High Fidelity is Worth Reading (and the movie's on Netflix)

Stories surround us everyday, whether they're good or bad.  More practical stories are gossip, either a great weekend or maybe some type of movie worth sharing.  Then, there are stories that are actual novels, such as High Fidelity by Nick Hornby.  This tremendously popular novel takes the life of Rob, a 35 year old man who owns a record shop and cannot keep a relationship.  That description itself pulled me in, as it did with many other people when it released.  High Fidelity is a good story, considering it's humor, characterization and themes.

Novels benefit immensely from humor, and makes the story more interesting.  In High Fidelity, it seems there is something to laugh at on every page.  In the story, Laura, Rob’s girlfriend, leaves him for Ian, the man who used to live in the upstairs apartment.  Ian calls Rob because of his constant phone calls and attempts to reach her.  In the phone call, Ian explains to Rob that even though Laura left him, he should move on, and finally asks, “‘So how shall we leave it then?’” (Hornby, 181)  Rob replies, “‘Dunno.’” (Hornby, 181) and immediately regrets it.  He thinks of what he should have said, all of which funny, but the best one is, “Ian- ‘This is Ian. Ray.’/ Rob- ‘F**k off.’ (Slams receiver down). (Hornby, 182)  This is truly humorous because of it’s twist, and it is something Ian would have never expected.  Continuing the humor, on Rob’s birthday, he decides to eat chips (crisps in England), watch movies and drink beer.  He reflects on how he should be spending his birthday, as he is turning 36 years old. “And then watch one or two of the videos, and eat some chips, maybe even some Kettle Chips… Kettle Chips!  F**k off.” (Hornby, 215)  While his relationships in the novel are heart-breaking and disappointing, jokes and humor keep the novel fresh.

Like humor, characterization also makes the book a great story.  Rob’s growth tells the reader more about himself.  In the beginning of the novel, Rob lists his top-five worst break-ups.  The very first line is, “My desert-island, all-time, top five most memorable split-ups, in chronological order: 1.  Allison Ashworth/ 2.  Penny Hardwick/ 3.  Jackie Allen/ 4.  Charlie Nicholson/ 5.  Sarah Kendrew.” This shows Rob’s love for “top-five” lists, which are scattered throughout the story, giving more information about Rob and what he likes.  For example, one of the other lists were “top-five dream jobs,” which included jobs from an architect to a film director (anything but German or silent).  The second piece of characterization includes his love life, which is a huge part of the book because Laura and Rob get back together after her father dies at the end.  The first chapter decribes the top-five break-ups Rob has had, and it proves that Laura’s break-up does not mean much to him.  Later, however, he eventually cannot stop thinking of Laura, so this provides a lot of background information for the rest of the narrative.  Soon enough, the reader understands that Rob can't keep a relationship which explains a lot about when Laura left, and Rob’s affair with Marie, later on.  Characterization helps High Fidelity to be great, and even though Rob may not find his life interesting, the readers do.

Although humor and characterization make this book a great story, themes, including music and love, are important.  Music is represented everywhere in the novel, including when Barry tries to make something to cheer Rob up after Laura left, “‘That’s my new tape.  My Monday morning tape.  I made it last night, specially.’” (Hornby, 43) Rob did not enjoy it since he wanted something sad, something he could ignore, instead of “Walking on Sunshine,” which was too joyful for him.  The second example is love, as the main conflict is Laura leaving Rob and coping with it.  When Laura is leaving, Rob notices how much Laura wants to be away from him, “It’s sobering, really, to see how little she is taking with her, this woman who loves her things, her teapots and her books and her prints and the little sculpture she bought in India: I look at the bag and think, Jesus, this is how much she does not want to live with me.” (Hornby, 35)  These themes make for a good story because readers can relate to it.  Anyone who has a great love for music can appreciate “Championship Vinyl” and all the top-five lists about songs.  Anyone who has been dumped or rejected someone will relate to Rob’s love life and the feeling of being lonely or without someone.  People who cannot relate to any of those themes can find other themes in the novel, since there are plenty of them.  

Stories require certain elements to be good, such as humor, character development and themes.  With these elements, so much more is added to the story to make it worth sharing.  High Fidelity is a great story because it has humor, involving Rob’s attempts to reach his ex-girlfriend, Laura and his reflection on his birthday.  Also, there is great characterization, including his top-five lists and failed love-life.  Finally, themes such as music and love relate to many people, making it a must-read for any music junkie or lover.  With these components, humor, character development and themes, High Fidelity is a wonderful story that is not just a “summer reading book,” it is many people’s An Imperial Affliction, as it is to Hazel, in The Fault in Our Stars.