Review by SlowRain (2006-05-22)
This is the first book I have read by Nick Hornby. In fact, it's the first book I've ever read about relationships. The story is about 35-year-old Rob, a music lover with a failing record store whose girlfriend has just left him.

The writing style is a very casual first person narrative. Rob is 35, but acts and talks like a much younger, vulgar twentysomething. His two friends, coincidently or not his employees, are just as directionless and equally obsessed with music history and trivia. The only person with any goals in life is his girlfriend, Laura, who has just walked out on him. That's not to say that Rob is a bad guy, he's just in a rut.

When Laura leaves it causes him to, first of all, reorganize his record collection. Then, he starts on some self exploration and analysis of his many failed relationships and where he is in his life. The result is some extremely observational anecdotes and wonderful comments on men, women, careers, perceptions, relationships, parents, friendship etc. There is a lot of humor in this book, but a lot of meaningful gems can be mined from that humor because it's all true, or at least true for certain types of men, women and parents. I found it at times to be like "Seinfeld", without Kramer.

My only complaint is that Rob is too observational to be in this much of a rut; if he's smart enough to see these things in himself and others and be critical of it, he should have done this a long time ago. One could argue that he "didn't see the Amazon for the twigs" and that it took Laura's leaving to be the catalyst, but I didn't buy it. Basically, the author, Nick Hornby, is the smart one, and he is just putting words into Rob's mouth and thoughts into his head. It's not a big deal with such a wonderful book, but it is there.

I think it would be best for a couple to read this book together, as it should appeal to both and has so many wonderful things to say about men and women: not all men and women, but some men and women. Also, it's a bit vulgar, so some people may not enjoy it for that reason. I'll definitely give another one of his books a try, but this isn't my standard reading material.