High Fidelity by Nick Hornby

High Fidelity is one of my all-time favorite novels and easily my choice for best contemporary male relationship novel.

The novel tells the story of Rob, a thirtysomething pop music junkie just out of a long relationship, who uses music to define and measure his life.

Hilarious and true to life, High Fidelity deftly captures the disorientation and actions following the end of a relationship: how Rob reorganizes his record collection in an effort to find security in the familiar; how he reassesses his past relationships and contacts old girlfriends; how he fumbles in his efforts to win back his ex-girlfriend, Laura; how he tortures himself with thoughts of Laura and her new lover; and how ultimately he gets it right when he has an opportunity to reconcile with Laura and does.

The novel inspired the film of the same name, starring John Cusack.

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