Nick Hornby bursts with confidence: after all he opens his new novel in a toilet in Minneapolis. The Juliet referred to in the book’s title is an actual person–a woman rock star Tucker Crowe once had a passionate relationship with–and an album titled Juliet that chronicles the breakup of that relationship (think Joni Mitchell’s Blue). Shortly after that album’s release, Tucker Crowe left that rest room in Minneapolis and mysteriously retired from the rock world. Now, 20 years later, another Tucker Crowe album has been released: Juliet, Naked made up of Crowe’s early acoustic version of those songs. The Tucker Crowe obsessive Internet community, is rocked by this news. Brits Duncan and Annie, after visiting all the important Tucker Crowe American sites, find upon their return to the placid English community of Gooleness, that their relationship is disrupted by Juliet, Naked. Duncan considers it a masterpiece, Annie prefers the older studio version of Juliet. When Annie writes a review for the Tucker Crowe blog, she gets an amazing response, from Tucker Crowe himself. Although Juliet Naked is more discursive than Hornby’s other novels like High Fidelity and About a Boy, Hornby explores obsession and the fragility of relationships in this latest novel. GRADE: B
If there’s someone still out there doing middlebrow novels well, Hornsby is it. I always enjoy his novels, much like Tom Perotta’s although with less bite perhaps.
I’m sure JULIET, NAKED will be turned into a movie, Patti. Hornby’s work lends itself to cinema translation. And, you’re right: Hornby is a smart writer writing for that “middlebrow” audience that keeps shrinking.
Sounds interesting. HIGH FIDELITY is my favorite Hornby novel, but I also like his non fiction writing on books and music and (English) football.
HIGH FIDELITY happens to be my favorite Hornby novel, too, Jeff. And I’ve read Hornby’s essay collections, THE POLYSYLLABIC SPREE and HOUSKEEPING VS. THE DIRT. Great writing! I have not read his soccer book.
And I meant middlebrow in a good way. Later it occurred to me that it might be taken as a criticism when I meant it as a compliment. Hornby tells a story in every book. Can’t say that of a lot of so-called literary novels. Is Jeff Meyerson ever going to write about a forgotten book for our project?
You’re right about that “beginning-middle-end” story-telling feature of Hornby’s books, Patti. Like “mid-list,” the “middlebrow” audience is slowly eroding. Jeff Meyerson would be a great addition to FORGOTTEN BOOKS.
I keep meaning to do it, Patti, but … will try this week.
My advice for success on Patti’s FORGOTTEN BOOKS, Jeff, is have a take and don’t suck.
Thanks, Jeff. You know where I am when you have the time.
Jeff, I think you’d do a great job for FORGOTTEN BOOKS! Hope you give it a try.