Slam

By: Nick Hornby

Narrated by: Nicholas Hoult

Length: 7 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Just when everything is coming together for Sam, his girlfriend, Alicia, drops a bombshell. Make that ex-girlfriend, because by the time she tells him she's pregnant, they've already called it quits. Sam does not want to be a teenage dad.

There's only one person Sam can turn to: his hero, skating legend Tony Hawk. Sam believes the answers to life's hurdles can be found in Hawk's autobiography. But even Tony Hawk isn't offering answers this time - or is he?

In this wonderfully witty, poignant story about a teenage boy unexpectedly thrust into fatherhood, it's up to Sam to make the right decisions so the bad things that could happen, well, don't.

©2007 Nick Hornby (P)2007 Penguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Critic reviews

"An accomplished teen novel....a vertiginous mix of anger, confusion, insight, humor, and love." ( Booklist)

Well done:)

Great book, but then what else would you expect from Hornby? So realistic! Also really great narrating.

Excellent new Hornby novel, very different

I have been a fan of Nick Hornby ever since reading "High Fidelity" more than ten years ago. The short description of "Slam" did not really appeal to me, but I decided to purchase and download the audiobook anyway, and was very happy to be proven wrong! "Slam" is well written and very well narrated. It really sounds like you are listening to Sam telling his story, which has a lot of twists, has good humor and sarcasm, and is very moving. Definitely recommended!

Slam Dunk! Great read!

Sam is an ordinary 16 year old from a broken home. He is a likable kid, and he tries to do the right thing. Sam likes to skateboard, and his hero is Tony Hawk. Sam has practically memorized Tony Hawk's autobiography and the Tony Hawk poster on Sam's wall talks to Sam and gives him advice.

The narrator is very convincing; and why not? Its Nicholas Hoult, the kid who played Marcus in About a Boy. His narration really pulls you in and makes you BELIEVE that Sam is actually talking to you.

You really see Sam's inner life; Sam is neither too dense nor too insightful. The tone is very good. Others look at this book as a young adult book, but I don't see it as that; the character study was great, and I could hardly put it down.

Hurrah

One of the best audiobooks I've heard - well written with great charactorization and humor and well read. I wonder why we can't hear Hornby's first three in unabridged format. What a waste an abridgement would be.

Teen schmeen, 5 stars!

Teen schmeen; I'm 3 times the narrator's age, and I thought "Slam" was just as good as any of Nick Hornby's other books. The actor who narrated was excellent. The thoughts of Sam, the book's teenage first-person narrator, seemed very true to the way an actual teenage boy would see things. Even so, the book had many surprises and I wanted to know how it would all turn out! Never treacly, quite funny, subtle.

Nick Hornby is so great

What did you love best about Slam?

I loved how he told the story from inside the head of a teenage boy. Its funny, thoughtful, wise, insightful. Great characters. Amazing dialog. This is so not a young adult novel. I mean it is. Its just so much more. Its High Fidelity for all ages.

Any additional comments?

Nicholas Hoult is a great reader. He became the main character. His accent was perfect and he expanded Hornby's work by talking like a 16 year old boy. A believable 16 year old boy who does unbelievable stuff and reflects on it.

Thumbs up for Hornby for Teens

I've listened to Hornby's adult titles and was thrilled to see this young adult audiobook by him. We listened to it as a family with our tween boys and thought the best of Hornby came shining through. The narrator's pace was just right as well. The boys loved it!

I have high expectations

Good book overall.
I just found it a bit depressing because it was so realistic. However, the last Hornby book I read convinced me to never contemplate suicide ever again so there you go.

Skate, not as in ice skating

Narrated by Nicholas Hoult (About A Boy/TV's Skins) he provides us with a rich narration of a typical novel.
I didn't enjoy the overall plot and character, it dragged on and after the new twist (to make the novel edgy) it felt more one dimensional.
Certain parts intrigued me, as did the first part of the novel. Then the main character tries to make both himself and the rest of the characters correct and flawed at the same time.

Love both Nicks!

What did you love best about Slam?

Nick Hornby's character development is brilliant, as is his sense of humor!! I found myself laughing outloud in several areas of the book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Slam?

I won't even pick one. The whole book was memorable.

Have you listened to any of Nicholas Hoult’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No. This is the only title listed for him, but I hope he does more. He did a wonderful job, and caught the attitude of this snarky, teen-aged, skate-rat perfectly!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I nearly did. I've listened to it twice now and laughed the second time too.

Any additional comments?

Great read. Makes you laugh, but also handles a very tough subject. The characters are believable and their reactions to their situation felt realistic to me. Hornby really writes well as a young boy... must once have been one. :)