Rating: 
Summary: Compelling, insightful, wonderful read
Review: While a little bit light in the substance dept., no writer I have read has captured the masculine consciousness in the '90s better than Nick Hornby. While distinctly British, Hornby manages to cross the culture barrier. I found myself often agreeing with the narrator's more pathetic moments, and then figuring out insights about myself. A wonderful read-- keep it away from your girlfriend!
Rating:
Summary: I was afraid this might be true...
Review: Although one of the funniest books I have ever read, High Fidelity's nakedly honest excursion into the psyche of modern man confirms everything I have suspected about the way men think and operate. I wanted to be wrong about my suspicions, but Hornby has convinced me that I have been dead on point since my first date.
Rating: 
Summary: Peter pan hangs with the Beatles... ugh, just grow up!
Review: I finished reading the book a week ago... frankly I can't even remember most of the characters' names. I decided to pick up this book when a friend of mine gave it a glowing recommendation, and must admit I was very disappointed. I thought Rob was pretty lame... and yes, he was just wasting away in the record store. Laura was no better... sounded almost emasculating, and for that, I felt sorry for Rob. The best part of the book was the music theme running throughout... yes, songs can evoke serious memories and strong emotions just by hearing a few bars, but tell this guy Rob, and the other two cronies who work at the store with him to wake up and smell the coffee. Rob's efforts to get in touch with all his ex-girlfriends who dumped him, including his first girlfriend from grade school or junior high, was the epitome of immaturity. I didn't warm up to this book at all, and wanted to finish it to see if perhaps there was some redeeming feature at the end. Sorry to say there wasn't any! Boo hiss!
Rating: 
Summary: So true to life its scary
Review: Not only was the book and some its characters straight from a BBC sitcom with their dry humor, but their outlooks on life and what is important to them is refreshing in a novel form. So many times we read book where every character (even supporting ones) have an overall agenda and strive for a higher goal by the finale of a book. Not here, that is why it is so real. How many friends and loved ones do you know that still muddle through life after all these years? Well, they are all represeneted in this book.As far as the main character Rob, though we may not have the same job, and he is fictional, his thoughts I am sure have crossed those of many men over the years. That's why it was so scary to me. I saw parts of my life, my justifications, my actions resonating here between pages. There were times I laughed out loud (okay numerous times), but also took moments to reflect that I had done and am doing the same things Rob is doing. And I'm sure my friends could say the same things about themselves. Even if you are not a british rock fan (I'm not), hopefully you'll enjoy this book as much as I did.
Rating:
Summary: Spot-on.
Review: I used to live near where the fictional Rob Fleming grew up, and this book had me laughing out loud, remembering. If he lived there, I can see how he turned out this way!
Rating:
Summary: Miracle Man, part II
Review: I messed up with the "F" word, didn't I? Please substitute "messed up" in my review (just sent you 15 minutes ago) if you wish to post it. Thanks, and sorry. Patti
Rating:
Summary: Miracle Man
Review: I loved this book. It is perceptive. The author really has a grip on murky emotional undertones. Everything said and done in this book rang true. It is very funny. I laughed out loud on the bus. I had a recurring urge to call five or six people and read them bits. The writing is clean, straightforward, economical and vigorous. I liked the character: he knows he's messed up and he is trying not to be a bastard, trying to figure it all out. I liked the resolution. I found the whole thing to be surprising and engaging, and I, a female reader, related to a whole lot of it. There were many many moments of shocked recognition, like listening to a good stand-up comedian: (Oh god! Yes! I do that!) I was hooked by the Elvis Costello thing, being a pretty severe Costello fan, and my only quibble is that I wish there were more references in that direction. The music references were a big part of the fun. It's sharp, funny, wry, poignant: a great book. If it's shallow, like so many reviewers seem to think, then all I can say is that people are shallow, and this book has got our number. Spare me the turgid crap most people take for deep writing. This book with clean swift minimal fast moving prose, brings moments of pretty piercing deepness, if you're not too much of a snob to notice, looking as you are for passages of obscure impenetrable obfuscation to impress people with. This book is way up there on my all-time favorites list.
Rating:
Summary: What do you do if you're Rob's 'serious' girlfriend now?!!
Review: Very well written! Shall I cut right to the heart of matters and ask whoever reads this to offer a tad of advice-- what if you ARE Laura and your boyfriend IS Rob-- what on earth should you do? I mean, run the other way and never look back-- or what? Advice sincerely appreciated, and yes I'll check back at these reviews for it. Love him dearly, but other males are looking much more appealing these days by default. (Every beau I've had has come back after I've left, but only after I've wanted *nothing* more to do with them. Is there any way to make this better, vis a vis High Fidelity?) A GREAT BOOK, of COURSE!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best reads since David Sedaris' NAKED!
Review: For a guy who needs a great guy book, HIGH FIDELITY is it. Nick Hornby has captured all of what it is to go through life afflicted by maleness. He shows what we love about it, what we hate about it and what we can't figure out about it. If you want an insight into your own mind, and soul, read HIGH FIDELITY
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Summary: refreshing review of the male psyche: through pop music eyes
Review: With High Fidelity, we see a typical "boy loses girl, boy behaves badly, boy chases after girl, boy gets girl back." No big surprise here. What is a surprise (and a pleasant one at that) is how Nick Hornby tells the story. The reader lives through Rob's thoughts, easily transferring between what he thinks and what he does. The reader judges Rob as Rob judges himself. Rob's psyche (as well as the reader) is relentlessly explored through "pop" lists of records and movies and TV shows. (specifically music). This book is for anyone who has analyzed another through Seinfeld analogies, or critques of CD and book collections.
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