Juliet, Naked
80. Nick Hornby, Juliet, Naked
Annie and Duncan have been together for 15 years. While their relationship has been basically happy (or at least not too bad), Annie has recently begun questioning her life choices. Does she really love Duncan, or has she just been wasting her time? Duncan himself is no help; he’s entirely focused on an obscure ‘80s singer-songwriter named Tucker Crowe, with whom he and maybe 100 other people are obsessed. Tucker’s last album, Juliet, was widely acknowledged as one of the best breakup albums of all time, but it was followed by 20 years of silence. That is, until Tucker releases an acoustic version of his greatest album called Juliet, Naked. Annie’s and Duncan’s different responses to the album prompt Annie to voice her thoughts on one of Tucker’s fan sites. When Tucker astonishingly responds, all three of their lives change in unexpected ways.
I really like Nick Hornby’s novels, and he’s at his best when he writes about music. High Fidelity remains my favorite of his books, but this one is a close second. It’s hard for me to realize that Tucker Crowe is not a real person, because the story of his life and career is so believable, and it mirrors stories of a lot of real-life musicians. I found myself wishing that Juliet were a real album; if it existed, I’d buy it! Annie and Duncan are also realistic characters, and I sympathized with all three protagonists (even Duncan, who’s kind of a loser). I loved the novel’s take on musicians and their fans, especially in the age of the internet, but the novel’s biggest strength is its depiction of the three main characters as they search for meaning in their lives. I’d definitely recommend this book, especially to music lovers.
*****
In keeping with the musical theme, here's a meme!
Directions: Leave a comment in this post and I'll give you a letter. List (and upload, if you feel like it) 5 songs that begin with that letter. Post this in your own journal and pass it on!
birdgirl78 gave me the letter "N," so here we go!
1. "Naked" by The Goo Goo Dolls
2. "Never Let You Down" by The Verve Pipe
3. "Nothin' Is for Sure" by Grant-Lee Phillips
4. "Never There" by Cake
5. "Nervous in the Alley" by Less Than Jake
I decided not to upload, but I'm sure you can find all these songs on iTunes, or listen to them on YouTube if you're so inclined. Personally, I like all of them, if that helps! :)