High Fidelity

Questo, per me, è uno di quei libri benedetti che appaiono nella tua vita proprio nel momento in cui ne avevi bisogno.Insomma, non è che stessi vivendo chissà quale crisi pofonda, si trattava di uno di quegli attimi di smarrimento sentimental-esistenziale molto comune nella vita di una persona, ma questo libro mi sorprese...conteneva tutto ciò che avevo da sapere in quel momento, per di più esposto con lucidità e ironia. Ho imparato molto di più da Alta Fedeltà che da decine di conversazioni con decine di amici (in teoria) intelligentissimi, espertissimi e scaltrissimi. Non scherzo quando dico che la mia attuale visione del mondo, delle relazioni interpersonali e della mia vita non può prescindere da ciò che imparai da questo show more libro.
PS. se avete amici intelligentissimi, espertissimi e scaltrissimi, teneteveli stretti e non sostituiteli con libri...mi raccomando ;-)) show less

This book is sufficiently well known not to need a review. Either you're inclined or you're not. But I give it high marks in particular for (a) its spot-on description of music-geek culture and all its dangerous trappings (takes one to know one) and (b) its discomfort-inducing honesty at the ways guys--even those nice guys who seem so harmless--think about women. If you've seen the movie, know that this is better, and that there's a key moment in the story at which the literary character behaves in a much truer (= crueler and more self-serving) fashion than does John Cusak's version. But that's Hollywood. You can only be so honest if you're looking for a wide release.

A nice, easy read but, I have to say, I think the only reason I liked High Fidelity as much as I did was because I am a fan of the film adaptation starring John Cusack. This meant I could self-edit Nick Hornby's novel in line with what I had already experienced many times with my old, well-worn DVD. I won't go on and on about how such-and-such a thing is better in the film than such-and-such in the book – only to say that the Rob protagonist in the film is much more likeable, and this is perhaps the main advantage the film has over the book.

That said, the book does a good job of showing that a man's emotions can't be categorised or divided into neat little boxes; often, they are complex, contradictory, or just plain confusing. The Rob show more character is not a clichéd commitment-phobe, nor a sleazeball, nor a neurotic nerd. He possesses characteristics of all of these stereotypes, but merges them into his own idiosyncratic personality. This is why I feel it is wrong to label this book as an insight into the male psyche – I've heard it described as the male Bridget Jones's Diary – for there is no catch-all male psyche archetype that can be applied to every guy. Despite what pop culture would sometimes have you believe, we're not that straightforward. For my part, there were some things Hornby writes and which Rob does which had me nodding my head in agreement and recognition, and others which completely alienated me. Would someone reading this have greater insight into learning more about me as a man? Some choice excerpts, perhaps, but as a whole it certainly isn't gospel for how men think and act.

As for the novel itself it is, as I said, easy and quick to read and, well… Light. Engaging. Charming. Those kind of words. Would I ever want to read it again? Probably not. The film? Most definitely. And therein lies the rub. show less

Why haven't I read this book before now?

Witty writing. Prose that pops. Quirky characters. Mr. Hornsby is a talented storyteller and wordsmith. Rob Fleming is the most annoying, and yet endearing, main character I have ever encountered.

I have read my fair share of break-up stories but they are pretty much almost always told from the female point of view. High Fidelity by Nick Hornby gives us the males point of view and it’s funny, clever, and somewhat frustrating as Rob tells us about his break-up with Laura as well as the rest of his romantic memories. Using music as the thread that binds his memories together , Rob doesn’t flinch from showing us his self centered side of the story but as it goes along he also learns to confront his loneliness, sense of failure and, at the age of 29, his lack of maturity.

I wish I had read this book when I was in my 20’s or 30’s as I believe the author has painted a true picture of how men think and act in certain situations show more and this knowledge would have helped me in dealing with the opposite sex. But instead of finding this a useful reference, I was able to relax and enjoy the story, giggle out loud a bit and shake my head at how very different men and women are and what they really mean when they say certain things.

Well written, humorous, pathetic and highly readable, High Fidelity was a great read and Nick Hornby is definitely an author that I intended to follow up on. show less

I loved the movie, but I'm starting to think John Cusack might be why. I didn't like any of the characters in the book and I didn't feel like any of Rob's justifications for some of the things he did made him easier to understand or more likeable. However, I always like stories where people talk about the inner implications of being confronted with change so I did enjoy reading it despite the failed attempt at making a selfish man appear decent.

Egy ideig küzdöttem azért, hogy agyi vetítővásznamról levakarjam John Cusack meg Jack Black arcát, de végül feladtam. (Ez van, nem volt az olyan rossz film.) Hornby az egyik legjobb tollú író azok közül, akik a büdös életben nem fognak Nobelt kapni. Fog egy abszolút rétegtörténetet egy zenebuzi lemezboltos életközepi válságáról, és olyan okosan, olyan ironikusan írja meg, hogy majd mindenki ki tudja szemezgetni belőle a magáét. Ahogy az értékeléseket nézegettem, még a hölgyek is, ami mellesleg ismét fényesen bizonyítja az irodalom kozmikus erejét. Még az sem zavart, hogy ha jobban megpiszkáljuk, Fleming és haverjai a legnagyobb sznobok Londonban*, ahogy az sem, hogy Hornby eszement show more mennyiségű rinyát sűrít bele szűk 300 oldalba – mert az egész elképesztően mulatságos. És hát marhára hálás is vagyok, mert végre valaki úgy ír a kínlódástól, ahogy Woody Allen filmesít: nem kell aggódnom amiatt, hogy ez a fickó a végén fellógatja magát. Megnyugtató. Mi több, a végén Hornby még azzal is megsimogatja a kollektív néplelket, hogy az összes főbb szereplőnek kiosztja ászpókert, így részesülünk az irodalomtörténet egyik legegymásraborulósabb fináléjában. Ja, Ian persze megszívja, de hát ő tényleg rohadjon meg. Vagy van, aki szerint ne? Nem egy Dosztojevszkij, ami abból is kitűnik, hogy olvasás közben végig jól éreztem magam – de a maga nemében mestermű. Mert ez a könyv a szórakoztatás magasiskolája, én pedig ezért hálásan föl is terjesztem öt csillagra. Nagyon jól jött ebben a szutyadék időben.

* Amúgy meg, Rob: nekem nincs 500 bakelitem otthon (ami azt illeti, egy sem), így hát a te kritériumaid szerint tán ember sem vagyok. Viszont van ezervalahányszáz könyvem, úgyhogy megcsókolhatod a valagam. Amúgy meg bírlak, de komolyan. show less