My Book List Pages (Under Construction)

Sunday, January 10, 2010

High Fidelity by Nick Hornby

Published in 1995. 323 pages.


First sentence (which is also the first of many "top five" lists): My desert-island, all-time, top five most memorable split-ups, in chronological order:
    1. Alison Ashworth
    2. Penny Hardwick
    3. Jackie Allen
    4. Charlie Nicholson
    5. Sarah Kendrew

Why I read this book: I admit that I'd probably not have picked up High Fidelity on my own. But it was a book club pick - and one of the things I love most about being a book club is "having" to read things that I might not have read otherwise.

What I thought: It took a few chapters for thirty-something record store owner and compulsive "top five" list maker Rob Fleming to grow on me. But once he did, I found his story to be amusing and even touching - even if we don't share tastes in music. I'd read John Green's An Abundance of Katherines shortly before I read High Fidelity, and I've got to assume that High Fidelity was an influence on Green, as I can see a younger, more geeky Rob Fleming in Colin Singleton.

What I need to do: High Fidelity was made into a movie in 2000. It stars one of my favorite actors, John Cusack. I've got to check it out!

2009.9

1 comment:

  1. Read this book awhile ago, but I remember really liking it. Loved the interaction between Rob and his record store co-workers, and all of their lists were great! Saw the movie and while it was okay, I was sorry that they switched the location from England to America. Still a good movie, so you should definitely check it out!

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