Nick Hornby — A Long Way Down

Viking 2005 Paperback, 272pp. New Year's 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 family, the pad, the great career, and wasted it away. Killing himself is Martin's logical 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 his loving mum can't cope any more. Half-crazed with heartbreak, loneliness, adolescent angst, seven Bacardi Breezers and two Special Brews, Jess's ready to jump, to fly off the roof. Finally, there's JJ, tall, cool, American, looks like a rock star, who's weighed down with a heap of problems, and pizza. Four strangers, who moments before were convinced that they were alone and going to end it all that way, share out the pizza and begin to talk . only to find they have even less in common than first suspected. (ISBN: 9780670915637). Good.