Nick Hornby - About a Boy - A long way Down - 200p

Nick Hornby (born 1957) is an English writer who lives in Highbury, in north London.
Hornby built his name first with the memoir Fever Pitch (1992) about his lifelong support of Arsenal F.C., then followed it up with the best-selling novels High Fidelity (1995), About a Boy (1998) and How to be Good (2001). Fever Pitch, High Fidelity, and About a Boy appeal in particular to men in their twenties and thirties, and draw on the author's life experience. Hornby writes in a very funny and entertaining style, but many observers have noted that his stories also contain a hidden depth, not necessarily appreciated at a first glance.
About a Boy
When you're 36, going on 18, life is about being hip, being cool, and embracing all that Mothercare has to offer ...
Will is thirty-six but acts like a teenager. He reads the right magazines, goes to the right clubs and knows which trainers to wear. He's also discovered a great way to score with women - at single parents' groups, full of available (and grateful) mothers, all waiting for Mr Nice Guy. That's where he meets Marcus, the oldest twelve-year-old in the world. Marcus is a bit strange: he listens to Joni Mitchell and Mozart, he looks after his Mum and he's never even owned a pair of trainers. Perhaps if Will can teach Marcus how to be a kid, Marcus can help Will grow up - and they can both start to act their age ...
A long way down
New Years Eve at Toppers House, North London's most popular suicide spot. And four strangers are about to discover that doing away with yourself isn't quite the private act they'd each expected.

Perma-tanned Martin Sharp's a disgraced breakfast TV presenter who had it all - the kids, the wife, the pad, the great career - but he 'pissed it all away'. Killing himself is Martin's 'reasonable and appropriate response' to an unliveable life.

Maureen has to do it tonight, because of Matty being in the home. He was never able to do any of the normal things kids do - like walk or talk - and loving-mum Maureen can't cope any more. Dutiful Catholic that she is, she's about to commit the 'biggest sin of all'.

Half-crazed with heartbreak, loneliness, adolescent angst, seven Bacardi Breezers and two Special Brews, Jess's ready to jump, to fly off the roof. Lastly, there's JJ - tall, cool, American, looks like a rock-star (was, in fact, a rock-star before his band split) - who's weighed down with a heap of problems and pizza.

Four strangers, who moments before were all convinced that they were alone and going to end it all that way, sit down together, share out the pizza and begin to talk.