Do not read: How To Be Good

Who'd enjoy the book: Those who really really really really really like anything Nick Hornby writes (kinda like those people who pay hundreds of thousands of bucks for a doodle Picasso might have scribbled onto a piece of toilet paper)

Who'd not: Everyone else

I picked up this book a month ago near East Village while I was visiting my brother in NYC. We were making our way to St. Mark's from the subway station for our usual visit to Yakitori Taisho when we stopped by a street vendor that was selling a bunch of what looked like a collection bootlegged books out on the tables by the side of his van. ("Psssst, buddy. Howabout some Tom Wolfe for the purty lil' lady?") Since I loved Hornby's 'About a Boy' and 'High Fidelity' (who hasn't?), I picked this book up and was looking forward to relishing it on the flight back to Chicago.

Well... the premise isn't bad; in fact, I can see how Hornby could have potentially churn out another one of his gem; however, instead, the final product in my hand was a depressingly bitter and burdened march to the final page where the story fizzles out into a dull thud. There are definitely some rare funny moments that had me chuckle out loud, and Hornby's brand of wit in his writing is, for the most part, there -- it's just so... mediocre.

I don't need my $6.50 back, but would you please replenish the four hours of my life wasted on this book?