weak, self absorbed character who is finding it very challenging to succumb to adult life and its responsibilities. Similarly, Will Freeman of About a Boy author Nick Hornby is another subdued, cowardly character who spends his days watching 'countdown' and 'home and away'. At 36, he is unmarried, obsessed with his apparent 'coolness' quotient and blissfully living off his fathers novelty song royalties; 'Santa's Super Sleigh'. Still believing that he is in the prime of his youth, like Harry Silver, is finding it difficult to establish his purpose and responsibilities in life:
             'How cool was Will Freeman? This cool: he had slept with a woman he didn't know very well. He had spent more than three hundred pounds on a jacket...'
             Hornby portrays Will's character well through his free flowing colloquial use of the English language. Likewise to Man and Boy, Hornby uses laddish, juvenile language to establish Will's character:
             'Alright, but I'm going to tell my mum'
             'Oooh. I'm scared!'
             The fact that Will hasn't accomplished anything as yet perceives him as a weak, pessimistic character with no life or ambition:
             'You didn't have to have a life of your own anymore; you could just peek over the fence at other peoples'
             Hornby's use of imagery here also contributes to our opinion of Will to be somewhat child like and immature. Furthermore, High Fidelity's Rob Gordon, is no different. A tiny record shop located in the London suburbs called 'Championship Vinyl' is where Rob hides himself from the real world day in day out. His obsessive passion for music floods into his social life, by classifying anything that occurs into 'top- five lists'. His unreliability, fear of commitment and immaturity are like Harry and Will; his downfall. Rob's depression and self analysis...