Nick Hornby’s ‘How to be Good’

Just finished this book on the commute in this morning. I’m a big fan of Hornby’s fiction as although it isn’t quite ‘highbrow literature’ it always drags the truth out of you. As I read I could resonate and align myself with the main character, an english middle aged female doctor in a 20 year marriage with two kids, in that she would openly think in such brutual and nautural human honesty that reflects your own take on the world so that you feel just that much more normal - like belonging to a larger universal group. You feel less alone. I’ve felt less alone after reading every book by Hornby. He’s just a great writer that I wish I could emulate rather than fawn over, but I have no problem settling for the latter.

In the book, the protangonist arrives at a point in her life where she’s unhappy with her marriage and herself, and as her husband experiences a sort of spiritual enlightenment she now struggles with the ethical/moral implications of being normal/realistic versus ‘Good’/optimistic as represented in her husband and his converts, including her own daughter. Amazing stuff. Always possible, probable, and beautiful (and funny).

At one point she concludes that she can live a beautiful life by reading novels. I have to agree. There is simply nothing more rewarding, (seemingly) productive, life building, and life changing than reading a book. Then you put it down, feel different, and realize you’re the only one that’s changed. Imagine if everyone read one book together (not Potter, or DaVinci Code, or Patterson, Clancy, etc.) and then could talk about it. It’ll never happen, which makes reading on your own that much more important in moving our world forward.