the lives of Rob and Laura. The main characters here being that bit olde,r and needing to do that last bit of growing up with their mid-life crises, make this a wistful and bittersweet book which may be of less interest to bright young things, but will surely resonate with more mature music fans!
(8.5/10) I got given this book, but would have bought it anyway!
Juliet Naked is the story of a lost rock star, a completist fan and his partner. Annie and Duncan have reached that
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point in their lives where their shared love of the reclusive US rock star Tucker Crowe isn’t enough any longer. Duncan, one of the world’s foremost Croweologists is obsessed by the man, his music, his lyrics, his concerts; Annie’s interest is waning – she needs more than this from life – a baby is at the top of the list. Meanwhile Tucker had walked out of a tour some years ago, leaving the world of rock’n'roll to his fans. He has been living quietly since, raising a brood of alienated children all by different mothers. Ever the commitment-phobe, he is gradually realising that his latest relationship with the mother of his six year old kid Jackson won’t last either.The release of the demo sessions from Crowe’s best album ‘Juliet’ as ‘Juliet, Naked’ that is the catalyst for change in all of their lives. Duncan raves about it, Annie hates it preferring the honed final version, and unusually for her she posts a review on the net and Tucker reads it and emails her. This schism is driving a wedge ever further between Duncan and Annie and when Duncan is unfaithful they split; anyway Annie is becoming rather entranced by her growing virtual relationship with Crowe, who will come into both their lives in reality soon…
Hornby’s big themes of lives wasted, mid-life crises, that families require work, and obsession are worked out in his characteristic fluent and witty style with some moments of pathos thrown in. He is sympathetic to all of them, yet doesn’t let them get away with it, they have to suffer the consequences of their actions. He knows them, understands their needs and obsessions (as I felt do I!), and this makes for an engaging and satisfying read with all ends tied up neatly. As a companion piece to the wonderful High Fidelity, if you liked that you’ll certainly enjoy Juliet, Naked which could be seen as the next chapters in the lives of Rob and Laura. The main characters here being that bit olde,r and needing to do that last bit of growing up with their mid-life crises, make this a wistful and bittersweet book which may be of less interest to bright young things, but will surely resonate with more mature music fans!
(8.5/10) I got given this book, but would have bought it anyway!
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LibraryThing member ironicqueery
I was disappointed with the ambiguous ending in Nick Hornby's latest novel, Juliet, Naked. Hornby carefully constructed a brilliant and innovative storyline, yet gave up writing at the end. Instead, he leaves his readers to their own devices to decide whether there was a happy or sad ending. Simple
That being said, the negatives of the novel are out of the way, and I can easily say Hornby has created a wonderful new story. All 400 pages were a delight to read and seemed even more introspective and philosophical than his other novels, while retaining an entertaining element that made the book difficult to put down. He explores the depths of his characters' thoughts and emotions and ponders them in a way akin to a Tom Robbins novel. Hornby examines the movement into middle-age and what that means for a person in terms of growth and dealing with regrets. He wraps it in an arts-focused package that most readers can relate to.
Nick Hornby moves himself further into the realm of great modern novelist with Juliet, Naked. The profound ideas and contemplation of life today is wonderful to read.
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laziness on Hornby's part. That being said, the negatives of the novel are out of the way, and I can easily say Hornby has created a wonderful new story. All 400 pages were a delight to read and seemed even more introspective and philosophical than his other novels, while retaining an entertaining element that made the book difficult to put down. He explores the depths of his characters' thoughts and emotions and ponders them in a way akin to a Tom Robbins novel. Hornby examines the movement into middle-age and what that means for a person in terms of growth and dealing with regrets. He wraps it in an arts-focused package that most readers can relate to.
Nick Hornby moves himself further into the realm of great modern novelist with Juliet, Naked. The profound ideas and contemplation of life today is wonderful to read.
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LibraryThing member gbill
A light, sometimes humorous, and mostly entertaining read about an aging, profligate rock star who has become a recluse, and his small band of hardcore fans.
I suppose really what it’s about is wasting time, as we see the rocker (Tucker Crowe) rue the decades spent in sweatpants watching daytime
It’s also about the dangers of obsession, but at the bottom of it all, there is a sympathy expressed to the foibles of hardcore music fans, and to those falling in love. Annie strikes up an improbable correspondence with Tucker Crowe, and I love this line that describes what it progresses to: “She didn’t know who or what she had fallen in love with, but she was as lost and dreamy and helpless as she’d ever been in her entire life.”
Easy reading, not incredibly deep, but you could do worse.
I suppose really what it’s about is wasting time, as we see the rocker (Tucker Crowe) rue the decades spent in sweatpants watching daytime
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TV and drinking, the silliness of his rabid fans dissecting every aspect of his albums and interviews, speculating wildly about him, and making pilgrimages to places in his life, while not having enough of one of their own, and a woman (Annie) whose been living in an unsatisfying relationship with one of these fans for 15 years, despite her desire for ‘more’, including children.It’s also about the dangers of obsession, but at the bottom of it all, there is a sympathy expressed to the foibles of hardcore music fans, and to those falling in love. Annie strikes up an improbable correspondence with Tucker Crowe, and I love this line that describes what it progresses to: “She didn’t know who or what she had fallen in love with, but she was as lost and dreamy and helpless as she’d ever been in her entire life.”
Easy reading, not incredibly deep, but you could do worse.
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LibraryThing member KLmesoftly
What a completely modern novel! "Every person is famous to 15 other people," Annie thinks at the end of the book, and in our contemporary, internet-centered society, this is undeniably true--and it is on that truth that the success of this novel rests. The idea of obsessive fans of the obscure
I shouldn't have to say it--this is a Nick Hornby book, and there are certain qualities one comes to expect from this man's writing--the characters are well-constructed, multi-dimensional, and easy to sympathize with and understand even when one disagrees with their decisions. The novel is touching but not cheesy or overly "Hollywood"/"chick-flick." I'd call it a perfect rainy day read--engaging, well-paced, and with a satisfying (yet open enough for contemplation and discussion) ending.
I've already got a list of friends I'm planning to loan this book to, posthaste.
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indie artist banding together to trade conspiracy theories is all too familiar to anyone who's spent a bit of time on Livejournal, and Hornby's novel is relevant enough to be completely relatable on that level. The faux-Wikipedia pages, e-mail logs, and blog posts are a nice touch.I shouldn't have to say it--this is a Nick Hornby book, and there are certain qualities one comes to expect from this man's writing--the characters are well-constructed, multi-dimensional, and easy to sympathize with and understand even when one disagrees with their decisions. The novel is touching but not cheesy or overly "Hollywood"/"chick-flick." I'd call it a perfect rainy day read--engaging, well-paced, and with a satisfying (yet open enough for contemplation and discussion) ending.
I've already got a list of friends I'm planning to loan this book to, posthaste.
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LibraryThing member kristenn
I read this in one sitting with several glasses of wine and I think it was the right context. I certainly enjoyed the experience. I could strongly relate to the characters (Annie is my age and my choices haven't been all that different) even when I didn't particularly like them. Some I disliked.
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Some I liked but disapproved of. But they all rang pretty true. And the internet messageboard culture was dead on, except for some drastically underestimated post counts in the final section. It's a very funny book, although sometimes that pushed into too-precious Richard Curtis territory. And some epiphanies were heavy-handed. I would have had a different reading experience if I had any interest in music (gasp!), but I don't know whether it would have been better or worse. Show Less
LibraryThing member perpetualpageturner
Juliet, Naked is my first experience with Nick Hornby and I am quite pleased. I very much enjoyed his style and found him to be humorous, thoughtful and able to make very astute observations through interesting and quirky characters. The emotional aspects of the story are not overwrought and there
"The truth about life was that nothing ever ended until you died, and even then you just left a whole bunch of unresolved narratives behind you"
I couldn't put this book down once I had a good chunk of time to devote to it. I was reading it over Thanksgiving and it was near impossible to get into it at first with all the travel and family and general madness. The next day I curled up with this book to be drawn into such a good story. I loved Annie! I found her to be such a multi-faceted character and thought she was very real. I found Duncan to be annoying and whiny but reminiscent of some of the crowd I used to hang out with in college. I will admit that I used to be a little bit pretentious in my music and film taste and scoff at others with "lesser" tastes so I could relate in some ways. Tucker was an interesting character for me and his relationship with his son was adorable. There was so much beneath the surface with him and at some points you wanted to hate him for his actions and failures but then you'd find other things about him that were so redeemable. I loved learning the truths about his life that Duncan and all his "Crowologists" got wrong. The little "love triangle" was pretty entertaining.
I was a little disappointed with the ending I will admit. I had to read it over a few times to try and figure out what happened because it was pretty vague and left open to interpretation. I think the thing that bugged me the most about it was that it seemed rushed towards the end so I just wasn't happy all around with the ending. Perhaps if it would have been built up differently I wouldn't have been so irked by an ambiguous ending.
My final thought: Read this if you are looking for a really wonderful novel that deals with the rumpled nature of real life that is emotional and yet quite funny in all the right ways. This book peers into life and the loneliness that can seep into our lives. I think it is also about second chances--giving your life a second chance despite how much you've screwed up or no matter how much time you've wasted on a relationship, a job, etc. etc. I think if you are a passionate music fan, like myself, you will love this for the passion that drives these characters and the fact that this really is a book about music and the people who make it and those who consume it. There is a quote that I just can't find at the moment that talks about this idea perfectly but it really made me think about how I interpret what I read and listen to versus the real meaning behind the art and how others interpret it.
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is delicately placed humor within the pages. I found myself laughing out loud a few times--mainly at Tucker's son Jackson. I can see Hornby becoming a favorite author if the rest of his novels are as good as this one. There were so many beautiful quotes that I wrote down from this book that I can't even begin to share them! Such as:"The truth about life was that nothing ever ended until you died, and even then you just left a whole bunch of unresolved narratives behind you"
I couldn't put this book down once I had a good chunk of time to devote to it. I was reading it over Thanksgiving and it was near impossible to get into it at first with all the travel and family and general madness. The next day I curled up with this book to be drawn into such a good story. I loved Annie! I found her to be such a multi-faceted character and thought she was very real. I found Duncan to be annoying and whiny but reminiscent of some of the crowd I used to hang out with in college. I will admit that I used to be a little bit pretentious in my music and film taste and scoff at others with "lesser" tastes so I could relate in some ways. Tucker was an interesting character for me and his relationship with his son was adorable. There was so much beneath the surface with him and at some points you wanted to hate him for his actions and failures but then you'd find other things about him that were so redeemable. I loved learning the truths about his life that Duncan and all his "Crowologists" got wrong. The little "love triangle" was pretty entertaining.
I was a little disappointed with the ending I will admit. I had to read it over a few times to try and figure out what happened because it was pretty vague and left open to interpretation. I think the thing that bugged me the most about it was that it seemed rushed towards the end so I just wasn't happy all around with the ending. Perhaps if it would have been built up differently I wouldn't have been so irked by an ambiguous ending.
My final thought: Read this if you are looking for a really wonderful novel that deals with the rumpled nature of real life that is emotional and yet quite funny in all the right ways. This book peers into life and the loneliness that can seep into our lives. I think it is also about second chances--giving your life a second chance despite how much you've screwed up or no matter how much time you've wasted on a relationship, a job, etc. etc. I think if you are a passionate music fan, like myself, you will love this for the passion that drives these characters and the fact that this really is a book about music and the people who make it and those who consume it. There is a quote that I just can't find at the moment that talks about this idea perfectly but it really made me think about how I interpret what I read and listen to versus the real meaning behind the art and how others interpret it.
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LibraryThing member EdGoldberg
Duncan is obsessed with Tucker Crowe, a rocker who 20 years ago produced an exceptional album, Juliet, and then suddenly disappeared after cancelling some concerts. He is considered an expert, a Crowologist. Annie is his girlfriend of 15 years. They never married, never had children. A union of
When Julient, Naked, actually the stripped down demo version of the prior album is issued, Annie decides to write a review on Duncan's blog. Of course, her opinion is diametrically opposed to his. Not only that, he makes her feel stupid when she disagrees with him. Thus, her doubts about their relationship begin to grow.
How astonished is she when she receives an e-mail from Tucker Crowe himself, thanking her for her honest opinion and agreeing with her. Thus begins an e-mail correspondence that ends with them meeting.
Both Annie and Tucker have a lot in common. They are both mournful of their lost years, Annie's spent with Duncan and his obsession, and Tucker's wasted with no music making, no work, much of the time drunk, failed relationships. Who of us has not wondered where the years went and what we have to show for it. There are some funny and some sad moments and the ending, well, you figure that out.
My criticism was that the book was longer than necessary. A lopped off 50 pages would have reduced some of the repetition. Having said that, I did want to see how it ended and I did enjoy it. If you're a Hornby fan, I"m sure you'll enjoy it. If you haven't read Hornby, I'd certainly give it a try. I'd be tempted to read another one of his books.
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convenience in their small town of Gooleness, England.When Julient, Naked, actually the stripped down demo version of the prior album is issued, Annie decides to write a review on Duncan's blog. Of course, her opinion is diametrically opposed to his. Not only that, he makes her feel stupid when she disagrees with him. Thus, her doubts about their relationship begin to grow.
How astonished is she when she receives an e-mail from Tucker Crowe himself, thanking her for her honest opinion and agreeing with her. Thus begins an e-mail correspondence that ends with them meeting.
Both Annie and Tucker have a lot in common. They are both mournful of their lost years, Annie's spent with Duncan and his obsession, and Tucker's wasted with no music making, no work, much of the time drunk, failed relationships. Who of us has not wondered where the years went and what we have to show for it. There are some funny and some sad moments and the ending, well, you figure that out.
My criticism was that the book was longer than necessary. A lopped off 50 pages would have reduced some of the repetition. Having said that, I did want to see how it ended and I did enjoy it. If you're a Hornby fan, I"m sure you'll enjoy it. If you haven't read Hornby, I'd certainly give it a try. I'd be tempted to read another one of his books.
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LibraryThing member spinsterrevival
I really enjoyed this newest Hornby novel. I know men like Duncan and his obsessions, so he was annoyingly perfect. I loved Annie and Tucker's story and journey, and at first I was perturbed but then pleased by the ending. I like that we as readers are to create our own analysis of the end just
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like Duncan and his cronies created their own Tucker story. It's nice to see the maturity in Hornby's writing as he writes about some pretty immature characters. I'm always looking forward to his next story. Show Less
LibraryThing member LoisCK
Another good Hornsby...interesting people, inside the music scene, almost last chances grabbed
LibraryThing member bearette24
I really liked this book. It might be my favorite work by Nick Hornby. It tells the story of Duncan (pathetic, obsessed fan), Annie (ready for a new lease on life) and Tucker Crowe (an aging ex-musician who is the target of Duncan's obsession). Unexpectedly, Tucker emails Annie after reading her
I thought Annie was particularly believable, and I liked the way Hornby explored everyone's motivation. I also enjoyed his whimsical sense of humor. My one complaint was a slightly ambiguous ending.
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review of his CD, which is called Juliet, Naked. With that correspondence, all three lives change.I thought Annie was particularly believable, and I liked the way Hornby explored everyone's motivation. I also enjoyed his whimsical sense of humor. My one complaint was a slightly ambiguous ending.
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LibraryThing member jjameli
Juliet, Naked is a book I was excited to read. Nick Hornby has always been an author that I rush to read when a new book comes at.
Juliet, Naked started off really good. After reading a couple of pages, I had high hopes, but it quickly got absurd and boring. The core of the book was not believable,
The characters were not at all appealing, which surprised me, since I was excited to read about a ex famous musician. I thought his character at least had so much potential to be great. I guess because I didn't find the characters appealing, it got harder and harder to finish the book. It was just boring to me.
Nick Hornby's writing is tantalizing, no matter what he is writing about, it's hip and fresh. He definitely writes for the cool clique, and this time I wasn't in it. At times I felt like I was watching a bad episode of VH1's Behind the Music.
Juliet, Naked is not a good book, in my opinion, but nevertheless, Nick Hornby's words were as usual, chic. The writing was there, it's just the story was missing.
Juliet, Naked started off really good. After reading a couple of pages, I had high hopes, but it quickly got absurd and boring. The core of the book was not believable,
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a washed up famous musician starts up a relationship with a women who wrote a review on his demo called Juliet, Naked. Throughout the book I was confused about what they were getting from this interaction between both of them, and what they wanted from it. The characters were not at all appealing, which surprised me, since I was excited to read about a ex famous musician. I thought his character at least had so much potential to be great. I guess because I didn't find the characters appealing, it got harder and harder to finish the book. It was just boring to me.
Nick Hornby's writing is tantalizing, no matter what he is writing about, it's hip and fresh. He definitely writes for the cool clique, and this time I wasn't in it. At times I felt like I was watching a bad episode of VH1's Behind the Music.
Juliet, Naked is not a good book, in my opinion, but nevertheless, Nick Hornby's words were as usual, chic. The writing was there, it's just the story was missing.
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LibraryThing member metrorebecca
Nick Hornby's obsessively charming latest. This time the feckless boy-man (there's one in every Hornby) is an aging rock star; the principal cast also includes the keeper of the rock star's Internet flame, and the Webmaster's reluctant fan of a girlfriend. Although I liked Annie, I wasn't sure her
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character was that well-realized. But I loved the ending, with its fandom-deflating message that a happy life makes a rotten muse. Show Less
LibraryThing member Shadowboxer86
Hornby's latest novel is about three middle-age adults who are stuck in their ruts and are brought face to face with new paths and perspectives. Tucker Crowe is a washed up 80s rock star who mysteriously stopped performing mid concert in 1986. Duncan is a college professor, "croweologist" who runs
I absolutely loved the story and how all the characters had growth and depth (at least Annie and Tucker). Annie is always second guessing herself, over analytical and self conscious. Tucker Crowe is so much of a mystery until you learn that his facade is entirely produced by speculation and that he's actually mundane, messed up and lost like everyone else. Duncan is definitely the most predictable of the three characters with not very much growth but I feel he played a vital role in connecting Annie to Tucker.
The only complaint I have is the ending. It's suspended mid air and it makes me feel uneasy. Hornby let's you determine the ending but I felt he took the easy way out.
I do recommend it if you don't mind the ending.
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the fan forum online and an elitist of Crowe's music. Annie has been Duncan's girlfriend for 15 years and comes to the conclusion that it's all been for nothing. I absolutely loved the story and how all the characters had growth and depth (at least Annie and Tucker). Annie is always second guessing herself, over analytical and self conscious. Tucker Crowe is so much of a mystery until you learn that his facade is entirely produced by speculation and that he's actually mundane, messed up and lost like everyone else. Duncan is definitely the most predictable of the three characters with not very much growth but I feel he played a vital role in connecting Annie to Tucker.
The only complaint I have is the ending. It's suspended mid air and it makes me feel uneasy. Hornby let's you determine the ending but I felt he took the easy way out.
I do recommend it if you don't mind the ending.
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LibraryThing member mabrown2
One thing I like about Nick Hornby's novels is that they are always understated yet filled with rich characters that are easy to understand and (sometimes) relate to. "Juliet Naked" is no exception.
In this book, we meet Annie who lives in a dreary little seaside town in England and lives with
The friendship between Annie and Tucker is beautifully crafted (if not entirely plausible) and through their conversations we feel their despair, regret, and loneliness. As a reader, you never really feel hopefully for any of the characters yet you can't help but sympathize with their journey and enjoy each step they take towards (or away) from one another.
I highly recommend this to any Nick Hornby fans and to anyone who maybe still holds on to a bit of nostalgia from their youth in the hopes of retaining the happiness we felt when we were with it. This is also a good introduction to anyone who hasn't read Hornby in the past.
In this book, we meet Annie who lives in a dreary little seaside town in England and lives with
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Duncan, her boyfriend of 15 years. Duncan is obsessed with the American singer Tucker Crowe who had a few hits in the 80s then suddenly gave up music and disappeared from the public eye. He even drags Annie on a trip through America, hitting up all of the famous "landmarks" related to Tucker's life and career. But when Tucker releases a stripped down demo version of his most popular album "Juliet," Duncan and Annie find they differ in their opinion of the music. Duncan thinks it's genius. Juliet appreciates it for what it represents but ultimately thinks it's crap. This disagreement drives a wedge between them and they both begin to rethink their relationship, with Annie realizing she had merely settled. The two post their reviews online and think that's the end of it. But then one day, Annie receives an email from Tucker Crowe - the man himself - and the two begin to correspond and eventually, decide to meet. The friendship between Annie and Tucker is beautifully crafted (if not entirely plausible) and through their conversations we feel their despair, regret, and loneliness. As a reader, you never really feel hopefully for any of the characters yet you can't help but sympathize with their journey and enjoy each step they take towards (or away) from one another.
I highly recommend this to any Nick Hornby fans and to anyone who maybe still holds on to a bit of nostalgia from their youth in the hopes of retaining the happiness we felt when we were with it. This is also a good introduction to anyone who hasn't read Hornby in the past.
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LibraryThing member andrewa121
Juliet, Naked marks a true return to form for Nick Hornby, as he delves back into the subject matter that put him on the map with High Fidelity. Instead of being about music marking romantic relationships between two people, it's about music explaining our relationships to ourselves, giving us a
The common thread among Hornby's books is the idea that others explain our worlds much more fully and aptly than we are able to ourselves. Media and celebrity give us a common reference that allows us to communicate thoughts through others. In High Fidelity, this was exemplified by the mix tape. In Juliet, Naked, it's exemplified by a self-selecting community of fans expressing their shared passion for one forgotten man's art. Rob Gordon expresses himself through mix tapes; Duncan expresses himself through an idolatry of celebrity. Music illuminates emotions and situations that these men cannot find expression for through their own art.
What is different, though, is that Hornby has written a highly believable, highly relatable female character that shares the stage with Hornby's bread and butter aimless male characters. The prose is tight, the characters engaging, and the style classic Hornby.
The only negative is that the end comes too quickly, is largely implied, and is a bit too neatly wrapped. Definitely worth your time.
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better understanding of how we perceive and interpret the world.The common thread among Hornby's books is the idea that others explain our worlds much more fully and aptly than we are able to ourselves. Media and celebrity give us a common reference that allows us to communicate thoughts through others. In High Fidelity, this was exemplified by the mix tape. In Juliet, Naked, it's exemplified by a self-selecting community of fans expressing their shared passion for one forgotten man's art. Rob Gordon expresses himself through mix tapes; Duncan expresses himself through an idolatry of celebrity. Music illuminates emotions and situations that these men cannot find expression for through their own art.
What is different, though, is that Hornby has written a highly believable, highly relatable female character that shares the stage with Hornby's bread and butter aimless male characters. The prose is tight, the characters engaging, and the style classic Hornby.
The only negative is that the end comes too quickly, is largely implied, and is a bit too neatly wrapped. Definitely worth your time.
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LibraryThing member PIER50
Quite enjoyed this. A fairly typical Nick Hornby book I suppose. Some quite insightful moments. It seemed to be left open for a sequel I think?
LibraryThing member joyceclark
First Nick Hornby book that I ran out to buy in hardcover. Perfectly good, but not great, didn't grab me the same way some of his other works have. If you're a Hornby fan you probably already own it - if you've never read his work, I'd recommend "High Fidelity" or "About a Boy" - or if you're
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looking for something more recent, "Slam, " which is fabulous (and definitely NOT just for "young adults"). I'm going back to some of Hornby's non-fiction - love his voice, love his focus on realistic characters. Show Less
LibraryThing member Raven
This is a better book than A Long Way Down. Admittedly, every book ever published is probably better than A Long Way Down. This is quite a good book.
To put it another way - well, I have read all of Hornby's novels save Slam, which suggests I'm a fan, doesn't it? I read the first three in a
So I wasn't surprised to pick up Juliet, Naked and find myself thoroughly enjoying the first couple of chapters, but I was more surprised when I carried on enjoying it after that. The plot centres around Annie, a middle-aged woman living in a northern seaside town, and her live-in boyfriend of fifteen years, Duncan the feckless nerd. Duncan has been obsessed for a decade with one obscure, reclusive singer-songwriter, Tucker Crowe; when he releases a new album and it's not that good, Annie suddenly realises she wants out. Having wasted fifteen years of your life, though, is not something you can throw off in a hurry; somewhere in the American Midwest, Tucker is thinking the same thing.
And that's.... it, really. Hornby isn't good at plots, but here he works that to a positive advantage, taking his time over the very simple progression of events, and taking pleasure in getting you to like Annie and loathe Duncan a little bit. (He's a little bit of a caricature, but not much of one; I certainly admit to having met this particular kind of obsessive, strident, hiding-in-internet fan.) And Tucker, too, is drawn well, likeable even if his interior monologue does seem to contain a lot of faux-profundity, and all the supporting cast have their time in the sun, too.
In the end, it's a little bit of a fairytale. I suspect it's not supposed to be one. I suspect it's meant to be a savage attack on middle-aged loneliness and the evils of the internet, or else a maundering on the ways in which people waste their lives. It's meant to be depressing. But, you know, it isn't. It's a nice little book about some people falling in love. I'm okay with that.
To put it another way - well, I have read all of Hornby's novels save Slam, which suggests I'm a fan, doesn't it? I read the first three in a
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breathless teenage rush, thinking grand thoughts about transformative and meaningful and zeitgeist, and then I read How To Be Good much much later, and changed my mind with almost the same rapidity. Hornby writes well, but I rather think he thinks too much of himself, tries too hard to be both funny and profound, and it comes across as forced, particularly the grand-hollowness-at-the-centre-of-middle-class-existence schtick. His characters certainly do suffer from that sort of hollowness, but that's because they're characters in a Hornby novel and not real people. Nowhere does this manifest more than in A Long Way Down, which has a wonderful idea at its heart, and an excellent first few chapters, and then quickly becomes a plotless, heartless mess. So I wasn't surprised to pick up Juliet, Naked and find myself thoroughly enjoying the first couple of chapters, but I was more surprised when I carried on enjoying it after that. The plot centres around Annie, a middle-aged woman living in a northern seaside town, and her live-in boyfriend of fifteen years, Duncan the feckless nerd. Duncan has been obsessed for a decade with one obscure, reclusive singer-songwriter, Tucker Crowe; when he releases a new album and it's not that good, Annie suddenly realises she wants out. Having wasted fifteen years of your life, though, is not something you can throw off in a hurry; somewhere in the American Midwest, Tucker is thinking the same thing.
And that's.... it, really. Hornby isn't good at plots, but here he works that to a positive advantage, taking his time over the very simple progression of events, and taking pleasure in getting you to like Annie and loathe Duncan a little bit. (He's a little bit of a caricature, but not much of one; I certainly admit to having met this particular kind of obsessive, strident, hiding-in-internet fan.) And Tucker, too, is drawn well, likeable even if his interior monologue does seem to contain a lot of faux-profundity, and all the supporting cast have their time in the sun, too.
In the end, it's a little bit of a fairytale. I suspect it's not supposed to be one. I suspect it's meant to be a savage attack on middle-aged loneliness and the evils of the internet, or else a maundering on the ways in which people waste their lives. It's meant to be depressing. But, you know, it isn't. It's a nice little book about some people falling in love. I'm okay with that.
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LibraryThing member Othemts
This novel is about three people: Duncan an English man-child obsessed with an American singer/songwriter who abruptly quit show business in the 1980s, his long-suffering girlfriend Annie who is realizing that she may never have children, and the retired musician himself Tucker Crowe who is trying
This novel has a lot of the same themes of Hornby's other works - music, geeky obsessions, muddled relationships, parenting, and recognizing one's own mortality. I really couldn't get into to at first because the characters were annoying me especially since they kept talking about a fictional musician. 80 pages in, when Tucker finally appears, I started to warm up to it. For all his flaws, I like Tucker for his relationship with his young son (albeit if that son doesn't seem to act 6 years old). But then the book just falls apart with far too many unlikely happenings and the characters not responding in a real way but more like sitcom characters.
Yes, I'm harsh on this book. It is an entertaining, quality brain candy read. On the other hand I know Hornby is capable of much better.
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to raise his six-year old son after failing to be a good father to four other children. Annie & Duncan break up after Duncan's infidelity and at the same time a review Annie posts on Duncan's internet message board attracts the attention of Tucker. Annie & Tucker develop an online correspondence and soon - surprise - he has reason to visit England.This novel has a lot of the same themes of Hornby's other works - music, geeky obsessions, muddled relationships, parenting, and recognizing one's own mortality. I really couldn't get into to at first because the characters were annoying me especially since they kept talking about a fictional musician. 80 pages in, when Tucker finally appears, I started to warm up to it. For all his flaws, I like Tucker for his relationship with his young son (albeit if that son doesn't seem to act 6 years old). But then the book just falls apart with far too many unlikely happenings and the characters not responding in a real way but more like sitcom characters.
Yes, I'm harsh on this book. It is an entertaining, quality brain candy read. On the other hand I know Hornby is capable of much better.
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LibraryThing member BrianePagel
This book, like most Hornby books, surprised me. That's a good thing. I buy Hornby's books based solely on his name, but I read the reviews first anyway, and so I had an idea of what the book was about. Then, it turned out that the book was only KIND OF about that and instead took a variety of
That and Horny has a knack for creating likeable characters (if I had to criticize, I'd say that the main character here is a little too like the main character in How To Be Good) and excellent turns of phrases.
It's the kind of book you'll look forward to reading, and regret when it's done.
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Hornbsy-esque little jogs and twists, making it an enjoyable read because I was constantly refreshed.That and Horny has a knack for creating likeable characters (if I had to criticize, I'd say that the main character here is a little too like the main character in How To Be Good) and excellent turns of phrases.
It's the kind of book you'll look forward to reading, and regret when it's done.
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LibraryThing member latepaul
Enjoyed it. Very readable like all Hornby. The ending was a bit of a downer. I guess it depends which characters you identify with most.
Awards
Dublin Literary Award (Longlist — 2011)
Booklist Editor's Choice: Adult Books (Fiction — 2009)