Plot Summary

Funny Girl

Nick Hornby
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Funny Girl

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2014

Book Brief

Nick Hornby

Funny Girl

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2014
Book Details
Pages

480

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

London • 1960s

Publication Year

2014

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Funny Girl by Nick Hornby follows the journey of Barbara Parker, who renames herself Sophie Straw, as she moves from Blackpool to London in the 1960s, aspiring to become a television star like Lucille Ball. She navigates numerous challenges, auditions, and relationships, ultimately achieving success and facing personal and professional dilemmas, all set against the backdrop of the evolving entertainment industry. The novel involves themes of infidelity, pressure to conform, and personal realizations.

Humorous

Nostalgic

Romantic

Bittersweet

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

3.6

37,258 ratings

49%

Loved it

36%

Mixed feelings

15%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Nick Hornby's Funny Girl earns praise for capturing the charm of 1960s British television and delivering witty, engaging dialogue. Protagonist Barbara is compelling and endearing, reflecting aspirations and challenges of the era. Critics, however, point to uneven pacing and underdeveloped secondary characters. Overall, it's a nostalgic and entertaining read with some structural flaws.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Funny Girl?

Readers who enjoy humorous, character-driven narratives set in the entertainment industry will love Nick Hornby's Funny Girl. Fans of Marian Keyes' The Mystery of Mercy Close or Garth Stein's The Art of Racing in the Rain will appreciate its wit, charm, and heartfelt exploration of ambition and identity within the 1960s TV world.

3.6

37,258 ratings

49%

Loved it

36%

Mixed feelings

15%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

480

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

London • 1960s

Publication Year

2014

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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