BOOK REVIEW: High Fidelity by Nick Hornby

This comes under category 'oldie but goldie'. Published in 1995, High Fidelity is by no means a new book, but perhaps that's exactly why it's a good one to review on a site mainly dominated by young people - although High Fidelity was a runaway success in 1995, it is possible you've never even heard of it.

Hornby's classic follows 35-year-old Rob, who runs a poorly performing record shop and who has just been dumped by his lawyer girlfriend. Opening brilliantly with his All Time Top Five Worst Break-Ups, Rob's satirical narrative is entertaining, charming and intriguing. Although Rob provides a rather bitter, darkly comedic voice, he does so in a way that retains a certain naive hope for life and movie-style, Hollywood love, which although he knows is unattainable, wishes it was.

If you're a die-hard plot lover, this book probably isn't for you. Although it's a page turner, there are no complicated plot twists here - it's very character based. This being said, he's a great character. Refreshingly imperfect and at times immoral, Hornby's protagonist is unapologetically himself, whatever that might mean.

7/10