The vinyl record shop
The main character works in a vinyl shop where those who are interested can shop for various antique items. The vinyl record shop is also used here as a metaphor which represents the main character’s link with the past and his attachment with it.
Women are like a mystery
The narrator has a plethora of problems with women. The narrator is unable to understand the women around him and as such all his relationships end up in disaster. In many instances, the narrator compares women with the biggest mystery in life. This comparison is used here to show why the narrator has as many problems with having a long-lasting relationship with women.
Laura's boyfriend
After Laura dumped the narrator, she got involved with another man, who was slightly older than her. The narrator refused to give up on Laura and he continued to try and contact her until Laura’s current partner visited him. The partner is also used here as a metaphor and is used to represent a mature nature which many people have.
Faithfulness
Rob is unable to remain faithful to any of his girlfriends and instead of seeing this as something which has to be corrected, it is something he tried to keep alive. Rob’s unfaithfulness is also used here as a metaphor which his lack of commitment.
Death is like a trip
Laura’s father died towards the middle of the novel and this event affected Rob tremendously. Rob refuses to accept the death of someone he was close with and in his attempt to try and deal with this traumatic event, he compares death with a trip to a faraway land. This comparison is important in this context because it transmits the idea that Rob did not saw death as something final.
