Reviews
Praise for Funny Girl "As befits a novel about a popular sitcom, this novel packs in lots of laughs, but it's also got more heft than Mr. Hornby's readers may expect." -- The New York Times "A smart comic novel that... induces binge-reading that's the literary equivalent of polishing off an entire television series in one weekend." --NPR "Engaging...Hornby's fictionalized evocation of the era is spot-on." -- Entertainment Weekly "Funny and fast moving, perceptive and sharp." -- Los Angeles Times "At its best moments, Hornby's novel shows precisely the same quality [as the best television comedy]." - The Boston Globe "Hornby's fluency in script-like breeziness and crisp banter makes Funny Girl a pleasurable read. So does page after page of perfectly timed and delivered humor, the subtle and understated kind, that starts with the first line." - USA Today "[Hornby's] most ambitious novel to date... he makes the reader care for his characters as much as he does."--Starred Kirkus Review "[A] light, fond, funny tale by the author of About a Boy ...[a] fizzy delight about the likable oddballs who populate showbiz." -- People "Theera and the theme (surfing the crest of a revolution, then getting dumped in its wake) are pure Mad Men , but the pulpy warmth and sprightly dialogue are classic Hornby." -- Vulture "Beautifully captures the thrill of youthful success and of discovering your own talent." -- Daily Telegraph " Funny Girl may be read as Hornby's latest defence of popular entertainment against high-culture elitism. Funny Girl makes his case for him eloquently and entertainingly ... both hugely enjoyable and deceptively artful." -- Spectator "I loved this hymn to the 1960s, their infinite creative possibilities." -- Scotsman "Endearing, humorous and touching. Hugely enjoyable." -- Sunday Mirror "...As with any Hornby book, you'll close [ Funny Girl ] thinking it's his best." -- Metro "Hornby has transplanted us into an era where funny was also controversial. He allows us to see beyond the actors, but to the creation as a whole--the lives on screen as well as those off." -- Books & Whatnot "A sweet sojourn to 1960s London... [Hornby] has a knack for crackling dialogue and well-defined characters." -- The Associated Press "[ Funny Girl ] fits squarely in Hornby's tradition of offering quality entertainment that respects readers' intelligence without making novels feel like homework. Consider it comfort food, prepared by a master." -- Christian Science Monitor "Fast, funny, and real." -Lev Grossman for TIME "[FUNNY GIRL] skips effortlessly like a stone skimmed across the water... it's hard to put down." -Newsweek, Praise for Funny Girl "As befits a novel about a popular sitcom, this novel packs in lots of laughs, but it's also got more heft than Mr. Hornby's readers may expect." -- The New York Times "A smart comic novel that... induces binge-reading that's the literary equivalent of polishing off an entire television series in one weekend." --NPR "Engaging...Hornby's fictionalized evocation of the era is spot-on." -- Entertainment Weekly "Funny and fast moving, perceptive and sharp." -- Los Angeles Times "At its best moments, Hornby's novel shows precisely the same quality [as the best television comedy]." - The Boston Globe "Hornby's fluency in script-like breeziness and crisp banter makes Funny Girl a pleasurable read. So does page after page of perfectly timed and delivered humor, the subtle and understated kind, that starts with the first line." - USA Today "[Hornby's] most ambitious novel to date... he makes the reader care for his characters as much as he does."--Starred Kirkus Review "[A] light, fond, funny tale by the author of About a Boy ...[a] fizzy delight about the likable oddballs who populate showbiz." -- People "Theera and the theme (surfing the crest of a revolution, then getting dumped in its wake) are pure Mad Men , but the pulpy warmth and sprightly dialogue are classic Hornby." -- Vulture "Beautifully captures the thrill of youthful success and of discovering your own talent." -- Daily Telegraph " Funny Girl may be read as Hornby's latest defence of popular entertainment against high-culture elitism. Funny Girl makes his case for him eloquently and entertainingly ... both hugely enjoyable and deceptively artful." -- Spectator "I loved this hymn to the 1960s, their infinite creative possibilities." -- Scotsman "Endearing, humorous and touching. Hugely enjoyable." -- Sunday Mirror "...As with any Hornby book, you'll close [ Funny Girl ] thinking it's his best." -- Metro "Hornby has transplanted us into an era where funny was also controversial. He allows us to see beyond the actors, but to the creation as a whole--the lives on screen as well as those off." -- Books & Whatnot "A sweet sojourn to 1960s London... [Hornby] has a knack for crackling dialogue and well-defined characters." -- The Associated Press "[ Funny Girl ] fits squarely in Hornby's tradition of offering quality entertainment that respects readers' intelligence without making novels feel like homework. Consider it comfort food, prepared by a master." -- Christian Science Monitor "Fast, funny, and real." -Lev Grossman for TIME "[FUNNY GIRL] skips effortlessly like a stone skimmed across the water... it's hard to put down." -Newsweek
