The Complete Polysyllabic Spree

A brilliant collection of Nick Hornby's 'Stuff I've Been Reading' magazine columns from 'The Believer' literary magazine, run by an ever-shifting, white-robed, omniscient, evangelical group of people nicknamed 'The Polysyllabic Spree'. There is only one rule: no negative comments on sensitive living authors, so anything he hates has to remain unnamed...

Each month Hornby starts his column with two lists - 'Books bought' and 'Books read' - then proceeds to guide the reader through his choices. But this is no ordinary review column. Each month he dives into the very essence of reading - what guides us to pick up one book and not another? Why is there such a void between the literary snobs and real readers? How can one book lead us to the next, and why do some books leap out at us in a shop but never get read once they're back home? Alongside all this he adds his thoughts on football, family and the books he's actually read, and once again I found myself reading it with a pen and paper by my side to note down his warm recommendations. Here are the real thoughts on books - fair, honest, warts-and-all reader reactions (though always constructive, as per Spree rules) - so sadly lacking from ‘superior’ literary reviews. Hornby also, admirably, never makes the mistake of some authors writing about the books they read in which they assume too much previous knowledge, or alienate their readers through the inaccessible reviewing of unfamiliar material.

This book is, quite simply, a delight, and I can't believe I haven't discovered it earlier! As it is I’ve been lucky enough that my copy, found in a discount store no less, is a signed hardback, and I'll be hanging onto it... Hornby's wit, diluted somewhat in his novels, sparkles here - it is dry, sharp, and doesn't spare its American readers with its British slant. The lists make for interesting comparisons and quick reference, and there are brief extracts from some of his favourite reads scattered throughout the book to add a little something extra. Brilliant - a must-read for anyone who likes books about books, with a generous splash of chuckling-aloud humour thrown in! ( )

"This is not a book of reviews. This is not a book that sneers at other books. This is a book about enjoying books wherever and however you find them. Nick Hornby is first and foremost a reader and he approaches books like the rest of us: hoping to pick up one he can´t put down. The complete polysillabic spree is a diary or sorts, charting his reading life over two years. It is a celebration of why we read -its pleasures, its celebration disappointments and its surprises. And above all, it is for you- the ever hopeful reader."
(edit. promo)

En este libro, Nick Hornby (Alta fidelidad, Fiebre en las gradas) nos presenta una serie de artículos sobre los libros que ha leído ese mes entre los que, de vez en cuando, intercala capítulos de obras que considera interesantes en su momento (hay hasta un poco de cómic con el Persépolis de Satrapi)

Al final no sabes si lo dice de coña o es verdad, pero parece que esta serie de artículos mensuales (aunque se salta algunos meses aduciendo problemas de criterios con los del Polysillabic Spree) salieron publicados en una revista literaria que se llamaría (siempre según él) The Believer. En ellos nos va describiendo un poco lo que ha leído ese mes y el libro es curioso porque no se trata de reseñas sobre las obras, sino de las impresiones que le producen. De hecho, sus lecturas no resultan ser más que meras excusas para que el pavo se ponga a reflexionar y nos suelte sus paranoias (a razón de una mensual, salen unas cuantas cuando abarcas un par de años)

Me gusta mucho la intro que hace para explicar su punto de vista sobre la lectura. Para él, leer debería ser una actividad de ocio, con sus competidores en las otras propuestas de ocio (cine, tele, deportes (es un forofo del fútbol que te cagas)) no en las otras formas de conocimiento, por lo que habría que promover sobre todo los goces que proporciona, más que sus supuestos beneficios culturizadores. Vamos, un poco como le digo yo a la peña: si el libro no te engancha en las primeras cincuenta páginas o así, déjalo porque lo único que vas a conseguir es pillarle más paquete. (lo que el argumenta es "como si cambiaras de canal con el mando si estuvieras viendo la tele")

Y es que siempre se asocia lo literario a un estatus de cultura o de saber que, a veces, perjudica la posibilidad de aproximarse a lo escrito y que oculta la dimensión lúdica de la lectura.

Serás mucho más inteligente si lees obras consideradas canónicas? (y a todo ésto, quién las hace canónicas). Para Hornby, en los grandes libros pasa como con los iPod, se ha invertido un montón de inteligencia en su creación, pero la inteligencia no es transferible.

Detalle: El autor descubre en esta época de su vida a Marah en un conciertillo de taberna y flipa tanto con ellos que se pone a leer las obras de Patrick Hamilton (el autor de "20,000 strets under the sky" por si el título os suena de algo) ( )

Jolly good read. Hornby reads his way through a few books each month and writes a review for a magazine, "The Believer", which only wants good things said about the books. This should be taken with a pinch of salt.

I found it quite amazing how many of the books which Hornby bought/read I had never even heard of. I also found myself noting down some books for my wishlist which, recommended by any other reviewer, I probably would have baulked at. It helped that I recently read & liked the author's "A Long Way Down"; I felt that I wanted to read the books he liked.

It was amusing to see him attempt an Iain M Banks Culture novel - his description of the first few pages pretty much encapsulate what I feel about such books - although I love Iain's non-M Banks novels. (And yes, if you look at my library, I have several Iain M Banks books. One is mine, unread. The rest are my partner's. Maybe one day I'll read one...) ( )

Another book where the idea is better than the actualisation. I fell in love with the blurb of this book in the bookshop and couldn't resist. It sounded perfect. A book about someone who loves books, but has grown fed up of reading books just because he feels he should. At first I loved it, his attitude to books seemed to match mine and make me feel better about my own reading. But the book soon became a bit of a slog when it made two glaring departures from my reading habits - it talked about poetry and it disliked science fiction. It was frequently funny and only occasionally too silly for my tastes, so I still enjoyed reading most of it, but towards the end if became a bit of a labour, so by Hornby's own advice I should have stopped reading. ( )

Nick's diary of reading is wonderful and witty. He admits to and encourages abandoning works that bore. He believes in enjoying reading and encourages this in others.

His tastes are eclectic and he enjoyes books, something he passes on to a reader (his fascination with Arsenal is something I will never fathom despite his enthuasim!)

I love the way he writes and the fun he obviously had writing these columns. ( )