Funny Girl by Nick Hornby

 

The story follows the life of Barbara Parker who dreams of leaving 1960s Blackpool behind becoming Lucille Ball. Which, of course, she does. I mean, she becomes Sophie Straw but you know what I mean. She moves to London and very quickly gets a part in a new sitcom, one written especially for her no less. The sitcom becomes a huge success.

I swear, I had to check dozen's of times whether the sitcom was real or not and whether Barbara Parker /Sophie Straw was a real person. It's written so convincingly and refers to so many real life people/ programmes/ events that I was absolutely discombobulated!

I loved the whole 60ness of it. I do love the 60s in popular culture generally. It always seems like such a positive hopeful time. 

And Sophie is such a great flawless character. You can't help but really like her and want her to succeed. I must read the most miserable books because I kept expecting the worst the whole way through!

It'd be an excellent play, it sort of feels like one. The way they all talk to each other in quick fire witticisms. Exactly like an old 1960s play, in fact! Like the antithesis of Quentin Tarantino. That's a good thing, by the way.

The plot covers the entire run of "Barbara (and Jim)" for its three (I think it was three, I've slightly forgotten!) series and then skips from Sophie's marriage to 50 years later at a "Barbara (and Jim)" reunion. It's sort of sad then, feeling like it's all over. I mean, it's not all over as you'll see if you read it but there's a melancholy reminscent quality about it. I like to imagine my favourite characters remaining young and full of potential forever so I was left feeling a bit gloomy at the end of it. The same way I always feel when I read any biography, I only ever really enjoy the growing up bit.

Anyway, 8/10. Thoroughly enjoyed it.