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Summary: The most insightful book I've ever read
Review: What a great male confessional. Don't let your girlfriend get a hold of this one!
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Summary: This was the funniest book I have ever read!!
Review: When I received this book as a birthday gift from my aunt, I had never heard of Nick Hornby and didn't know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised by the narrator's cynical tone as he recounted his hysterical experiences as a man who can't commit to a serious relationship and immediately judges people by what is contained in their record collection. What I like best about this book is the way in which the narrator acknowleges how low his standards have sunk without remorse or apologies. If only I could be that straightforward!
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Summary: I think I know this guy.
Review: This is the first Nick Hornby book I've read. You may not be able to judge a book by its cover, but the bright colors caught my eye, and hence I have read it. I'd like to thank those designers for their assistance in pointing out this book for me. I loved it. I think any music collector/head/nerd can relate to the characters in High Fidelity. The agony of creating a mix tape. The victorious feeling after finding an obscure B-side at a garage sale. The unrealized manner in which music can shape and affect your personality.The story focuses on Rob's relationships with his female companions and loyal record shop employees. Rob's in his early thirties, and althoug he realizes that he's been alive that long, hasn't really noticed much difference in how he's grown since his early twenties. Barry (obnoxious record store employee) and Dick (sensitive record store employee), are in a similar time warp. These three often go through conversations/arguments involving their 5 favorite (fill in this blank with a subject), i.e. movies, songs to hear on a Monday, songs to listen to during a hurricane, songs to bathe your dog by (I'm using a little license here, but it should give you an idea of the characters.) This provides much comic relief, although actually there's comedy throughout. But the main focus is Rob's agonizing relationship with Laura. The agonizing is mostly in Rob's head, but can give insight into familiar relationship terrain, including fear of commitment, possessiveness, insecurities, and a few other things that really can't be given a neat one word title. Hornby's best writing features the metamorphosis from what's swirling around in the squishy grey matter that is Rob's brain to what actually comes out of his mouth when he speaks. This is most evident in Rob's conversations with Laura. I could give an example of this, but really it's much better to let Hornby take care of that, when you read this book. Hornby writes in brief chapters much like Michael Crichton. This provi! des for logical breaks from reading, but also pushes you forward, since you know the next chapter is really "just a couple more pages." You won't want to put his one down. I nee to read more Nick Hornby books.
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Summary: Laugh out loud - a must for a 60's - 70's pop music lover
Review: I just loved it. So when I saw Fever Pitch I ran out to get it. Then I figured out what Hornsby's style was and wiull probably go back and read High Fidelity again. He writes about obsession -- I related much more to High Fideltiy because the obsession is rock music - and I knew everything he talked about. Fever Pitch is about an obsession for football (soccer) and is more difficult for a provincial North American to get into. His writing style is intellectual, a little snobby (I like it).
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Summary: Just when you thought you were unique
Review: Nick Hornby has that gift posessed by very few artists, such as Kurt Cobain and Neil Young, the abiltiy to create a work that makes you say, "I could do that." It's the gift to make the brilliant seem effortless. Only when you do sit down to write it, you realize just how difficult it is. In High Fidelity, Hornby gets into the head of a 30-ish Londoner who loves music and seems to be going nowhere, and doesn't mind becasue to him, music is the balm that soothes the pains of adulthood. Hornby obviously knows music; you couldn't come up with his references merely by doing research, and his love of music and knowing what it's like to have music play such a major role in your life and have loved ones love everything about you but just not get your obsession, well he knows that too. High Fidelity isn't a masterpiece or an epic. But what it does, it does very well. I heard John Cusack bought the rights and is making it into a movie. that sounds like ideal casting to me.
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Summary: ok, so we know why it's good.
Review: read all the reviews above to find out why it's enjoyable. i agree with all of it, BUT... it's still rather fluffy. don't read it expecting the birth of a new literary movement. it's great fun and i loved reading it, but it's not a lifestyle-changer. some warnings, though. women should not read this book while judging the appropriateness of Rob's actions. he may or may not be a jerk, but the issue at hand is a sketch of how the male mind functions. don't look at what he does, look at how he gets there. don't judge, just observe. and don't take it too seriously.
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Summary: Crap - with a capital C!!!!
Review: I don't understand what all the hype about this book was!!! Everyone was reading it wherever you went: tubes, trains, planes, buses, cafes, etc... and then people were recommending it!!! ARRGGHHH!! I don't think I've read anything quite as pessimistic, self-involved, hypocritical, depressing and crap - yes crap! - in my life!!! The beginning was great, you could relate to the character but then he just headed off to nowhere. Here was a 36 year old who had managed to achieve nothing with his life was busy feeling sorry for himself, moaning and doing what about it!?!? Absolutely nothing!! What a sad, dpressing git!
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Summary: I loved it but a pal of mine didn't.
Review: This acquaintance of mine (in his late 30's) is a an unpublished novel writer, literary buff and a very, very keen record enthusiast. All he had to say about the book was "well, I found his taste of music rather poor". I mean, how sad can you get?
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Summary: An All Time Top Five Book .
Review: If you are male and English,and aged under 45 then I defy you to read this book and not identify with at least one of the authors early adulthood hang-ups! This book manages to stay humourous from start to finish even when talking about the most painful periods in a life of lost and denied opportunities in love. This is definitely in my top 5 of books that once begun cannot be put down until read!
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Summary: BRILLIANT HANDBOOK FOR ANYONE WHO DOESN"T UNDERSTAND MEN
Review: Never have I read a book that so perfectly voices how men feel. Whenever a girlfriend complains of not understanding men, I hand her this book.
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