You'll no doubt be familiar with this - either because there was a time in the late 1990s when Nick Hornby was ubiquitous (and his books were worth reading - "how to be good"... yuck!) or because you have seen the film starring John Cusack.

As with Hornby's first novel, this is a story about what it's like being a man. In this case, it's not about football, it's about music. But then again, just as "fever pitch" is about a lot more than footie, so too is "High Fidelity" about a lot more than the anal categorisation of music.

This is my favourite of Hornby's books by some way - there's a little piece of me that likes to rearrange my record collection regularly and that compiles "All time greatest track ones side ones" compiliations. (For the record, although it may well be the most obvious choice, 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' makes it onto mine... Barry would not be impressed. Mind you, I reckon I'd also have:

'A Rush and Push and the Land is Ours' from 'Strangeways Here We Come' by the Smiths

'Politik' from 'A Rush of Blood to the Head' by Coldplay

'Back in Black' from 'Back in Black' by AC/DC

'I wanna be Adored' from 'Stone Roses'

ah enough... you get the picture, right?

I've bought this specially for release at the UK Bookcrossing Unconvention in Birmingham....

Release planned for Saturday, July 17, 2004 at BCUK 2004 Unconvention @ Apres Bar, Summerrow in Birmingham, England Controlled Releases.

Released at the 2004 Bookcrossing UK Unconvention for another BCUK-er to enjoy.

One of many many many books that I caught at the National Meet in Birmingham today - thanks for organising it Steve! I will pass it on to Katweeble and LadyChass when I have finished reading it.

Although I enjoyed reading this, and would probably read other nick Hornby books, I found it very difficult to get the film out of my head. I liked the unusual love story idea in the book. I will now pass this on to katweeble.

Passed to me by sandyundead - I will be glad when she has finished her 31 books in August stint and slows down/goes to university to let me get mount tbr down to scaleable proportions!

Just finished and really enjoyed it. Kept seeing the characters from the american film in my head - but as it includes John Cusack that is no hardship. Felt the book and film really complement each other despite being set on different continents. Just off to pm Ladychass who saw the book at the Unconvention - but sandyundead moved a bit faster?!

Sent today to Ladychass if my daughter has remembered to post it!

I am SOSOSOS sorry it's taken me so long to journal this book, haven't gottan around to reading it yet, received it ages ago, just lately bookcrossing has been the last thing on my mind...