High Fidelity - Nick Hornby

Advantages: Most people will relate to it
Disadvantages: Sometimes a little confusing

As some of you may know by now, I'm not a book worm. I only read books if my girlfriend makes me. This is another one of her handouts. I enjoyed it enough to write about it here on Ciao, and of course recommend it to you all. Here we go……… ‘High Fidelity’ is a novel about a male character named Rob Fleming. He is a thirty-something male with a flagging career as well as a crap love life. He tells the story about his life, recounting experiences ...
...deals with questions asked by everybody about the meaning of life. The book is therefore very true to life and the character easy to relate to for male as well as female readers. A major issue covered in this book is the social and cultural values. The book concentrates on one character and his life. A man who just wants to be happy. I find that he represents British people, and our society in the 21st Century. He has few friends, he is unsuccessful ... Read review

Advantages: Witty, well thought out, well written book
Disadvantages: Ermmmmmmmmmmm stumped to think of one

“Look at all the things that can go wrong for men. There’s the nothing-happening-at all problem, the too-much-happening-too-soon problem, the dismal-droop-after-a-promising-beginning-problem, the failing-to-deliver-the-goods problem… and what do women have to worry about? A handful of cellulite? Join the club. A spot of I-wonder-how-I-rank? Ditto” It’s a hard life being a man, even the fun things in life are full of problems for us (hey, I may not ...
...us experience these problems – unless you are a monk). Part of our problem I guess us that we don’t talk about real life situations and our problems, we just go to the pub and talk about football, fantasy women - whereas women will chat to one another about their lives, loves, jobs etc… (Well that’s what FHM tells us anyway). So I guess not a lot of people understand just what goes through our tiny (blotto-ed in my case) minds… Well thank God that ... Read review

Advantages: An easy read with some funny parts.
Disadvantages: Not much of a plot, moves slowly.

Hmmmm. I can't quite make my mind up about this one. I finally finished it last night, which was a bit of a relief to be honest because I have 6 books to read in the 3 weeks before I go home for Christmas! This book consists of music and relationships, so you will probably know straightaway if you want to give it a go. I got my copy for 70p from a charity shop, but the RRP is £6.99. The book follows a guy called Rob, who owns a record shop and has ...
...worse, she has moved in with the man who lives upstairs. Laura and Rob used to listen to his bed squeaking as he "entertained guests". Robe feels like a failure, every relationship he has had turned out badly and his social life consists of going to gigs with his two work mates, Barry and Dick. His shop hardly makes any money and he passes his time making top ten lists. He should come to DooYoo, he'd make loads of miles! After going to the cinema ... Read review

Advantages: Very readable eminently quotable.
Disadvantages: The lists...Oh Gosh those lists

...quotable novel of modern times. High Fidelity takes us into the life. Heart and mind of Sam a thirty-five year old ordinary bloke, with ordinary hang-ups and ordinary feelings. He grew up in an ordinary suburb and is in the middle of an ordinary break-up, and to be honest that’s about it… Nothing much happens in this novel, but it does not happen in such a readable way. The brilliance of this book is the truth at the heart of it. It hits home so ...
...Opinion? Need To Read. High Fidelity is the literary equivalent of the film "Singles" It's well observed, witty and left me feeling like I understood men a little more. The ending left me with that warm satisfied feeling but at the same time wanting to know what on earth happened next. My Advice? Get yourself a couple of cans of lager sit down then read it, read it, read it. I'm off to buy 'Fever Pitch'… ... Read review

Advantages: Great characterisation
Disadvantages: No sub-plot

I've got to admit that I have a strange attraction to Hornby's books, not because they are particularly well-written and certainly not because they are about some super-original theme, but rather because for most of the time, whilst reading his books, we can relate closely with his characters that he obviously moulds so carefully. To me and many more, this is one of the joys of reading, seeing how different people react in situations that we ourselves ...
...that 'High Fidelity' is just like Hornby's other books. The book, which is written in the first-person, begins with Rob Flemming (the main character and your average chip off the old block) explaining to us his all-time, top five most memorable split-ups. These include both high-school sweethearts and the more serious adult kind relationships. It's easy to notice that there's a certain constant in all (but one) of these and that is.....yes you've ... Read review

Advantages: Hornby is witty, a great writer and the stories are heart warming
Disadvantages: women may be put off by fever pitch, has a 'blokey' style

...Nick Hornby's books are all highly rated by me. It is hard to categorise his writing as for men or women because although High Fidelity, Fever Pitch and About A Boy (which is autobiographical) refer to men, they have a side which will appeal to women. Hornbys later release How To Be Good is definitely aimed more towards women and has a different approach so it is clear why these three books are being sold together. It is obviously just to make more money because all three books were published separately ages ago! In terms of how close to films stick to the book is slightly irrelevant to this review but I would suggest not seeing the film until you have read the books. I felt the characters in the film were much different to the image Hornby had created when I read the books. High Fidelity is a great book with loads of references... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Simply perfect - 3 great books in one
Disadvantages: Its a big big book.

...What more could anyone want than all three of Nick Hornby's books in one big volume? I've been a fan of Hornby since a friend recommended I read High Fidelity (which I'll finally get to see on Saturday! Woo!) Hornby's stylie is one that I am able to relate to. A very male style, but which women can also enjoy reading.(at least I've been told - I wouldn't know not being one) Anyway, Hornby's books are always personal but with great stories. Fever Pitch is obviously the most personal as it is autobiographical, but About A Boy and High Fidelity have a musical background which is obviously similar to Hornby's own and which it is obvious he enjoys writing about. All three books are great reads and to have them in one volume is no less than divine.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average off topic

Advantages: All three in one book
Disadvantages: quite expensive

...Fever Pitch is a book for people who love the game football and for those who are not o interested. Interweaving his personal and familial upheavals with the varied fortunes of Arsenal over two decades, Nick Hornby has produced an insight into what it is like to be a fan. Combining anecdote with a wider commentary on the state of the game, this work touches upon many issues, from pre-match entertainment to the availability of FA Cup tickets, hooliganism, the tragedies at Heysel and Hillsborough, non-League and school football, and Arsenal's reputation as a boring team. A great book and even better when its in a book together with about a boy and High Fidelity. High Fidelity is a great book and its not one of those books which nothing happens until half way thought he book, it gets going straight away. When Laura dumps Rob (on... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful