Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Fever Pitch
Book Review: A must read
Summary: 5 Stars
Essential reading for any woman who wants to know how the majority of men think, not just about Football, but certain team sports in general.
Yes, we will sometimes put our team before anything else and become so immersed in it that it will, at least for a large part of our lives, take precedence over other events, and the performance of said team will affect our moods and behaviours.
Book Review: A must read for sports fans, not just soccer (footy) fans
Summary: 5 Stars
This is without a doubt the best book on football (soccer) that I have ever read. It is also the best book dealing with sports that I have ever read. It describes like no other book I have read what it means to be a fan.Although this book follows the life of an Arsenal supporter, anyone can read it, because Hornby's experiences are no different than those of any committed, "obsessed" football fan. I am a Leeds supporter, and much of what Hornby said described what I feel, so perfectly. I especially liked the part when he went on about wanting to switch allegiances if he could, but found out that he couldn't because he was too emotionally tied to Arsenal. No matter how poorly they played, or how frustrated they made him feel, he still supported the club. I've felt the same way about Leeds on many an occasion.
A great book about life, not just about football.
Book Review: A sports and literature classic!
Summary: 5 Stars
The essence of the book is captured in the following. After Arsenal lost the FA Cup final against Ipswich in 1978: "... to them (the business types), it really was only a game, and it probably did me good to spend time with people who behaved for all the world as if football were a diverting entertainment, like rugby or golf or cricket. It's not like that at all, of course, but just for an afternoon it was interesting and instructive to meet people who believed that it was." Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby is the search for an explanation of being an obsessive football fan. This search results in a brilliant book. Although not all football supporters are as obsessive as Hornby (some are even more obsessive), the vast majority will recognize the emotions that drive them to support a team fanatically and to remember the numerous, useless details about teams and matches. The (lack of) reason to do so will also apply to other sports like American Football, Baseball, Hockey, and Basketball. This book is a great self-analysis for all fanatic supporters of any sport worldwide and, if read by non-supporters, they can understand or at least accept supporters' behavior a little better. With Arsenal taking many trophies in England during the last seasons with their impressive offense Bergkamp, Overmars and Anelka and the resulting general recognition that Arsenal is not at all boring, I am pretty sure that Hornby had (and continues to have) many ecstatic moments.Book Review: About Obsessions, Not Sports
Summary: 4 Stars
I am a Nick Hornby fan, not a sports fan -- and I don't know a thing about football ("soccer," to my fellow Yanks). As such, many of the details in Hornby's memoir of a lifelong obsession with Arsenal seemed arcane to me. But, surprisingly, I found Fever Pitch to be one of Hornby's stronger efforts. It helped me see how an intelligent person could become preoccupied with sports, and come to see a team as a family -- even more important than one's actual family. In addition, the book is both funny and reflective, especially when the author's ambivalent empathy with football rioters can be seen through his disgust at their actions. A worthy read for any memoir fan, football enthusiast or not.Book Review: All Hail Highbury's Red and White!!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a very funny and more than a little sad memoir about Hornby's life-long, love-hate obsession with London's Arsenal Football Club. For Anglophiles, the football culture is fun and fascinating to read about (and Hornby's personal observations on the disaster at Hillsbrough are moving). Hornby's writing is fast-paced and witty. And self-deprecating to the point of mockery. He knows he's sacrificed much more important things in life for the sake of a sport club that has rarely failed to disappoint him.