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About a Boy

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About a Boy

By: Nick Hornby
Narrated by: Stephen Mangan
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About this listen

Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of About a Boy by Nick Hornby, read by Stephen Mangan.

Nick Hornby's second best-selling novel is about sex, manliness and fatherhood.

Will is 36, comfortable and child-free. And he's discovered a brilliant new way of meeting women - through single-parent groups.

Marcus is 12 and a little bit nerdish: he's got the kind of mother who made him listen to Joni Mitchell rather than Nirvana. Perhaps they can help each other out a little bit, and both can start to act their ages.

©2016 Nick Hornby (P)2016 Penguin Audio
Literature & Fiction Comedy
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What listeners say about About a Boy

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About a wonderful audio book

As another reviewer has said, it was seeing the film that grabbed my attention and the book was a joy to listen to. It just rings true. Thanks Nick Hornby for creating this book. Enjoyed Stephen Mangan's reading of it too

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Enter than the film

I bought this as I'd love the film version but this was so much more enjoyable. More detail and a different storyline in places.

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3 people found this helpful

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Entertaining to the max

The narrator really brings Will’s wit and pessimism to life. A really lovely story, full of anger and sadness but at its heart it’s about learning to be okay with asking for help from the people who care, and growing up. It’s good for kids and adults both. What a strange and lovely story.

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Brilliant!

Recently watched the film which prompted me to revisit the book, having read it many years ago. Chose to listen to it this time and it was every bit as good as I remembered. And Stephen Mangan’s narration was every bit as good as is expected given his quality as an actor, and really brought all the different characters to life.

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absolutely perfect!

Everything about this was great! wonderful story, wonderful narrator. really evokes the feel of the 90's as well!

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Loved it!

After watching the film many years ago and loving it. I never knew at the time that it was based on this book. The book always gives more details that the film sometimes can’t due to running time. Anyways I love the book now as much as the film. Great job narrating Stephen Mangan.

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Great!

I've been quite ill recently and needed a way to pass the time without needed to look at anything. So audio books have been perfect.

I've seen the film, and very much enjoyed the book. Read brilliantly, I would recommend.

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important subject matter but uplifting and witty

loved it.. serious matters dealt with with wit and charm and insight. terrific characters..quirky and very believable .. only criticism would be that perhaps it was about 2 chp longer than necessary
..terrific for these pandemic days. Marcus was so literal great dynamics as a result.

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Oh my God.

I've always loved this book but to actually hear Will speak to you was really something.

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Miles better than the film...

What made the experience of listening to About a Boy the most enjoyable?

Nick Hornby writes in such a way as to make you feel as though you know the characters. Plus, since it's a long time since I first read the book, I was pleased that the book was significantly better than the film!

Who was your favorite character and why?

It's hard to say. Will and Marcus need one another to be effective, I think.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

When Marcus is trying to hide the fact that Kurt Cobain has died.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No I can never do that, I like to spread the story out over a few trips to and from work.

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