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donaldinho's review against another edition
5.0
Great read. Heart warming, heart wrenching, terrifying. Great read.
themadmadmadeline's review against another edition
5.0
This book was in a word, a masterpiece.
Granted, I am a sports fan (definitely a fan, but to be completely honest, I'm not a sports expert by any stretch of the imagination. This book, however, deserves all the praise in the world as a piece of literary genius. The information presented in the novel was precise, detailed and wonderfully documented. The imagery and literary devices seen in the book were of the highest quality; not only does this book exist as a piece of history, it can be seen as a truly wonderful piece of literature.
I was blown away by the quality of this novel. I absolutely loved the book (despite being an "average sports fan", I cannot stress this enough!). Bissinger is an author to contend with.
Granted, I am a sports fan (definitely a fan, but to be completely honest, I'm not a sports expert by any stretch of the imagination. This book, however, deserves all the praise in the world as a piece of literary genius. The information presented in the novel was precise, detailed and wonderfully documented. The imagery and literary devices seen in the book were of the highest quality; not only does this book exist as a piece of history, it can be seen as a truly wonderful piece of literature.
I was blown away by the quality of this novel. I absolutely loved the book (despite being an "average sports fan", I cannot stress this enough!). Bissinger is an author to contend with.
nlbullock1's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book. It's well worth reading to see how far we've taken our love of sports as a country. The book reads like a novel, and the stories are alternately heartbreaking and inspiring. There is some language both curse and vulgar words (mostly locker room/football field) so just be aware. Overall I highly recommend this book.
kgentry4's review against another edition
4.0
A great book that really captures the true essence of southern football. This book is filled with a realism that really puts the reader right in the middle of this town, watching how the football culture takes precedence over everything else.
Good writing, interesting history, and overall a well-painted picture.
Good writing, interesting history, and overall a well-painted picture.
vlphildreth's review against another edition
This book really gave me new insight into football. Living in the South, I see a lot of football peripherally. There are big rivalries here and I only saw the fans. Bissinger brings light to what the student players go through - all the pain, sacrifice, ego, pressures, and benefits. Even though I only have a cursory understanding of the sport, this book changed my mind about football.
penandpencil's review against another edition
5.0
This book is less about high school football than it is about race, class, sports-as-religion, and small town America. Excellent.
fros86's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't expect to like this- not being a football fan, but it showed an interesting insight into one town's obsession with the game and its consequential effect on the players (only high school students). Worth a read.
mandyc1977's review against another edition
5.0
Having liked the movie and LOVED the tv series, I was curious to read the book that started it all. I didn't have high expectations because I didn't think it could compare to the tv series but, at least, it would be an interesting read.
How wrong I was...
I WAS HOOKED. I was on the edge of my seat for every will they or won't they win game. My mouth would drop and I would gasp when life would take a sudden and unexpected turn. I cheered and I mourned and I wanted to shake some sense into these boys, into this town. I would quote lines of the book to my family. The ending made me cry, a 25 year later afterword.
This book was amazing. A glimpse into the life of a town, a peek into the lives of a handful of high school boys that feels incredibly personal and intimate written by someone who seemed to love this town and these boys but, as an outsider, wasn't afraid to point out the harsh realities and inconsistencies found in a town where football is king and it's players treated like gods.
How wrong I was...
I WAS HOOKED. I was on the edge of my seat for every will they or won't they win game. My mouth would drop and I would gasp when life would take a sudden and unexpected turn. I cheered and I mourned and I wanted to shake some sense into these boys, into this town. I would quote lines of the book to my family. The ending made me cry, a 25 year later afterword.
This book was amazing. A glimpse into the life of a town, a peek into the lives of a handful of high school boys that feels incredibly personal and intimate written by someone who seemed to love this town and these boys but, as an outsider, wasn't afraid to point out the harsh realities and inconsistencies found in a town where football is king and it's players treated like gods.