Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
reflective
medium-paced
This is a total guys book. I liked Nick Hornby's other books, but this one is just meh. I do like the movie though.
Finally got started Nick Hornby in the past year after being constantly recommended and he is not a disappointment. The only thing I will say about this one though is that I found the main character to be completely unlikable. He seemed like a whiny loser to me...hard to get on board with that. But Hornby's writing is so witty and British...I really liked the book itself.
Basura incel. Si no lo hubiera tenido que leer por obligación lo hubiera tirado por la ventana a las veinte páginas. Solo se salva el estilo.
Ugh. Ughhhhh. Look, I realize the whole point of this book is Rob's insufferable self-pitying and lack of external awareness, but ugh. It was just too much for me. High Fidelity might've made a better novella for how repetitive it is, though even then, .
High Fidelity isn't without its better parts -- I admittedly laughed out loud at some of the lines. Rob is well-drawn, too, as are his buddies at the record store he owns(! More on this in a second), though for my purposes, they were as interchangeable as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
Rob constantly comes back to this idea that he's a loser, often citing his failing record store as evidence. Perhaps this is my pessimism from living through the Great Recession, but it seems owning a record store -- even one that is not patronized terribly well -- is an impressive feat. And maybe this is part of the point. Maybe Hornby's whole thing about Rob is that his actual self isn't his problem, but that his self-esteem is the problem.
I can't say. It's a coy book, which some readers like, naturally, but I generally find to be annoying. On top of Rob's tediously self-pitying, self-indulgent prose, I found High Fidelity to be more or less what I imagine "men's fiction" to be. It's fair to say that Hornby's dry British sense of humor probably saved me from eye rolling every page, limiting it to just every other page instead. Not my cup of tea.
Spoiler
I'm left with reservations about Laura's role and whether she's essentially just another manic pixie dream girl. While Rob appears to take a good deal of the responsibility for his change, I'm not convinced the change would have come about without LauraHigh Fidelity isn't without its better parts -- I admittedly laughed out loud at some of the lines. Rob is well-drawn, too, as are his buddies at the record store he owns(! More on this in a second), though for my purposes, they were as interchangeable as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
Rob constantly comes back to this idea that he's a loser, often citing his failing record store as evidence. Perhaps this is my pessimism from living through the Great Recession, but it seems owning a record store -- even one that is not patronized terribly well -- is an impressive feat. And maybe this is part of the point. Maybe Hornby's whole thing about Rob is that his actual self isn't his problem, but that his self-esteem is the problem.
I can't say. It's a coy book, which some readers like, naturally, but I generally find to be annoying. On top of Rob's tediously self-pitying, self-indulgent prose, I found High Fidelity to be more or less what I imagine "men's fiction" to be. It's fair to say that Hornby's dry British sense of humor probably saved me from eye rolling every page, limiting it to just every other page instead. Not my cup of tea.
Rob is a character who is self-deprecating and can't help but dig himself deeper into a whole as he processes life at 36 with a break-up.
I won't forget:
1. Rob's arrested development and being an 'arsehole' even when he knew it. Laura's generosity towards Rob despite his faults.
2. The record store trio - Rob, Barry, and Dick
3. His seeking the why behind top 5 breakups
4. His epic fail at Laura's dad's funeral and lying in the flower bed
I won't forget:
1. Rob's arrested development and being an 'arsehole' even when he knew it. Laura's generosity towards Rob despite his faults.
2. The record store trio - Rob, Barry, and Dick
3. His seeking the why behind top 5 breakups
4. His epic fail at Laura's dad's funeral and lying in the flower bed
This was as pleasant as the movie. However, I kept picturing John Cusak, but hearing him a British accent. Confusing.
Full review & playlist click here.
High Fidelity was….good. I’m definitely happy I read it. I understand the hype around it. It was funny in the way a comedian is funny when he tells a joke that everybody in the audience can say, “I’ve been there. I know exactly what he’s talking about.” Hornby's characters felt real, especially his coworkers. I can name you at least ten people I know that those characters are almost exact representations of.
High Fidelity was….good. I’m definitely happy I read it. I understand the hype around it. It was funny in the way a comedian is funny when he tells a joke that everybody in the audience can say, “I’ve been there. I know exactly what he’s talking about.” Hornby's characters felt real, especially his coworkers. I can name you at least ten people I know that those characters are almost exact representations of.
I love this book so so much, I can't remember how many times I read it. I love all the references to music, great bands and UGH!
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes