ABOUT A BOY  BY NICK HORNBY

2)About a Boy is a 1998 coming of age novel written by British writer Nick

Hornby which has sold over a million copies.
3)The novel was later adapted into a feature film in 2002 and a television series in
2014.
The title of the novel About a Boy is an interpretation of the title of a song by the
band Nirvana called "About a Girl". The song is about the need for a loyal friend,
just as both main characters need such a friend. The band is also mentioned several
times in the book. 
4) The novel analyses the growing up theme, human’s relations and the
responsibility we are supposed to take in life. Also, the story emphasizes that with
taking full responsibility we are placed in a position where other people will help
us because they also take their full responsibility. An important part of the story is
also talking about taboo themes such as mental illness, children abuse, and suicide
5)The main characters
Will, a single, thirty-six year old, is immature, selfish, and irresponsible; he is only
interested in shallow, sexual relationships with women when the novel begins. 
Marcus is a weird boy who is often teased by the kids at his new school because he
often sings aloud without realizing what he is doing and because he dresses in old
fashioned, cheap clothing that make him stand out in a crowd. 

Fiona, his mother, has separated from her husband, and is deeply depressed
because of it.

6) About A Boy is a funny and poignant novel of self-discovery. The novel is told
from the point of view of the two main characters, Will and Marcus, who switch
off from chapter to chapter to tell not only the story of their own lives, but also the
story they share.

7) SUMMARY
“About A Boy” is about a 36-year-old man, Will, who invents a child to get onto
single mothers. He joins a single parents group, where he meets a nice woman.
They’re going on a picnic together with Marcus, a 12-year-old boy and the son of
the woman’s friend Fiona, who’s considered weird. On the same day, Fiona tries to
kill herself. After this occurrence, Marcus turns up at Will’s nearly every day after
school. Even though Will doesn’t like Marcus in the beginning, he helps him to get
“cooler” and to improve his reputation at school. They get used to each other after
a while, Will’s feelings towards Marcus are similar to those of a father, or even
better, a friend.
8) My favourite scene.
The start of this scene is the killing of a duck by Marcus.
Marcus is horrified yet amazed that he has killed a duck by throwing a piece of
bread at its head. Will tells the keeper that one of the ducks is dead and is outraged
when the keeper says that he knows that either Will or Marcus is responsible. The
keeper assumes that Marcus is Will’s son. Will goes along with this and tells the
keeper that Marcus would never hurt a duck and only threw the bread at the
already dead body to try to sink it, as it was upsetting Megan. At this moment,
Marcus thinks that he sees his mother standing in front of them in the middle of the
path, smiling. He waves and turns to tell Suzie that his mother has decided to join
them, but when he turns back his mother has disappeared. Marcus never tells
anybody about this. When Suzie takes Marcus home, she insists on coming into the
flat with him. He, Suzie (carrying Megan) and Will all walk into the flat and the
first thing Marcus sees is his mother lying across the sofa, her head near the floor
and a pool of vomit in front of her. Will calls an ambulance and makes black
coffee. Fiona begins to come round, making an awful noise.
Fiona has a deep depression and it is this disorder that pushed her to such a
desperate step as suicide. The reader becomes aware of Fiona's real state at the
moment after the attempt to kill herself. Her suicide letter to her son only
highlights her inability to cope with mental difficulties.
This also illustrates the psychological state of the boy. He's afraid to leave his
mother alone. As he feels responsible for the bird's death, he also blames himself
for his own mother's suicide attempt.
This episode of the novel is very intense and reveals such themes as mental illness
and suicide.