Nick Hornby at the Neptune Theater

Tonight we saw Nick Hornby read from A Long Way Down, his new novel about four downtrodden strangers who by chance end up meeting on the roof of a London building that they each independently intend on jumping from. While it sounds like the recipe for a real downer, the parts Hornby read were actually quite funny. Hornby has a real knack for dialog which came through real well in person. Based on the little we saw tonight, and the reviews the book has been receiving so far, it definitely looks like a good one to check out.

The movie rights for the book have already been purchased by Warner Brothers, so this will join Fever Pitch, About a Boy, and High Fidelity as Hornby books adapted for the big screen. The film will be produced by Graham King, David Heyman and Johnny Depp. According to Hornby, the process is already underway to get the book adapted into a screenplay.

"This book is brimming with some of the finest writing, and some of the most outstanding characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading." -- Johnny Depp