NICK HORNBY IN THE NZ LISTENER October 3-09, 2009

A marvellous two page story abut Nick Hornby by Claire Allfree makes it worth buying this issue of the Listener even if you read nothing else.

I'm much more proud of my film work than I am of my novels" says Nick Hornby, somewhat unexpectedly. We're in his north London attic office, not quite a stone's throw from his beloved Arsenal football ground but certainly within a bus ride, and Hornby is compulsively sucking on a Starbucks and cigarettes, looking for all the world like a character from one of his books. He's almost fascinatingly ordinary looking: short, round, bald, sporting a scruffy t-shirt and jeans, his voice flat and colourless. Really he could have walked straight out of the local boozer.

The above is part of the first paragraph of Allfree's fascinating piece. Don't miss it.

Also in this issue Charlotte Grimshaw reviews Maurice Gee's new novel, ACCESS ROAD, due for publication 1 October,and is somewhat critical, Lloyd Jones reviews J.M.Coetzee's "biographical" novel , SUMMERTIME, shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, two pages of recipes extracted from Alison Holst's latest from Penguin, FAST & FUN FAMILY FOOD, Michael Cooper on Central Otago reds, and the Cultural Curmudgeon wades in to non-art art.

And much more too of course.

The NZ Listener, a generous supporter of the arts, a great kiwi magazine.

Postscript:The Bookman saw Hornby's latest movie project, AN EDUCATION, last week, and warmly recommends it.