I wasn't sure about this book at first, but I took a chance and I'm glad I did. Although the topic is very sad and depressing, it's got some of the funniest scenes I've read in a book. The way Hornby presents the characters is very interesting, and having three narrators makes this work unique. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because of the ending. It wasn't a bad ending, but since I'm like a typical American (as Martin, a character in the book, describes), my rating makes sense. A very good listen.

Nick is one my favorite British writers. He is a master at telling a story in a male or female perspective, regardless of age or background. This was a great story about complete strangers coming together unexpectedly and having an "obligatory" friendship. Its unusual yet heartfelt. Nick is great at this!

This was pitched at a book groups and sounded so very grim. Frankly, I enjoyed it much more than I expected. Some characters (and their narrators) are more likeable than others, but more fun than the subject matter would let you believe.

I am a big fan of Nick Hornby's books and I wish that all of them were available in unabridged audio editions.

I enjoyed this 'exploration' of some fairly unusual characters who want to commit suicide, although I only gave the book three stars.

The narration was good and distinguished well between and among characters. The problem is that the characters are for the most part really unlikeable. Initially one is curious to find out why they want to kill themselves. Then you need the characters to develop enough to maintain your interest when the plot no longer holds much suspense.

Unfortunately the book goes on longer than the curiosity does. The characters are not interesting enough to carry the story along once the characters come down off the ledge. It's hard to feel sympathy for such obnoxious and/or boring people.

One problem is the most difficult life circumstances belong to Maureen, the mother of the autistic/retarded/brain damaged son whose dilemma makes the concerns of the other characters seem petty and self-involved by comparison.

After a while you just want the characters to go away-but I have to admit the concept was an interesting one.

I stayed along for the whole ride because I wanted to know how Hornby keeps himself alive when challenged by some of the things we are all depressed by, reasonably or not. Hornby is a really interesting writer even when his stories don't entirely work. And the questions he poses are relevant to how we live our lives and face pain and loss.

I would rather read a mediocre Hornby effort than many more developed 'efforts' that manage to find their way into print today. His writing is engaging, even when writing about people I would never want to know.

A great laugh of a book, 'what a laugh!' as the English love to say... yet really sad at the same time. When listening to it, you do find yourself laughing out loud quite a bit. But being someone with depressive tendencies of my own, I couldn't help feeling that overall this book did bring my mood down a bit.

The different voices/actors used for the different characters really make this a great audio listen. I think I would have preferred this book on audio, as opposed to reading it.