A long way down novel

The characters are able to find little happiness in their life to keep them occupied preventing them from committing suicide. However, when they meet by chance on a london rooftop, they agree to halt their plans for six weeks. Wills grief permeates every page, from his recollections of everyday childhood memories to his encounters with other figures from his past whose lives were destroyed by gun violence. Long way down by prolific and award winning authorpoet jason reynolds tackles the troubling issue of gun violence.

Someone shot shawn while he was on the way back from the store to buy a special cream for his mothers eczema. The theme is very clear throughout the novel, but i have chosen this passage from the ending of the book. Nick hornby is the author of six bestselling novels high fidelity, about a boy, how to be good, a long way down, juliet, naked and funny girl, as well as a novel for young adults, slam, and four works of acclaimed nonfiction. This echoes his later sentiment that there might not be a difference between people who. A cure for unhappiness is happiness is one of the themes of this novel.

Discussion guide for long way down by jason reynolds this. Anyway, to cut a long story short, i decided to kill myself. A long way down movie tiein by nick hornby, paperback. The word will can be used as a proper name, but also as a verb and a noun. Through mutual pain and humour, this unlikely group take the long way down and figure out what will keep them alive until valentines day, one step at a time. Will learned the rules from his older brother, shawn. The novel is written in alternating chapters, creating a few unexpected plot developments, but much of it is. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that the. Pg wodehouse may have been the last lightcomic writer to be comfy in his pigeonhole. In this novel inverse, will spends a sixtysecond elevator ride weighing whether or not he should avenge his brothers death. A long way gone in chapter 15, discuss the ways in which the idea of family is configured, reconfigured, challenged and reaffirmed in this book. But in the elevator on the way down to meet riggs, will encounters family and friends who died playing by the rules, and now will has to decide what he is going to do when the elevator reaches its final stop. As she has isolated herself from everyone she decides that suicide is the only way.

This study guide consists of approximately 48 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of long way down. Will plans to seek revenge, but before he can leave the elevator of his building, he is greeted by a series of ghosts who confuse and complicate his. Unlike a traditional prose novel, long way down is written in verse. What makes the book work is hornbys refusal to give an inch to sentimentality or cheap inspirational guff. A long way down is a 2005 novel by international bestselling british author nick hornby. Compare the development of these themes in reynoldss novel to a classic revenge story like romeo and juliet, hamlet, the iliad, or the count of monte cristo. Will tells us very matteroffactly that his brother was. A long way down doesnt bother to explore its characters on any substantial level and comes close to offending in how flippant the whole thing is to the subject of suicide. Dramatize through the presence of new ghosts who usher in new or revised rules how will has been altered by the decision to. An ode to put the damn guns down, this is new york times bestselle. A long way down is a novel written by british author nick hornby, published in 2005. This is no lifetodeath narrative or more accurately, if it is a lifetodeath narrative, it is one that spans the course of less than two minutes. The main themes in a long way down is suicide, depression and that there is always hope. I will focus mostly on the last theme in this short analysis.

Along the way, they discover that even accidental, dysfunctional families. He is distraught over his older brother shawns recent death. Will plans to seek revenge, but before he can leave the elevator of his building, he is greeted by a series of ghosts who confuse and complicate his perspective on shawns death and the idea of revenge killing. A long way down is a 2014 british black comedy film directed by pascal chaumeil, loosely based on author nick hornbys 2005 novel, a long way down. Long way down is 322 pages long, but its story only lasts a few minutes, the time it takes will to. A long way down is now a major motion picture from magnolia pictures starring pierce brosnan, toni collette, aaron paul, and imogen. Book talk on long way down by jason reynolds duration. Dramatize through the presence of new ghosts who usher in new or revised rules how will has been altered by the decision to either enact revenge by killing riggs or by some alternate decision he may have. Reynolds elegant verse begs to be read aloud, and teachers will want to discuss what will might have taken away from each ghostly visit. In jason reynoldss new novel in verse long way down, it all began with. It stars pierce brosnan, toni collette, imogen poots, and aaron paul as four strangers who meet on the roof of a london building on new years eve, each with the intent of committing suicide. There is considerable symbolism, including the 15 bullets in the gun and the way the elevator rules parallel street rules.

Although a long way down is not an evenly successful novel, it justifies hornbys decision to write about that misery which we have no need to beg or borrow, and which makes such strong, strange connections between one desperate soul and the next. Long way down is an elegantly crafted work by a writer who understands the tragedy of this subject. A long way gone in chapter 14, at one point, the lieutenant tells them, we are not like the rebels, those riffraffs who kill people for no reason p. Shortlisted for the 2005 whitbread award and the commonwealth writers prize, a long way down by bestselling novelist nick hornby is a tragicomic exploration of four strangers linked by an embarrassing shared secret. Wills grief permeates every page, from his recollections of everyday childhood memories to his encounters with other figures from his past. In this touching comedy based on the acclaimed novel by nick hornby, a long way down centers on four strangers pierce brosnan, toni collette, aaron paul and imogen poots who decide to end it all on new years eve. Oct 30, 2017 in long way down, the ghosts of gun violence chill a plan for revenge jason reynolds new book follows a 15yearold who must make a crucial decision after the murder of his brother, all in the.

Long way down is 322 pages long, but its story only lasts a few minutes, the time it takes will to go from the 6th floor of a building to ground level. A long way down questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on a long way down. Long way down is an elegantly crafted work by a writer. Read an excerpt from national book award finalist jason reynoldss innovative new ya novel long way down, which takes place over just 60 seconds on.

The following version of this book was used to create this study guide. The story is written in the firstperson narrative from the points of view of the four main characters, martin, maureen, jess and jj. As her life revolves around her son she has had to sacrifice her freedom, her job and friends for her son. Nick hornby on his new novel, a long way down the latest novel from bestselling english author nick hornby, a long way down, focuses on. New york timesbestselling author nick hornby mines the hearts and psyches of four lost souls who connect just when theyve reached the end of the line. A novel in verse that spans the length of time it takes for an elevator to descend, long way down finds will mourning the death of his brother and grappling with the burden of avenging his murder. Jason reynolds new novel long way down is a study in restriction the book, which was longlisted for the 2017 national book award in young peoples literature, outlines a. A long way down is also an interesting investigation of why people consider suicide, even if some of the narrators dwell mostly on cliches such as the claim that sylvia plath and van gogh and certain others were too sensitive to live, pg 24. It is a dark comedy, playing off the themes of suicide, angst, depression and promiscuity. Jun 15, 2005 nick hornby on his new novel, a long way down the latest novel from bestselling english author nick hornby, a long way down, focuses on a group of suicidal people who accidentally meet atop a. He is an american author who writes novels and poetry for young adult and middlegrade audiences, including ghost, a national book award finalist for young peoples literature.

Set in 1960s london, funny girl is a lively account of the adventures of the intrepid young sophie straw as she navigates her transformation from provincial ingenue to. This dark comedy incorporates themes of existentialism and mental illness, including suicide and depression, in hornbys signature upbeat style. Julia walton is the author of the youngadult novel words on. The reason you are here is because you are looking for the author whose novel long way down won the 2018 edgar award in the best young adult category. Oct 17, 2017 the structure of the novel heightens the tension, as each stop of the elevator brings a new challenge until the narrative arrives at its taut, ambiguous ending. And now comes along nick hornbys only highconcept novel till date a long way down. Part 1, page 28 jj provides one of the central questions of the book. But as he takes the elevator down, with a gun tucked in his pants, it stops on each floor and a ghost from wills past enters, all victims of gun violence, but will that be enough. Oct 25, 2017 long way down is national book award finalist and new york times bestseller jason reynoldss fiercely stunning novel that takes place in sixty potent secondsthe time it takes a kid to. Long way down book by jason reynolds official publisher.

A long way down summary and analysis free book notes. Jason reynolds is the new york times bestselling author of all american boys, the track series, long way down, for everyone, and miles moralesspiderman. Independent booksellers jason reynolds new novel long way down is focused on a moment of decision. The cure for boredom is purpose is another theme in this novel.

In this novel inverse, the events are narrated by fifteenyearold william holloman whose nineteenyearold brother shawn was shot and killed the day before. In jason reynoldss verse novel long way down, is doesnt take long for the reader to come across the. Actually she hadnt live for almost twenty years now because she gave away her life. Reflect on the significance of the protagonists name.

In this novel by british author, nick hornby, who also wrote high fidelity, four strangers meet on new years eve when they all choose the same building roof in london from which to jump. Written by anne campbell plot summary add synopsis. Apr 30, 2005 a long way down is a good novel struggling to find a way out of the limitations of its own gimmick, but ultimately the conceit is so offbeam that one can almost ignore it and flow with the farce. Jason reynolds talks long way down and writing about gun. It is a dark comedy, playing off the themes of suicide, angst, depression and promiscuity the story is written in the firstperson narrative from the points of view of the four main characters, martin, maureen, jess and jj. Jason reynolds, long way down long way down is a novel written in verse that tells the story of fifteenyearold will who seeks to venge his murdered brother shawn. Please help to improve it, or discuss the issue on the talk page. The entire book takes place over 60 seconds of the main characters life, enough time for him to question everything hes been taught and change his life forever. Over the next 67 seconds and 234 pages of this taut, tightly paced novel in verse, different rules are broken. Long way down explores the perpetuation of a cycle of violence and the theme of revenge. One new years eve, four people with very different reasons but a common purpose find their way to the top of a 15story building.

In long way down, the ghosts of gun violence chill. A long way down summary at wikisummaries, free book. So, too, is the fact that he is extending his fictional range. Jason reynolds, in this verse novel as well as in ghost, patina, and when i was the greatest, succeeds in making a foreign culture foreign to white midwesterners, at least somewhat understandable. Analyze the following references and write down what this book teaches us about family and community in a war torn envir. They live in an apartment that maureen tries to decorate as though a fully energetic teenage boy lives in that apartment. A stellar creepy, engaging, heartbreaking novel in verse, long way down is another example of what author jason reynolds does best. Jun 07, 2005 and now comes along nick hornbys only highconcept novel till date a long way down.

She is probably the most different character in comparison to the other three characters of nick hornbys novel a long way down. A vocabulary list featuring long way down by jason reynolds. First assignment of a characterization of maureen february 25, 2007 posted by gruelli in characters, maureen. Long way down by jason reynolds booktrailer youtube. This book reminds me of something that chuck palahniuk would have written, only it is better written than that. The novel takes a big picture of the life of some of the kids of this neighbourhoods, most of whom live trapped in this atmosphere of darkness and believe theres no way out of it. In his eagerly awaited fourth novel, new york timesbestselling author nick hornby mines the hearts and psyches of four lost souls who connect just when theyve reached the end of the line. In jason reynoldss verse novel long way down, is doesnt take long for the reader to come across the death of wills brother, shawn. Author whose novel long way down won the 2018 edgar award in. Learn these words from jason reynoldss innovative and powerful exploration of gun violence. Long way down is national book award finalist and new york times bestseller jason reynoldss fiercely stunning novel that takes place in sixty potent secondsthe time it. Poets are known for using language intentionally and with precision, often choosing words with connotative and denotative meaning. Time a dramatic, sad and thoroughly sidesplitting novel.

Jason reynolds, author of long way down, on the human journey duration. Theme and message in a long way down the book blogging. Its a long way down from the eighth floor to the lobby, but it only takes seven floors, 60 seconds and six ghosts to make him question his quest for revenge. Thats the trouble with suicides, ive learned you cant cut the long story short, because its the long story that people are interested in. Intense, hilarious, provocative, and moving, a long way down is a novel about suicide that is, surprisingly, full of life. But a long way down takes risks, and it does things that most authors are afraid to do, which is talk about suicide and it does it in such a smart way that it becomes a book that is actually against suicide in the long run. Maureen is a middleaged and very quiet woman who has to bear a heavy burden. For his second novel about a boy 1998 hornby received the e.

Can i explain why i wanted to jump off the top of a tower block. It says volumes that unlike the victorian bildungsroman, this contemporary version distills events down to a crucial, yet brief, timeframe. A wise, affecting novel from the beloved, awardwinning author of funny girl, high fidelity, and about a boy. A long way down is the story of what happens next, and of what doesnt. Fifteenyearold will holloman decided to tell the story of what happened to him immediately following his older brother shawns death. Depending on the study guide provider sparknotes, shmoop, etc. In long way down, the ghosts of gun violence chill a.

Forster award of the american academy of arts and letters. Long way down 2017 by jason reynolds is a young adult novel in free verse about will holloman, a young black boy struggling to make a decision after his brother shawn is shot dead in the street. Jason reynolds on his novel, long way down youtube. Narrative write a sequel or expand the existing text of long way down by imagining a return trip back up the elevator. Jan 18, 2017 read an excerpt from national book award finalist jason reynoldss innovative new ya novel long way down, which takes place over just 60 seconds on an elevator, and is written entirely in verse. One book baltimore is honored to partner with jason reynolds to engage baltimore city schools students and their communities in the shared experience reading long way down and in the rich conversation about peace and antiviolence that this work invites. A long way down is a good novel struggling to find a way out of the limitations of its own gimmick, but ultimately the conceit is so offbeam that one can almost ignore it and flow with the farce. Especially if youre me, which regrettably i was, and still am to this day.