Book Review - High Fidelity

OK, this is a new thing. Every time I finish reading a book I will post a review, the detail of which will depend on how lazy I am not at that present moment =P
Just remember, this is my first time, and I'm doing this at 4.00am in the morning for no apparent reason, so please don't be harsh.

High Fidelity - Nick Hornby
Synopsis
Rob Fleming runs a failing record store in London. He is in his 30's and his girlfriend Laura has just left him. Guided by his passion for music, Rob looks back at his love life from the very beginning, and tries to figure out what went wrong - by seeking out his old girlfriends.

Review
This is an observational story, dealing with the ways our relationships are guided by our interests. Rob hides behind his music, letting it think for him. This liberates him from the burden of having to make serious choices in his life. This leaves him at odds with the other people in his life who have some direction in life, save Dick and Barry, who work at his store.

The characterisation is spot on, the confusion of the narrative structure highlights the random nature of Rob's (or anybody else's) thought process, and the generic suburban London setting creates a backdrop far too familiar. Summed up, it is an honest look at life in the 90's (and today).

My favourite part is where Rob, who is constantly miserable, wonders whether 'I listen to sad songs because I'm sad, or I'm sad because I listen to sad songs' - is the media telling us how we should respond to a given scenario?
I would recommend it, if only to laugh at the mess adults get themselves in. Not because of life, but because of their own immaturity and inability to think for themselves.
4.0/5.0