Author: Nick Hornsby
Published: 2008
Momentarily finished a novel by Nick Hornby, I will be honest with you I had tried to read another of his novels a couple of years ago, forgetting which one, I wasn’t impressed and never finished it but I picked up this one ‘Slam’ up on Saturday and haven’t been able to put it down, finished it about ten minutes ago. The book was different to anything I had recently read and was a bit odd to get into at the beginning. The boy whom is telling the story is telling the readers his life but by a sort of diary entry or conversation with us. Finishing the book I have come to interpret the title as a sort of metaphor for how Sam, the boy, is feeling though many parts of his life also a term used in his skating which he has to give up during the book. The book is about a very young couple around the age of sixteen; they are both quite quick to move into their relationship and do conclude with an unexpected pregnancy. Hornby describes the thoughts and feelings that a teenage boy would experience in this sort of situation and also shows how Sam comes to deal with different aspects of his life. Alicia, at the beginning is Sam’s girlfriend; the novel depicts how the two teenagers come to deal with the pregnancy, testing their strength for the baby and also for their relationship. Throughout the novel Sam seeks guidance in a poster of his idol, Tony Hawk, Sam feels that doing this he is getting answers and advice to help him with what is happening with his life influenced by the life of Tony Hawk within his autobiography. This, psychological but also how Sam grows to understand, and becomes mature with motivation for his baby, girlfriend and his self. By seeking guidance, I interpreted him reaching and seeking within himself, for the advice and support that he needs of which he receives nearing the birth of the young couple’s baby. There are many complications with in the story which Hornby explores including the teenagers relationship, their parents and also another baby born into the family from another source, Sam’s mother. The novel shows the accident which has become more common in society with in recent years, showing the lives that some young teenagers are living, showing the consequences and reactions of family members and school.
I did find the book a tad confusing in places as Sam moves forward in time and then back in time in describing how he is feeling, what he is worrying about, what he is expecting etc. Hornby gives a great insight into the complications of these teenagers’ lives, ending on good terms creating quite an inspiring story. I would recommend it but I must admit it was not the type of read I would have usually gone for but enjoyed it nonetheless. As the story line is close to many people I know, and I am unable to relate to; I do feel sympathy for the characters in parts, and begin to understand how their lives must actually be. I won’t give too much away, defiantly a good read and a coming of age novel to read. Overall I wouldn’t mind reading it again, and may invest in another of Hornby’s novels for my next read.
July 2013
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