Reviews

High Fidelity by Nick Hornby

tabo98's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

stumpnugget's review

4.0

Anyway. Here's how not to plan a career: (a) split up with girlfriend; (b) junk college; (c) go to work in a record shop; (d) stay in record shop for the rest of life.

I loved this book. It's funny, occasionally insightful, and it includes tons of great pop culture references. This is probably my second favorite Hornby book (next to About A Boy).

chronicallyonline's review

emotional funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

444nico's review

lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

i hope i am not as grumpy and stubborn when im 35 as Rob tends to be in High Fidelity. Laura is the best!! 🐐🐐 People are not their hobbies, maybe old relationships are always grey, never just black and white. Clever writing and overtly truthful at times, but man the main guy is really hard to side with most of this book

heidiho's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I am giving this a 3.5 overall because, whilst it's extremely compelling, it's really not what I think I like, but maybe I don't know what I like- I've read a Nick Hornby before and felt exactly the same, How To Be Good, (although this is better than that in my opinion) and am still planning on searching out his others to have a go at! I think there is a difference between loving the concept of something and appreciating that something is well written, either can end up giving you a good book but both together would be a 5/5. I didn't like the main character really, and what sympathy I had for him was more pity, but writing that can ellicit substantial emotion, whether enjoyable or otherwise has to be good, right! It was deffo a page turner, like his other that I read and my ADHD brain is motivated by his penchant for short chapters. In the end yes, I would recommend. Modern classic innit (I'm a 90s baby)

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexism

camichan's review against another edition

3.0

Rob es el protagonista más insufrible de esta vida, y ahora me toca ver la peli y aguantarlo de nuevo. Laura, una genia. Te quiero Laura, bótale a Rob de una vez por todas.

fandomnerd05's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

gbfarr's review

3.0

3.5*

alexadaggett's review against another edition

funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

radagast23's review against another edition

3.0

Books are Sick July Book Club Pick

The growth and maturing in the back half just wasn't enough to balance out the ridiculous behavior of Rob in the first half. May just be a sign of the times with this being written in the 90s, but the toxic traits + Peter Pan syndrome was a little too much these days. Very curious to watch the movie adaptation as I'm guessing they make Rob more likable with Cusack.