Book it: Nick Hornby's Polysyllabic Spree

It's not the name of that multi-colour tent-wearing musical group that appeared on TV show Las Vegas some eps ago. It's instead the name Hornby gives to the editors of the Believer, who, well, believe strongly that a book review shouldn't be snarky.

So the book's a collection of Hornby's monthly columns for Believer magazine, where he writes about what he's reading, and the books he bought (which are not necessarily on the same list).

However, because of the fear of snarkiness, he doesn't reveal the names of the those books he didn't like. Instead, they are put aside and left anonymous, in the fear that readers of the columns will er, believe every word Hornby says. Every single one. And not find out for themselves if they like the book or not. They will merely dismiss the book with a wave of their hand, their nose in the air, because Hornby said so.

Well I know I said that Hornby wrote his best book in High Fidelity but I forgot that I'd also read Songbookwhich was an excellent read and similar to Polysyllabic Spree, but about music. There he writes about his all-time favourite songs - after reading the bit on Teenage Fanclub I just had to go and have a listen. He also chose songs from Aimee Mann and Ben Folds, how could I not like this man!

But what I like most about him, is the way he writes. He doesn't talk down to you rather it's more like a chat over coffee with a good friend, who happens to know quite a bit about books - and having had some of his own made into popular films. He doesn't attempt to be clever or overly witty and a couple of times shoots himself in the foot (aw)but redeems himself again soon after.

For example when in the Nov 2003 column he raves about Wilkie Collins' No Name. Then in the next column (Dec/Jan) he apologises for having given the impression that "everyone should rush out and buy it" and describes his battle reading the book's last 418 pages. And his apology finishes off with an offer to refund readers "insane enough" to have bought the book. But adds "It has to say No Name on the receipt, though, because we weren't born yesterday, and we're not stumping up for your Patricia Cornwell novels. You can pay for them yourselves."

I just can't help smiling as I read this book!