Funny Girl

A Novel

By: Nick Hornby

Narrated by: Emma Fielding

Length: 10 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

From the best-selling author of High Fidelity, About a Boy, and A Long Way Down comes a highly anticipated new novel.

Set in 1960's London, Funny Girl is a lively account of the adventures of the intrepid young Sophie Straw as she navigates her transformation from provincial ingnue to television starlet amid a constellation of delightful characters. Insightful and humorous, Nick Hornby's latest does what he does best: endears us to a cast of characters who are funny if flawed, and forces us to examine ourselves in the process.

©2015 Nick Hornby (P)2015 Penguin

Critic reviews

"As befits a novel about a popular sitcom, this novel packs in lots of laughs, but it’s also got more heft than Mr. Hornby’s readers may expect." (The New York Times)

"A smart comic novel that...induces binge-reading that's the literary equivalent of polishing off an entire television series in one weekend." (NPR)

"Engaging...Hornby’s fictionalized evocation of the era is spot-on." (Entertainment Weekly)

Good listen.

Enjoyed the story and the characters. Good recap of London during the 60's. Emily Fielding is a great reader.

If you loved Lucy, you're sure to love Sophie

Another enjoyable tale with well-rounded characters from veteran Nick Hornby. The first half in particular, a fictionalized tale of the making of a 60's British sitcom, is very engaging. Sophie is fun and vibrant, a pleasure to watch grow over the course of the book. In the supporting cast, Bill and Tony are particularly interesting as the two writers on the show whose flawed personal lives eventually interfere with their creative partnership. I found the last third of the story less interesting, but will say that the ending was pleasurable and did justice to the title character.

Well-performed, this audiobook should be enjoyed by fans of either Hornby or the classic sitcoms he is (at times satirically, at times nostalgically) referencing.

How We Got Here

Yes the book surpassed my expectations.
Realistic characters - everyday people except they are stars. Seeking - finding - read and find out.

Fluff, but with that Hornby sharpness

I enjoyed it. It wasn't high literature or anything, but it was a good story told well. Plus, Emma Fielding really added to the story as she is an excellent narrator. It's Mad Men for 60s British comedy and I could easily see this as a movie or television series of its own.

When I'm Sixty Four

It was like listening to the radio station, Sixties on Six. I enjoyed the story of Sofie Straw and Dennis and Barbara and Jim. Hornby is so groovey. I found the narrative difficult to listen to. Indistinct, even at full volume.

Another Success for Hornby

Sophie is a great character but some of the other characters were not as fleshed out. Still, I truly enjoyed the read.

A film script in disguise but very entertaining

The narrator does a mean impression of Lucille Ball but she drives me a little crazy when she whispers all the time whispering hard to hear when you're driving which I'm doing right now actually

Fab first 9 hrs. so can forgive the last 1.3 hrs.

I loved this. Loved it, loved it, loved it, & then "meh", but that was ok since the rest was so fab. Hornby is obviously an astute watcher of people, as he picks up on details that make his characters real. I wish the narrator didn't almost whisper (most of) her lines. That seems to be how "posh" people (or those who wish to be thought of as "posh"...) narrate, these days; it's just irritable, after a while, to us listeners, with all that breath behind each word. But, if you liked any of Hornby's other books, you will like this, I PROMISE, & the whisper-reading will melt into the background of this tale.

Fantastic story, brilliant narration!

Hornby is at his best with this character driven story of actors, writers and producers on a BBC comedy sitcom in London in the early 1960.

Almost a whole book

This story started well and developed nicely then sort of fizzled. I finished feeling like something was missing. It was a good enough listen, just not wow.