Written by Nick Hornby, Reviewed by Erica
From the author of High Fidelity and About a Boy comes this tale of four people who wind up on top of a high-rise in London on New Year’s Eve with a common purpose: to end it all. A celebrity, a mother, a teenager, and a musician each have their own reasons to jump, and A Long Way Down explores both the contemplation of suicide and the consequences of either going through with it or continuing to live. Despite the serious suicide premise, Hornby manages to keep the tone light with constant humor. The tale is told through the distinct and often hilarious voices of each of the individuals. The characters are very human and each of them has traits that the reader can identify with. Though the story sometimes stretches believability, the writing is so funny and engaging (including fantastic dialogue) that you continue reading, determined to find out what will happen to these unusual characters.