About A Boy

London-based writer Nick Hornby's second novel, About A Boy, divides its time between two male misfits: Will, a 36-year-old bachelor, and Marcus, an eccentric, introverted, bullied 12-year-old. Never having to work thanks to the royalties from his father's Christmas novelty-song hit, Will has a lot of time on his hands. Most of this is spent smoking pot, following what the rest of the world calls football, listening to albums, and looking for female companionship, preferably of the short-lived variety. After a pleasant rel...