Fun book. Good dialog, entertaining plot. Hornby delivers a nice read with a subtle message. Loved the "skewer" of fan obsession and reading more meaning into a song (or any work of art) than it deserves. Definitely recommend. ( )

Juliet, Naked marks a true return to form for Nick Hornby, as he delves back into the subject matter that put him on the map with High Fidelity. Instead of being about music marking romantic relationships between two people, it's about music explaining our relationships to ourselves, giving us a better understanding of how we perceive and interpret the world.

The common thread among Hornby's books is the idea that others explain our worlds much more fully and aptly than we are able to ourselves. Media and celebrity give us a common reference that allows us to communicate thoughts through others. In High Fidelity, this was exemplified by the mix tape. In Juliet, Naked, it's exemplified by a self-selecting community of fans expressing their shared passion for one forgotten man's art. Rob Gordon expresses himself through mix tapes; Duncan expresses himself through an idolatry of celebrity. Music illuminates emotions and situations that these men cannot find expression for through their own art.

What is different, though, is that Hornby has written a highly believable, highly relatable female character that shares the stage with Hornby's bread and butter aimless male characters. The prose is tight, the characters engaging, and the style classic Hornby.

The only negative is that the end comes too quickly, is largely implied, and is a bit too neatly wrapped. Definitely worth your time. ( )

What a completely modern novel! "Every person is famous to 15 other people," Annie thinks at the end of the book, and in our contemporary, internet-centered society, this is undeniably true--and it is on that truth that the success of this novel rests. The idea of obsessive fans of the obscure indie artist banding together to trade conspiracy theories is all too familiar to anyone who's spent a bit of time on Livejournal, and Hornby's novel is relevant enough to be completely relatable on that level. The faux-Wikipedia pages, e-mail logs, and blog posts are a nice touch.

I shouldn't have to say it--this is a Nick Hornby book, and there are certain qualities one comes to expect from this man's writing--the characters are well-constructed, multi-dimensional, and easy to sympathize with and understand even when one disagrees with their decisions. The novel is touching but not cheesy or overly "Hollywood"/"chick-flick." I'd call it a perfect rainy day read--engaging, well-paced, and with a satisfying (yet open enough for contemplation and discussion) ending.

I've already got a list of friends I'm planning to loan this book to, posthaste. ( )

One thing I like about Nick Hornby's novels is that they are always understated yet filled with rich characters that are easy to understand and (sometimes) relate to. "Juliet Naked" is no exception.

In this book, we meet Annie who lives in a dreary little seaside town in England and lives with Duncan, her boyfriend of 15 years. Duncan is obsessed with the American singer Tucker Crowe who had a few hits in the 80s then suddenly gave up music and disappeared from the public eye. He even drags Annie on a trip through America, hitting up all of the famous "landmarks" related to Tucker's life and career. But when Tucker releases a stripped down demo version of his most popular album "Juliet," Duncan and Annie find they differ in their opinion of the music. Duncan thinks it's genius. Juliet appreciates it for what it represents but ultimately thinks it's crap. This disagreement drives a wedge between them and they both begin to rethink their relationship, with Annie realizing she had merely settled. The two post their reviews online and think that's the end of it. But then one day, Annie receives an email from Tucker Crowe - the man himself - and the two begin to correspond and eventually, decide to meet.

The friendship between Annie and Tucker is beautifully crafted (if not entirely plausible) and through their conversations we feel their despair, regret, and loneliness. As a reader, you never really feel hopefully for any of the characters yet you can't help but sympathize with their journey and enjoy each step they take towards (or away) from one another.

I highly recommend this to any Nick Hornby fans and to anyone who maybe still holds on to a bit of nostalgia from their youth in the hopes of retaining the happiness we felt when we were with it. This is also a good introduction to anyone who hasn't read Hornby in the past. ( )

The story is about a reclusive washed-up 'feckless and indolent' singer-songwriter from the 80's, his deluded greatest fan, and the girlfriend who's along for the ride. (Strangely, Hornby's books always make me think - which character would Hugh Grant play?) It's humorous and edgy, the characters are well-defined, and the story had my attention all the way through. I didn't skim or skip anything, read every page, which at this time is an excellent indicator for me that the book did it's job. Four stars from me! And I liked the ending...although many reviewers didn't. ( )