A review by jehsface
High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
5.0
I can't even describe accurately how much I adored this book. It was sarcastic, gritty, hopeful, miserable and just all around wonderful. It was real, and had a raw bluntness to it that I wasn't expecting, despite having seen the film.
Set in London, it's about Rob, an audiophile who collects records, makes top five lists, and discusses his love life and his general life direction with himself on a very personal level. Rob is made out as a both lovable and terribly horrible person, and finding the middle ground of thinking he's just an alright bloke as he explores himself can be a challenge, but I quite enjoyed that about the book.
Rob is blunt, apathetic, passionate, miserable and self-centered, but he's got a bit of charm about him, and his sometimes pathetic life makes you look upon him with more kindness than you would think. As he deals with love, life, sex, commitment and pieces how it all works together, you kind of cherish the character he is. He is who he is, and the changes he makes are so gradual, you barely notice them.
It has it's funny, lighthearted moments, completely juxtaposed by the darker more serious bits of the book.
I just loved how real this book felt, like I could walk around London and see Rob, this disaffected, thirtysomething man, who's having almost a midlife crisis in several men down the street.
Rob's look into music (albeit not the music I listen to) is perfect, and his ultimate question from the beginning of 'which came first, the music or the misery?' just puts the cherry on top.
Applause to Nick Hornby, because this book was so wonderful, and was an absolute wonder to read.
Set in London, it's about Rob, an audiophile who collects records, makes top five lists, and discusses his love life and his general life direction with himself on a very personal level. Rob is made out as a both lovable and terribly horrible person, and finding the middle ground of thinking he's just an alright bloke as he explores himself can be a challenge, but I quite enjoyed that about the book.
Rob is blunt, apathetic, passionate, miserable and self-centered, but he's got a bit of charm about him, and his sometimes pathetic life makes you look upon him with more kindness than you would think. As he deals with love, life, sex, commitment and pieces how it all works together, you kind of cherish the character he is. He is who he is, and the changes he makes are so gradual, you barely notice them.
It has it's funny, lighthearted moments, completely juxtaposed by the darker more serious bits of the book.
I just loved how real this book felt, like I could walk around London and see Rob, this disaffected, thirtysomething man, who's having almost a midlife crisis in several men down the street.
Rob's look into music (albeit not the music I listen to) is perfect, and his ultimate question from the beginning of 'which came first, the music or the misery?' just puts the cherry on top.
Applause to Nick Hornby, because this book was so wonderful, and was an absolute wonder to read.