Long Way Down

'Extremely funny . . . and wise' Sunday Times

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE

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'Can I explain why I wanted to jump off the top of a tower block?'

For disgraced TV presenter Martin Sharp the answer's pretty simple: he has, in his own words, 'pissed his life away'. And on New Year's Eve he's going to end it all . . . but not, as it happens, alone. Because first single-mum Maureen, then eighteen-year-old Jess and lastly American rock-god JJ turn up and crash Martin's private party. They've stolen his idea - but brought their own reasons.

Yet it's hard to jump when you've got an audience queuing impatiently behind you. A few heated words and some slices if cold pizza later and these four strangers are suddenly allies. But is their unlikely friendship a good enough reason to carry on living?

Shortlisted for the 2005 Whitbread Award and the Commonwealth Writers Prize, A Long Way Down is a darkly hilarious and moving novel by bestselling author Nick Hornby.

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'Hornby's best yet' Literary Review

'Impossible to put down' Ruth Rendell, Guardian

'Some of the finest writing I've ever had the pleasure of reading' Johnny Depp

Review: Impossible to put down . . . enthralling * Guardian *

Extremely funny . . . and wise * Sunday Times *

A page-turning plot and rich, funny characters with several big laughs on every page . . . Hornby's best yet * Literary Review *

Hornby pins down the age in which we live with precision and comic brilliance * Guardian *

Hugely enjoyable * Irish Times *

Masterful . . . some of the finest writing, and some of the most outstanding characters I've ever had the pleasure of reading -- Johnny Depp

Hornby's portrayal of four characters who accidentally meet on top of a tower block, all ready to jump to their death on New Year's Eve, manages to be sensitive and empathetic, but damn funny as well. My new Hornby favourite -- Adam Phillips * Observer *

Brilliant, smart and funny . . . a cello suite about how to go on living. It's hard to imagine a novel more darkly and sublimely devoted to life * Boston Globe *

Generous and wise. Right from the opening pages, a smile played continually across my face * GQ *