A Long Way Down is a very interesting book written by the British Author Nick Hornby and published in 2005. Hornby is a successful author who has written many well-known novels and many of his novels have been adapted for films. Hornby published his first book back then in 1992, Fever Pitch, and the debut gave him the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award. This particular book, A Long Way Down, has been no less successful than the other publications and it was shortlisted for the Whitbread Novel Award.
The book is about four strangers who, on new year’s eve, are willing to commit suicide from a rooftop at the Toppers House. Yet, their unexpected meeting ruined their plans and they decided to help each other. The four main characters in the book are Jess, the teenager, Martin Sharp the TV presenter, JJ the musician and Maureen the single mother. They have different stories that are pushing each one of them to think about suicide as a solution. Their next meeting takes place on Valentine’s day and they decide to extend the period that they gave themselves to 90 days. However, during this period they try to resolve things, and 90 days pass and none of them commits suicide. On the contrary, they realize that their lives are not as bad as they thought.
The book is funny and addresses a critical social issue about suicide. Furthermore, the author could develop an entertaining atmosphere in the book which contributes to the reading experience. I believe the book addresses the matter of suicide but from a different perspecive when the author develops the matter, which is the theme of the book, in a comedian frame. That is, illustrating four totally different persons with different personalities who together go through different funny situations as when Jess told the reporter, against the others’ will, that it was an angel that is like Matt Damon who prevented them from committing suicide. There are as well other examples about the comedy or in clearer terms, the black comedy in the book. Such as when Jess invites the relatives of all the other members of the group and they start shouting.
Moreover, having read the book, the book is highly entertaining and the author succeeded in creating an entertaining atmosphere as the book catches the reader’s interest and curiosity. The reader gets curious to know what is going to happen with these people after the meeting. One would think about their lives and consider whether suicide should be the solution or if their lives are not as miserable as they believe. In other words, the author could put the reader in the story and make them think as they are in the situation of the main characters.
The most important aspect of the book and, which I believe very important to address in literature, is the matter of suicide. Mainly it is the theme of the book and the message that the author wants to deliver to the reader. That is, life is worth a second chance and life may not be as bad as one thinks. It is the prevailing idea throughout the book from the very first event when the main characters meet till the end of the book when they realize that their lives are not that bad.
To sum up, the book is entertaining and funny but yet, addresses an important and critical social issue that is not always addressed exactly in a comedy way.