A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby

'Extremely funny . . . and wise' Sunday Times

 

'Impossible to put down . . . enthralling' The Guardian

 

THE BOOK BEHIND THE MAJOR MOTION PICTURE

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'Can I explain why I wanted to jump off the top of a tower block?'

 

For disgraced TV presenter Martin Sharp the answer's pretty simple: he has, in his own words, 'pissed his life away'. And on New Year's Eve he's going to end it all . . . but not, as it happens, alone. Because first single-mum Maureen, then eighteen-year-old Jess and lastly American rock-god JJ turn up and crash Martin's private party. They've stolen his idea - but brought their own reasons.

 

Yet it's hard to jump when you've got an audience queuing impatiently behind you. A few heated words and some slices if cold pizza later and these four strangers are suddenly allies. But is their unlikely friendship a good enough reason to carry on living?

 

Shortlisted for the 2005 Whitbread Award and the Commonwealth Writers Prize, A Long Way Down is a darkly hilarious and moving novel by bestselling author Nick Hornby.

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'Sensitive and empathetic, but damn funny as well. My new Hornby favourite' Observer

 

'Some of the finest writing I've ever had the pleasure of reading' Johnny Depp