About Life and All Its Problems

Nick Hornby’s About a Boy (1998) is a story which almost anyone could read. It is easy to understand, there are no fancy phrases and it doesn’t have too many pages. Still, the most important thing about the book is that it has something for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you’re middle-aged or a teenager; in any case, you will find something to relate to.

The two protagonists of the book are Will Freeman and Marcus Brewer. Will is a bachelor in his thirties who thinks he’s cooler than cool, and Marcus is a twelve-year-old who knows he’s not cool at all. In consequence of Will’s plan of pretending to be a single parent, the paths of these two collide. The result is a peculiar relationship which develops throughout the book. Will and Marcus may be an odd pair, and sometimes Marcus seems to be more of an adult than Will is, but ultimately they help each other overcome their obstacles and find their roles in life.

The first chapter of the book is from Marcus’ point of view, in the next one it switches to Will’s and so on. This is a truly clever idea from Hornby. The reader gets to see Marcus through Will’s eyes and vice versa, and this makes them seem more real, more human. The flaws and problems of these two characters make them feel like actual people and not just words printed on a paper. Will doesn’t have a job or any particular direction in his life. Marcus, who is bullied at school, has the music taste of a middle-aged woman, weird hairy sweaters and the urge to be just like everyone else. They are the kind of people you could meet in real life and not find it weird at all.

The fact that Marcus and Will’s relationship is depicted so well is mostly the greatest strength of the story, but it has its downside. Whereas both Marcus and Will are well-built and deep characters, the others kind of blend into the background. Marcus’ suicidal mother Fiona, Fiona’s friend Suzie and Will’s finally-found love Rachel all have potential to be interesting, but eventually they just leave a bland taste in your mouth. Even Marcus’ friend Ellie, who has some serious swagger and personality, doesn’t really get the chance to find her way into the reader’s heart.

Though the title About a Boy refers to Kurt Cobain and thus has a real meaning, it doesn’t tell much about the book. The book isn’t just about a boy. It’s also about love, tough experiences, friendship, humour and a whole bunch of problems. It’s a book about life. It isn’t a cold aristocrat who confuses you with complex words. It’s more like an old friend who invites you to have a cup of tea.

So… Would you like to have some tea?

The Culture I'd Like to Live in

I’ve never been to Spain. Yet if someone offered me a chance to live there for a year, I’d start packing my suitcases right away. Spain just seems to be the perfect place for me. It’s very different to Finland, but after living here for my whole youth, a bit of change would only do me good. And I’d have a chance to really learn Spanish, which is the most beautiful language in the world.

When someone mentions the Spanish, the first thing that comes to my mind is easy-going. According to what I’ve heard, people there are much more positive and relaxed than those here. In Finland, many people always expect the worst to happen, and even the most wonderful thing can be turned to something bad. The Spanish seem to simply go with the flow, without dreading too much. I really like that. I’m a person who lives by the rules, and maybe the Spanish people could teach me to abandon those rules for a change.

One thing I absolutely love about the Spanish is how much they love football. They don’t just like it or watch it or talk about it. They live and breathe for football, and it brings them together in a unique way. Spain is a very divided country with Catalonia and Basque Country both craving to be independent. Still people from all over the country gathered in Madrid when Spain’s national football team won the World Cup in 2010. It would be beyond marvelous to be a part of their football culture. If I could watch Real Madrid playing on Estadio Santiago Bernabéu almost every weekend, it would be a piece of heaven for me.

Oh, and then there’s the food. I love Spanish food with its spiciness and versatility. And who wouldn’t like to have a cup of coffee and some churros first thing in the morning? I also have a serious sweet tooth, and rumour has it that there are some spectacular chocolate boutiques and pastry shops in Spain.

Maybe someday I’ll get my chance of living in Spain at least for a year. I certainly hope so because it would be exhilarating to start my day with the words “Buenos días” and end it by saying “Buenas noches”.