I have enjoyed some of Nick Hornby’s books very much, particularly some of his early ones, and others not so much. I have been watching the series Funny Woman, though, and when I learned it was based on this book, I thought I’d read it.
It’s the Swinging 60s, and Barbara Parker wants to make people laugh. Her relatives encourage her to enter the Miss Blackpool competition in hopes it will keep her in Blackpool instead of leaving for London. She wins, but when she realizes she’s supposed to participate in activities for a year, she decides not to accept. Soon, she is in London.
The novel follows her as she looks for work and a roommate, and finally an agent. The agent is more interested in sending her for modeling gigs, but she wants to act, so she gets him to send her for auditions. After some failures, she is lucky enough to come upon the writing team of Tony Holmes and Bill Gardiner, their producer Dennis Maxwell Bishop, and actor Clive Richardson. They are working on a different project that they’re not happy with, but they are so charmed by Barbara (now calling herself Sophie Straw) that they decide to write a show for her. Sophie’s offbeat humor makes her a sensation and the show Barbara (and Jim) a success. (Ironically, her character has her true name.)
I didn’t think this book was particularly funny, but it’s still a fun read that is full of detail about early British TV comedies (much of which I wasn’t familiar with), the craziness of London in the 60s, and the progress of our ambitious but likable heroine. Toward the end, it takes a turn toward conventional romance, but the ending lends perspective to everything. Although Sophie is engaging, a lot of this novel hangs on the existing synergy between the members of that original team and what happens when it inevitably cools off. And, of course, the difficulties of a young woman trying to make it in show business.
What? Me Read? 
Would you say the tv series was better? It does sound fun!
I think the tv series was funnier, but it continues on past the plot of the book. I haven’t watched much of the second season yet. I think the book has a different ending.
I haven’t read anything by Nick Hornby, mainly because I’ve always thought of him as a writer of books aimed at young men. But this doesn’t sound like that at all – I’m tempted!
Oh, gosh, I really liked About a Boy and High Fidelity. I haven’t liked his later books nearly as much.
Oh, I didn’t know the TV series was based on this book. I hope there’s another season, because I really did enjoy it!
I didn’t know there was a TV adaptation. This wasn’t one of my favourites of his. It feels pretty different to a lot of his work. I think the main character is somewhat based on Lucille Ball.
Yes, it’s on Masterpiece here in the States, which usually means it’s a British production. It’s not one of his best, that’s for sure, and I think it was inspired by Lucille Ball rather than based on her. But the series has just taken the book as a start and is going further.