“I don't want my books to exclude anyone, but if they have
to, then I would rather they excluded the people who feel they are too smart
for them!” – Nick Hornby
Hornby, born in England on this date in 1957, writes about ordinary people in ways that translate into best-sellers, like Fever Pitch, About a Boy and High Fidelity. Fever
Pitch, while written about a fan’s
obsession (based on his own) with English soccer, was made into an even bigger hit as an American movie
adaptation focusing on Jimmy Fallon’s character’s obsession with the
Boston Red Sox.
Music also plays a big role in Hornby's writing, again based on his own
experiences. Hornby has had long and fruitful collaborations with the
rock band Marah and even toured in the United States and Europe with the band,
joining them on stage to read from his essays. And, he's had great collaborations with singer/songwriter Ben Folds, known to many as
chief judge on the hit TV show “The Sing Off.” Songwriters like using the universality of the words he writes.
Dedicated to helping
kids with special needs, Hornby has donated all of his royalties from some of
his 100-plus books to helping kids with autism. He co-founded Ministry
of Stories, a nonprofit dedicated to helping children and young adults
develop their writing skills, and to support teachers who inspire students to
write, both literature and music lyrics.
“Sentimental music has this great way of taking you back somewhere at the same time that it takes you forward,” Hornby commented about the songs he enjoys. “You (can) feel nostagic and hopeful all at the same time.”
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