High Fidelity by Nick Hornby Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of High Fidelity
Book Review: A hilarious romp!
Summary: 4 Stars
I put off reading anything by Nick Hornby for years and finally I picked up this book at a discounted price and didn't put it down until I reached the last page. It's that good! Humorous, smart and so true. Hornby takes a brutal look at the average unsuccessful Joe with a dream that got sidelined by a desire to grow-up but in fact never did. All through this journey of self-exploration, we find characters that are funny, poignant and sad, trying to realise their dreams, not matter how insignificant they are in the context of our larger material world, in their own distinctly individual ways, be it reviving a career as a disc jockey, singing in a band or simply falling in love. It's such an easy and satisfying read, it's an afternoon well spent.Book Review: A let down
Summary: 2 Stars
I was let down by this book. It was hyped up quite a bit by my friends and the reviews. Details said to keep it away from your girlfriend. I was told it was Swingers in book form. However, i found it boring. Not funny, not witty look at relationships, and stale characters. I was very disappointedBook Review: A little look in the mirror?
Summary: 4 Stars
I'll have to admit that I found 'High Fidelity' boring and without nerve at first. But anyway I kept on reading because - well what the heck, I had bought the book in an airport to keep me busy on the plane so my demands weren't exactly high.And then a funny thing happened. I seemed to be more and more moved and excited by the novel. And before long I was caught. I simply could not put down the book until the last page had been flipped.
'High Fidelity' is very down to Earth and realistic (which is characteristic for all of Hornby's novels and short stories). And maybe that's why the book can seem boring and without nerve at first. But the boringness is really what makes the book exciting! Although this seems weird, I have a perfectly good explanation for it. Usually novels are filled with high-flying drama and are not that realistic. At least not for all of us (a novel like American Psycho is of course realistic for a few serial killers but for the rest of us it's really far out). But in 'High Fidelity' we all, or most of us at least, can relate to one of the main characters and say: "this could might as well have been me". That is the really intriguing part of 'High Fidelity'.
And for anyone who likes classic rock 'High Fidelity' is a must. The book is packed with little anecdotes and stories that will only be recognized by those with quite some knowledge of classic rock.
If you think life itself is interesting then go get 'High Fidelity'. If you, on the other hand, like to get away from everyday life then stay out of the way from this book. You'll might get a serious depression out of it.
Book Review: A little over-rated
Summary: 3 Stars
Firstly I should state that I am English and I like Hornby as a writer, his Fever Pitch is the perfect testament to the British football fan (okay Soccer to you lot in the States). So I was quite looking forward to this, many of my friends rate it as one of their favourite books, and it does seem to appeal to both sexes. Having said that I was a little disappointed and I suspect that it is because of me rather then the book. I never lived my life through music when I was young and did not associate many events/people with music and songs. I never wrote endless lists either.If that sounds like you, then this will be the book for you, if not then perhaps it is not. Likewise it is an insight to a certain type of male, but not all males!
This is no bad book but I think it works if you see yourself in it. I didn't!
Much as I hate to say this, the film was probably better.
Book Review: A lot less compassionate than the film.
Summary: 3 Stars
This book turns into a self-help manual, illustrating how Rob reunites with his long term girl friend Laura.
In the film, this is succulently short - his explanation for why he chooses to stick it out with Laura is simply explained with: `I'm tired of searching.' The same conclusion is reached in the novel yet only after much drawn out, deep-and-meaningful conversation between Laura and Rob. As a result I found it difficult to enjoy this book because it meandered so much. Life may not be as convenient as the film portrays it - people aren't inspired to change their life by simply going to a funeral or eating out with friends - yet unlike the novel it is far easier to tolerate, and runs much less a risk of alienating an audience. Rob is a lot harder to admire or to relate to in the novel.
"What came first, the music or the misery? Did I listen to music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listen to music? Do all those records turn you into a melancholy person?"