High Fidelity

By: Nick Hornby

Narrated by: David Cale

Winner, Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers Award

A New York Times Notable Book

Rob is a pop music junkie who runs his own semi-failing record store in London. His girlfriend, Laura, has just left him for the guy upstairs, and Rob is both miserable and relieved. After all, could he have spent his life with someone who has a bad record collection? Rob seeks refuge in the company of the clerks at his store who endlessly review their top five films (Reservoir Dogs...), top five Elvis Costello songs (Alison...), and top five episodes of Cheers (the one where Woody sang his stupid song to Kelly...). Rob tries dating a singer whose rendition of "Baby, I Love Your Way" makes him cry. But maybe its just that he's always wanted to sleep with someone who has a record contract. Then he sees Laura again. And Rob begins to think (awful as it sounds) that a life as an episode of thirtysomething, with all the kids and marriages and barbecues and k.d. lang CDs that this implies, might not be so bad.

©1995 Nick Hornby (P)1998 Putnam Berkley Audio

Critic reviews

"Told in an engaging first-person voice that blends sarcasm with self-deprecating humor, High Fidelity presents a painfully funny take on love, music, and growing up." (Library Journal)

"Hornby's amazingly accomplished debut should definitely appeal to music fans (and snobs), but it's his literate, painfully honest riffs on romantic humiliation and heartbreak that make the book so special. A rare, touching glimpse of the masculine view of affairs of the heart." (Booklist)

Poor audio quality / Great novel

There was a "ghost" of the narrator faintly through most of the recording. Also it seemed like there was a lot of white noise.

Not the full novel

I purchased the book and used a credit for the Audible title, so I could read while at home and listen while in the car. I had no clue that the Audible version skipped entire sections. Very disappointed.

Great Story but Narrator was Bad

What did you like best about High Fidelity? What did you like least?

This book is filled with fantastic lists (Music, movies, and great loves). Quick and fun read that touches on friendships, passion for music and relationships in a realistic and funny way.

The co-workers in the record shop make the book. The book makes you remember the horrible feelings of breaking up (in a funny way, not depressing) and the unique thoughts you have when that happens. The breaking up phase comes in different stages and this book nails them all.

A good short Sunday read. The movie (same name starring John Cusack and Jack Black) nails the books character and tangents too if you wanted to watch instead of reading it.

The Narrator was bad though...

One of my favorites

I love the movie and.the book a part from location they are almost identical... the audio had a bit of feedback and echo at parts.. it distracted me at first but it is just a really good story.. the humor.is.great.. and it seems to go by very quick.

Book is good but audio and narrator awful

Any additional comments?

The narration on this book is horrible! The guy is hard to understand and the accents he uses are atrocious. Also there is this background noise while listening... It sounds like the narrator is in a room with 5 other people also narrating a book at the same time. Poor quality audio, I'm very disappointed.

If you want to read this book I suggest doing it, just don't buy this audio version.

movie is better than this as its abridged.

This is a little over three hours, very little changes from the movie which I love, but Jack Blacks performance really brings the Barry character to life.

loved it!!!

The audio was amazing really enjoyable and the way the narrator made the different voices made it easy to depict which character is which.

This is only about half the novel

I am a Nick Hornby fan. I love this novel. unfortunately this audio book only contains about half the book.
I used a free credit to download it so I discrimination loses any money or anything but had I spent money on it I would have been mad.

Good story

The 'accents ' put on for other people's voices were very off putting and took away from the characters.
However the story shows great character development.

Helped me cope

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Listening to Hornby's work is always time well spent. I was disappointed to hear that several good parts were omitted (that's the downside to "abridged").I was stuck in a massive heatwave while visiting relatives in Indiana. Nightly listens to this audiobook helped me forget about the blast furnace outside my hotel window.Next time I'll remember to pack my copy of the book, which I left at home on my nightstand.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I was not the biggest fan of the narrator. Yes, I understand that the book takes place in England (and not Chicago, like the film), but the narrator did the worst job of making up voices for the other characters. He should have just stuck with his own voice instead of holding his nose to create the voices of his fellow record store pals. Don't get me started on his Texas accent...

Could you see High Fidelity being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Already has!