High Fidelity

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High Fidelity
1st edition
Author	Nick Hornby
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Genre(s)	Novel
Publisher	Victor Gollancz Ltd
Publication date	1995
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	253 pp
ISBN	0-575-05748-3
OCLC Number	32237794

High Fidelity is a 1995 British novel by Nick Hornby. It was adapted into a 2000 film directed by Stephen Frears and starring John Cusack. It also served as the basis for a 2006 Broadway musical of the same name.

Plot summary

Rob Fleming is a London record store owner in his 30s whose girlfriend, Laura, has just left him. At the record shop — named Championship Vinyl — Rob and his employees Dick and Barry spend their free moments discussing mix-tape aesthetics and constructing "top-five" lists of anything that demonstrates their knowledge of music.

Rob, recalling his five most memorable breakups, sets about getting in touch with the former girlfriends. Eventually, Rob's re-examination of his failed relationships and the death of Laura's father bring the two of them back together. Their relationship is cemented by the launch of a new purposefulness to Rob's life in the revival of his disc jockey career.

Also, realising that his fear of commitment (a result of his fear of death of those around him) and his tendency to act on emotion are responsible for his continuing desires to pursue new women, Rob makes a symbolic commitment to Laura.

"Top Five" lists from the book

Most memorable split-ups (chronological order)

1. Alison Ashworth
2. Penny Hardwick
3. Jackie Allen
4. Charlie Nicholson
5. Sarah Kendrew

Favourite Records (singles)

1. "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye
2. "The House That Jack Built" by Aretha Franklin
3. "Back in the USA" by Chuck Berry
4. "(White Man) in Hammersmith Palais" by The Clash
5. "Tired of Being Alone" by Al Green

Floor-fillers at The Groucho (p. 87)

1. "It's a Good Feeling" by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles
2. "No Blow No Show" by Bobby Bland
3. "Mr. Big Stuff" by Jean Knight
4. "The Love You Save" by The Jackson Five
5. "The Ghetto" by Donny Hathaway

Rob's Top Five Films

1. The Godfather
2. The Godfather Part II
3. Taxi Driver
4. Goodfellas
5. Reservoir Dogs

Rob's Dad's Top Five Films (p. 137)

1. Genevieve
2. The Cruel Sea
3. Zulu
4. Oh! Mr. Porter
5. The Guns of Navarone

Rob's Mum's Top Five Films (p. 137)

1. Genevieve
2. Gone With The Wind
3. The Way We Were
4. Funny Girl
5. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Rob's Five Best Side One Track Ones (p.147)

1. "Janie Jones", The Clash, by The Clash
2. "Thunder Road", Born to Run, by Bruce Springsteen
3. "Smells Like Teen Spirit", Nevermind, by Nirvana
4. "Let's Get It On", Let's Get It On, by Marvin Gaye
5. "Return of the Grievous Angel", Grievous Angel, by Gram Parsons

Rob's Top Five Bands or Musicians Who Will Have To Be Shot Come the Musical Revolution (p.160)

1. Simple Minds
2. Michael Bolton
3. U2
4. Bryan Adams
5. Genesis

Rob's Five Dream Jobs (p. 229)

1. NME journalist, 1976-1979
2. Producer, Atlantic Records, 1964-1971
3. Musician (any kind except for rap or classical)
4. Film director (any kind except for German or silent)
5. Architect (eventually changed to owner of a record store)

Notable readings

In 2009, Dominic West read the scene in which Rob first meets Laura in an online film for The Carte Noire Readers.

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