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Funny Girl (novel)

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Funny Girl
First edition
AuthorNick Hornby
GenreNovel
PublisherPenguin/Viking
Publication date
6 November 2014
Media typePrint
Pages342 (hardcover edition)
ISBN978-0-670-92280-2
Preceded byJuliet, Naked 

Funny Girl is a 2014 novel by the British writer Nick Hornby.[1] The book was adapted for television as Funny Woman, broadcast by Sky Max in 2023 starring Gemma Arterton.[2]

Synopsis

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The novel is about Barbara Parker, Miss Blackpool of 1964, who decides to abandon the idea of becoming a beauty queen. She heads for London, determined to make her mark as a television comedian, inspired by her idol Lucille Ball. After finding a job on a cosmetics counter in a London department store, she meets a theatrical agent, Brian Debenham, who finds her an audition for a television sitcom pilot based around the domestic life of a newlywed couple. Taking the name Sophie Straw, she becomes a star thanks to the leading role in the fictional Barbara (and Jim).

Reception

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The Guardian praised the consistency of the lighthearted tone of the novel with the style of British comedy television in the 1960s, which Hornby defends resolutely.[1] Similarly, The New York Times comments positively the position of the author towards pop culture, defining Hornby "competent and humane".[3] The Independent criticized the change of focus in the novel, stating "it's a shame that Hornby abandons his funny girl halfway through for more of his hapless men."[4]

Both the Los Angeles Times and the Library Journal report a level of flatness in the writing.[5][6]

Adaptation

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The novel was adapted for screen by writer and comedian Morwenna Banks as the six-part Sky Max series Funny Woman (2023), starring Gemma Arterton as Barbara Parker.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b Preston, Alex (3 November 2014). "Funny Girl review – Nick Hornby's tribute to the golden age of light entertainment". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  2. ^ Lynch, Donal (22 January 2023). "Funny Woman and That '90s Show fail to recreate halcyon days of telly laughs". Independent.ie. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  3. ^ Williams, John (11 February 2015). "Nick Hornby's 'Funny Girl'". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  4. ^ Jones, Alice (30 October 2014). "Funny Girl by Nick Hornby, book review: The rise and faltering of a sitcom star". The Independent. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  5. ^ Ulin, David L. (23 January 2015). "Nick Hornby's 'Funny Girl' traces the road to stardom". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  6. ^ Driscoll, Molly (2 February 2015). "Nick Hornby's 'Funny Girl' receives mainly positive reviews". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  7. ^ Nicholson, Rebecca (9 February 2023). "Funny Woman review – Gemma Arterton is absolutely captivating in this Nick Hornby adaptation". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
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