Nick Hornby is a mensch among writers. He writes warm, big-hearted novels and deliberately nonsnarky music and literary criticism. He publishes books to raise money for charity. Even his biggest flaw as a writer is menschy: he won’t let his characters come to any serious harm, even though they’re imaginary, and even if a little pain would do them good.
But this sharpness does not extend to the two most important pieces of the novel: Sophie and Barbara (and Jim) itself. Hornby tells us over and over how disruptively brilliant they are, but rarely shows it.
By Nick Hornby (Riverhead) Reading Sat 2/7, 2 PM Tivoli Theatre 5021 Highland, Downers Groveandersonsbookshop.com $36
