---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Home was extremely normal. But my dad's…"
description: "\"Home was extremely normal. But my dad's life was quite exotic, really. When I went away to stay with him, it was a different world. I never wanted to b..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad2/nick-hornby-325_dad_home-was-extremely-normal-but-my-dad-s-l_2356638.png"
---

#  Home was extremely normal. But my dad's life was quite…

![“Home was extremely normal. But my dad's life was quite exotic, really. When I went away to stay with him, it was a different world. I never wanted to be in that world. I was much happier with my mates at home.” quote by Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad2/nick-hornby-325_dad_home-was-extremely-normal-but-my-dad-s-l_2356638.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad2/nick-hornby-325_dad_home-was-extremely-normal-but-my-dad-s-l_2356638.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad2/nick-hornby-325_dad_home-was-extremely-normal-but-my-dad-s-l_2356638.png)

> “Home was extremely normal. But my dad's life was quite exotic, really. When I went away to stay with him, it was a different world. I never wanted to be in that world. I was much happier with my mates at home.”

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The narrator feels a stark contrast between his ordinary home life and his father's adventurous lifestyle, leading to a preference for familiar friendships over exotic experiences.

**In simple terms:** Home feels normal; dad’s life feels exotic, causing a desire for familiar friends.

Key Takeaway

Choose comfort over unfamiliarity.

Themes

identity family belonging comfort adventure

Mood

reflective conflicted nostalgic

Type

personal reflective narrative

When to use this quote

- college life
- family visits
- friend gatherings
- career choices

Key Concepts

nostalgia comparative perspective social belonging

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you prioritize familiarity over novelty?
- How do you define “home”?

A Different Perspective

Exotic experiences can feel alienating if they clash with personal values.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Dad Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad-life-248034/) [Different world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-world/) [Extremely Normal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremely-normal-1685546/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Home Extremely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home-extremely-5383100/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mates Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mates-home-5756957/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Normal Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/normal-dad-928701/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [I explained to my kids at an early age: I'm a normal dad with an abnormal job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr/i-explained-to-my-kids-at-an-early-age-i-m-a-normal-dad-with-an/)

[Ken Griffey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr/)

> [They call me garbage queen at home, because I'm extremely particular about reduce, reuse and recycle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupali-ganguly/they-call-me-garbage-queen-at-home-because-i-m-extremely-particular/)

[Rupali Ganguly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupali-ganguly/)

> [“What I saw at Yale I have continued to see at campuses around the country. Everybody looks extremely normal, and everybody looks the same.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-deresiewicz/what-i-saw-at-yale-i-have-continued-to-see-at-campuses-around-the/)

[William Deresiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-deresiewicz/)

> [I feel like I'm extremely normal. I do have a bizarre face that's a bit out of proportion. I guess that's why some people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemence-poesy/i-feel-like-i-m-extremely-normal-i-do-have-a-bizarre-face-that-s-a/)

[Clemence Poesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemence-poesy/)

> [I usually live an extremely normal life, since I live in the countryside. Even when people call me 'famous' and such, I can't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-toriyama/i-usually-live-an-extremely-normal-life-since-i-live-in-the/)

[Akira Toriyama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-toriyama/)

> [I like to behave in an extremely normal, wholesome manner for the most part in my daily life. Even if mentally I'm consumed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-love/i-like-to-behave-in-an-extremely-normal-wholesome-manner-for-the-most/)

[Courtney Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-love/)

> [The flight was extremely normal . . . for the first 36 seconds then after that got very interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-conrad/the-flight-was-extremely-normal-for-the-first-36-seconds-then-after/)

[Pete Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-conrad/)

> [Off the pitch, Cristiano is an extremely normal person. When something gets out in the media talking about him... I look and I say:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pepe/off-the-pitch-cristiano-is-an-extremely-normal-person-when-something/)

[Pepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pepe/)

> [I think I just look extremely normal, like just a sort of fairly trendy bearded bloke. Whereas Ed, you'd know it's Ed Sheeran from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/passenger/i-think-i-just-look-extremely-normal-like-just-a-sort-of-fairly/)

[Passenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/passenger/)

> [My dad was in my life, and he was actually a very positive influence on me in my life. He was always there. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-navedo/my-dad-was-in-my-life-and-he-was-actually-a-very-positive-influence/)

[Andrea Navedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-navedo/)

> [If it wasn't for my sport and my father, I'd probably be a fallen statistic. I'd be dead; I'd be in jail. Luckily, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/if-it-wasn-t-for-my-sport-and-my-father-i-d-probably-be-a-fallen/)

[Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/)

> [“When negative experiences such as having one's house shot at occur in my dad's life he tends to come alive. His confusion lifts. Pieces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/when-negative-experiences-such-as-having-one-s-house-shot-at-occur-in/)

[Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/)

> [I think I created my particular stage persona out of my dad's life, and perhaps I even built it to suit him to some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-think-i-created-my-particular-stage-persona-out-of-my-dad-s-life/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [“That was Dad's life, and I was the birdshit on his windshield.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bachman/that-was-dad-s-life-and-i-was-the-birdshit-on-his-windshield/)

[Richard Bachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bachman/)

> [I can be a friend from a million miles away. I can play basketball in China. The only thing I can't do is be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beasley/i-can-be-a-friend-from-a-million-miles-away-i-can-play-basketball-in/)

[Michael Beasley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beasley/)

## More by Nick Hornby

> [You can wait forever for the muse to sit on your shoulder, but most of the time you know what has to be done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/you-can-wait-forever-for-the-muse-to-sit-on-your-shoulder-but-most-of/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> […I've had a bad week." What's happened?" Nothing's happened. I've had a bad week in my head, is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-ve-had-a-bad-week-what-s-happened-nothing-s-happened-i-ve-had-a-bad/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [“When they – I cannot bring myself to use the first-person plural in this instance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/when-they-i-cannot-bring-myself-to-use-the-first-person-plural-in/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [“What you don't ever catch a glimpse of on your wedding day - because how could you? - is that some days you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/what-you-don-t-ever-catch-a-glimpse-of-on-your-wedding-day-because/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [A good compilation tape, like breaking up, is hard to do and takes ages longer than it might seem. You've got to kick off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/a-good-compilation-tape-like-breaking-up-is-hard-to-do-and-takes-ages/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [I'm still not a very good white wine, but I'm drinkable - you could put me in a punch, anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-m-still-not-a-very-good-white-wine-but-i-m-drinkable-you-could-put/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [I never mind the accusations of domesticity, as long as people recognise that all of us, even the luckiest, will live lives in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-never-mind-the-accusations-of-domesticity-as-long-as-people/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [I wasted the 1980s. I wasted every minute at Cambridge talking to people who knew more about music than I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-wasted-the-1980s-i-wasted-every-minute-at-cambridge-talking-to/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [“I took her outside on to a little roof terrace that looked like it never got the sun at nay time of the day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-took-her-outside-on-to-a-little-roof-terrace-that-looked-like-it/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [“I feel as though I have been having conversations like this all my life. None of us is young anymore, but what has just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-feel-as-though-i-have-been-having-conversations-like-this-all-my/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [“I'm OK. Really. I can find people. I'll be all right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-m-ok-really-i-can-find-people-i-ll-be-all-right/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [“Read any women's magazine and you'll see the same complaint over and over again: men - those little boys ten or twenty or thirty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/read-any-women-s-magazine-and-you-ll-see-the-same-complaint-over-and/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [“Defansçılar her zaman forvetçilerden daha iyi analizcilerdir.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/defans-lar-her-zaman-forvet-ilerden-daha-iyi-analizcilerdir/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [On New Year's Eve he ould make a resolution to recover some his previous scepticism, but until then he would do as the Romans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/on-new-year-s-eve-he-ould-make-a-resolution-to-recover-some-his/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [It's no good looking to writers for definitions of what constitutes proper writing, because you will drive yourself crazy, and you won't find anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/it-s-no-good-looking-to-writers-for-definitions-of-what-constitutes/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

[Explore all 645 Nick Hornby quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

## More Dad quotes

> [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/)

[Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/)

> [My greatest memories as a kid were playing sports with my dad and watching sports with my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/my-greatest-memories-as-a-kid-were-playing-sports-with-my-dad-and/)

[Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/)

> [Here I am, 11 years old, and these grown men have to give it everything they have to beat me. In one part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/here-i-am-11-years-old-and-these-grown-men-have-to-give-it-everything/)

[Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/)

> [I always remember what my dad told me when I decided to turn into an actor. He was emphatic that whatever I do, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthi/i-always-remember-what-my-dad-told-me-when-i-decided-to-turn-into-an/)

[Karthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthi/)

> [My mom and dad had the relationship that I want, and they were teammates. They were always equal 50/50.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-kufrin/my-mom-and-dad-had-the-relationship-that-i-want-and-they-were/)

[Becca Kufrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-kufrin/)

> [The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collarbone and incredible contusions-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-child-who-ran-weeping-to-you-with-a-cut-finger-is-now-brought/)

[Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/)

> [My father was the role model I looked up. My dad was an entertainer, too. I patterned my life after him. He wanted me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/my-father-was-the-role-model-i-looked-up-my-dad-was-an-entertainer/)

[Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/)

> [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/)

[Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/)

> [I saw this anti-drug commercial that showed a kid smoking pot in his dad's room with his friend. This kid finds a gun, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-saw-this-anti-drug-commercial-that-showed-a-kid-smoking-pot-in-his/)

[Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/)

> [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/)

[Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/)

> [I talk to my dad all the time, he's more like my buddy than my father, and he's not happy that I use him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spade/i-talk-to-my-dad-all-the-time-he-s-more-like-my-buddy-than-my-father/)

[David Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spade/)

> [This week I realized my dad will make you cry in the store if you make him mad. Also when your crossing the street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-week-i-realized-my-dad-will-make-you-cry-in-the-store-if-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I was just putting way too much pressure on myself. I was just trying to get that validation from my dad. It got so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr/i-was-just-putting-way-too-much-pressure-on-myself-i-was-just-trying/)

[Ken Griffey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr/)

> [Some article called me the most feared man in Silicon Valley. Good Lord! Why? My teenage boys got a kick out of it: 'Dad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/some-article-called-me-the-most-feared-man-in-silicon-valley-good/)

[Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/)

[Browse all 9,737 Dad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Home was extremely normal. But my dad's life was quite exotic, really. When I went away to stay with him, it was a different world. I never wanted to be in that world. I was much happier with my mates at home.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Nick Hornby"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/home-was-extremely-normal-but-my-dad-s-life-was-quite-exotic-really/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Dad"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/home-was-extremely-normal-but-my-dad-s-life-was-quite-exotic-really/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad2/nick-hornby-325_dad_home-was-extremely-normal-but-my-dad-s-l_2356638.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad2/nick-hornby-325_dad_home-was-extremely-normal-but-my-dad-s-l_2356638.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad2/nick-hornby-325_dad_home-was-extremely-normal-but-my-dad-s-l_2356638.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Home was extremely normal. But my dad's life was quite exotic, really. When I went away to stay with him, it…” — Nick Hornby",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Nick Hornby",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Home was extremely normal. But my...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/home-was-extremely-normal-but-my-dad-s-life-was-quite-exotic-really/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/home-was-extremely-normal-but-my-dad-s-life-was-quite-exotic-really/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
