h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have a theory- it is slightly fatuous theory but nonetheless here it is. Nick Hornby is a very clever man when it comes to writing books that are made into films, or screenplays etc. His films are essentially romantic comedies but yet are not abhorent to men since they all contain elements that are understandable and welcomed by men, in Fever Pitch it's football, in High Fidelity it's music of a pretentiously obscure nature and About a Boy basically being cool and a bachelor. So with all the films men can take their significant other to watch it, (obviously making slight protesting noises) without really hating it and thus *will* take their significant other. For example my dad, who would normally run screaming from anything with the word "romantic" in the genre-title actually went out and bought it, whilst my mum, who despises all things football related will watch it with him. They're both happy.

I'm not cynically saying he does it intentionally just to make money- they are very good films and he writes for a nice, wide audience.

I think you're right in a way, he does seem to have worked out a formula for keeping everyone happy

I think the films also emphasise the romantic aspects of the books in order to snag the girls, especially in the case of Fever Pitch, which is not really a love story at all (unless you count Arsenal). The film is essentially a romantic one though. Not a poorer film, but one with a substantially different emphasis.

Yeah, which is one of the reasons I didn't enjoy the book as much as the film, the book didn't reach out and grab me, the film on the other hand I enjoyed, but I agree, they completely changed it, I mean there really wasn't even much mention of the characters partner, I think I only really remember her being mentioned once in very little detail

As an Arsenal fan myself, I have to say that Fever Pitch (the Book) grabbed me a lot more than Fever Pitch (the Film) as the film only really highlighted the 1987-88 season, which though of course is massively important for any Arsenal fan doesn't quite convey the full gamut of emotions of the book. The film is really a rom-com with a football theme really.

What I like about the book is the sense of intense crushing misery which accompanies supporting a football team, which is never really made up for by those all too infrequent moments of euphoria. A fabulous description of what it is to be in love with a team that doesn't love you back.

Havingn not read any of his books I can't comment- but i think his films are great. Though I am one of those rare guys that actually admits to liking romantic comedies- at least the good, witty ones.

I love his films and books

So do I.

I didn't take to Fever Pitch: the film half as much as I did to the book - and I think as a film it's probably not as good as High Fidelity or About a Boy - which are both great (and I love the About a Boy soundtrack as a plus!).

Out of interest - is there a film of How to be Good in the works?
I didn't like the book as much as Hornby's previous - I kept wanting to hit everyone in it.

My fave of teh books is High Fidelity, of the films...mmmm probably high fidelity but About a Boy is a close second...soundtracks About a boy but High fidelity does have a kick ass soundtrack too

I think you're right about the Fever Pitch the film, which is funny because it's the film which departs most from the book (and also correct me if I'm wrong the only film in which Hornby was involved in writing the screenplay for, hmm...strange). The other two fils were far superior, though Fever Pitch the book remains my favourite Hornby book. How to Be Good was a strange book, not as immediately engaging as the others I thought. Perhaps because he was writing cross gender, and therefore couldn't draw on the the male imperfections that made the other books so beguiling.

I should have a proper go at reading How to be Good, I just skimmed it when I wrote the review

Currently I'm reading 31 Songs properly, which I couldn't read when I wrote it cause it had come out the same week and I wasn't anywhere near a book shop

I've heard Nick Hornby reading "31 songs" when it was "The Book at Bedtime" on Radio Four (for our american participants here, or anyone who doesn't know the book at bedtime is a book that is read out over a couple of nights at 1045 on a BBC radio station. Usually very relaxing and pleasant). Anyway 31 songs sounded a very interesting series of essays I will, eventually get 'round to reading it.

I'm finding it a little self indulgent, but cest la vie, seems good from what I've read

Have not read "Fever Pitch" so wont comment.
"About a Boy" & "High Fidelity" both lost something between book & cinema screen,cant put my finger on what {except Nirvana completely disappeared from "A.A.B".
But the Americans didnt massacre "High Fidelity" as much as I thought.
If you liked these books,read
"Man & Boy","Man and Wife" & "One for my baby" by Tony Parsons.
Decent,sensitive writers or us blokes at last!

they're probably than the chick lit I've got to read! it's no wonder women are so concerned about being single etc when we're reading that sort of thing...think that's why I liked High Fidelity, you got to see things from the guys point of view.

and I don't think they massacred it, though the rest of my family would disagree