Shakespeare Wrote For Money ~Nick Hornby
–2008, Believer Books
–131 pages
–4.5/5 stars
“Two years of reading begat by more reading, presented in easily digestible, utterly hysterical monthly installments”
The title tag nearly says it all, and its truth held very true with me: reading one collection of Nick Hornby’s Believer columns begat reading another! His second collection was not available at my local bookstore or the library system and so I went straight to the finale and picked up–and need I say, devoured–Shakespeare Wrote For Money.
As much as I enjoyed The Polysyllabic Spree, I enjoyed this one even more.
One of the things I failed to mention in the review of The Polysyllabic Spree was Nick Hornby’s love of football, most especially the team Arsenal. While my attention to soccer, as we call it in the states, is not aroused unless I am either a) personally at a game, or b) watching the Olympics, his passion for his football certainly finds kinship in my passion for the NFL! And living in Kansas City we share a further kinship in rooting for a team that we are often disappointed in! I love this quote from Hornby’s book, Fever Pitch:
‘I fell in love with football as I was later to fall in love with women: suddenly, inexplicably, uncritically, giving no thought to the pain or disruption it would bring with it’
If that isn’t the best way to describe our love of sport, I don’t know what is! I think every man should have that quote on the wall during their favorite sporting season…maybe it would provide our loved ones a clearer explanation!
I mention Nick Hornby’s love of football here because he discusses this even more in Shakespeare Wrote For Money, particularly as one of his chapters (comprising the month of September 2006, Hornby had to admit finishing NO books due to his complete immersion in the World Cup. I love it!
That is one of several reasons why I enjoyed this collection even more than The Polysyllabic Spree. Others include a column in which Nick Hornby discusses only movies that he watched (and I must say that his brief comments on Juno echoed what I thought when I first saw it and frankly still feel every time I watch it); and his discovery of Young Adult literature.
It is fascinating to witness the dawning of revelation in someone who discovers the wonders of fiction written for young adults. His writing about this and the YA books he reads is infected with his enthusiasm and reminds me that I have neglected some of the YA titles on my TBR pile for far too long.
And, as with the first, and I suspect the second, collection of columns, Shakespeare Wrote For Money is filled with witty, erudite, engaging commentary on a range of books far wider than my own eclectic reading tastes. As with The Polysyllabic Spree, I found various sections just leaping of the page at me. For example, this line that Hornby quotes from a George Orwell essay on Charles Dickens:
“What people always demand of a popular novelist is that he shall write the same book over and over again, forgetting that a man who would write the same book twice could not even write it once.”
Guilty as charged! I know I have certainly felt that way before, particularly of my favorite authors.
Another example: In speaking of the novel Coming Through Slaughter, Hornby writes:
“It seems to me as though anybody who has doubts about the value of fiction should read this book: it leaves you with the sort of ache that nonfiction can never provide, and provides an intensity and glow that the unique product of a singular imagination laying its gauze over the brilliant light of the world.”
Whew! That quote just struck to the heart of the way that fiction affects those of us who truly love the experience of reading. It is just beautiful, and in mentioning that ache I knew exactly what Hornby was talking about. Who among us long time readers hasn’t had that ache? That quote alone should sell you on this book.
As a nice bonus to this addition, there is an introduction by someone who I learned about because of her vocal role in The Incredibles and have since enjoyed on NPR: Sarah Vowell. You can actually read her introduction to this book here.
Needless to say I will at some point be tracking down Housekeeping vs. The Dirt and I even have a desire to read his memoir/obsessive diatribe about British football, Fever Pitch, despite the fact that I will not know anything about the teams or players he references. His passion as exhibited in his writing is infectious.
My recommendation: Pick it Up! Now!
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And since midnight has passed and the dawn has come, it is time to announce the winner of a pristine copy of The Polysyllabic Spree:
Congrats Kristen. Shoot me your snail mail address to cvincent68 (at) comcast (dot) net.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
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Additional reviews of Shakespeare Wrote For Money:
1. Raidergirl
2. Nymeth
Congrats, Kirsten!
I have to get my hands on this book soon! Carl, you have me rereading The Polysyllabic Spree again. I was going to lend it to one of my professors, but instead I started reading it again. Were there any books he mentioned that you put on your TBR list?
Hey Carl — sorry to use your blog this way, but I can’t seem to find any other way to contact you privately. I wonder if I could impose on you to drop me an email from the Labyrinth when you have a moment?
And on another note — you’re killing my check book here with your great recommendations. For which I am actually very grateful.
I had a feeling you’d enjoy this one even more 😀 Might be my favourite of the three. And it definitely also made me want to pick up Fever Pitch.
Wow! I was seriously just reading down through this and thinking “I REALLY need to get these books!” and here one falls in my lap … Thanks Carl! An email is on the way …
Kristen: I’m thrilled for you, I have no doubt you’ll enjoy this. I got your email and I’ll get this sent off on Monday!
Nymeth: You were definitely dead on right! I see that my library has Fever Pitch and I think I’ll have to grab that on my next round, after I finish up some of these others I just got. I started listening to What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami today which is excellent so far. The reader is okay, but the book is great.
Midori: You are not imposing at all, the email has been sent!
And sorry about the checkbook! I try to encourage people to use the library…not by my actions so much as my words! Ha!
Vasilly: Once your reread is through I would encourage you to get this one. If you liked that one you’ll love this one.
I am so jealous, I can’t stand it!! Shakespeare Wrote for Money is not in my library’s system either, so I may have to break down & visit the local megabookstore to see if by some miracle they stock it. And Hornby introduced me to Sarah Vowell also (though I did not know she was a voice in “The Incredibles”). Listened to The Wordy Shipmates not long ago & wound up sitting in strange parking lots just so I could reach a stopping point & not miss anything. She is that good. I recommend that book in any format, but not on tape/CD if there are kids along. There are several gorey bits–factual, but stomach churning.
I’m still savoring slowly. 🙂 So happy you loved this one so much!!!
Debi: You are a better person than me! I almost wrote ‘you are a better woman than me’! Which, I hope, would always be true!!! 😉 I’m trying to savor Bird by Bird that way. Only time will tell if I am successful with that.
ds: I’m sorry, I hate it when libraries don’t have books you can borrow. I’m hoping my wife can get the second book from her university library system.
Sarah Vowell did the voice for the girl, Violet. I need to listen to more of her stuff. I am certain I wouldn’t agree with everything she had to say, but that is okay. I didn’t agree with everything Hornby had to say either.
wow, you are on a roll ! It’s good when we can enjoy book after book without an “eh” one in between!
I’ve had this on my shelf ever since it came out, but I was saving it for a sure-fire pick-me-up. Instead I’ve added it to my pile of books to read during next week’s 24 Hour Read-a-Thon! I can’t wait! You’ve made me ever more excited. = )
So glad you enjoyed this. Interestingly, it was my least favourite of the three, but that may be because I read it over a few weeks, whereas I devoured the first two in a matter of days! My review is here: http://troubles-melt-like-lemon-drops.blogspot.com/2009/03/shakespeare-wrote-for-money-nick-hornby.html
Mariel: Thanks for your link, I’ll head over there to read your review and instead of commenting here more I’ll comment over there! 🙂
JP: Very good 24 Hour Read-a-thon choice. Now that you mention it I think my wife might have gotten me the second book through her library system and I may have it to sample during the read-a-thon this weekend!!!