Reviews

A Sport and a Pastime by James Salter

guinness74's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Meh. It was sometimes difficult to discern who was the narrator in this rats nest of sentence fragments. Maybe in 1967 this was avant-garde, or maybe I just prefer a different style. The story itself is not all that interesting. The sex was probably taboo for the time (though I can’t imagine) but it’s not overly imaginative. So, what’s left? Driving through the French countryside in a vintage convertible…and that’s how it gets 2 whole stars.

lisawhelpley's review against another edition

3.0

I feel like I missed a ton of what I was supposed to "get" or "understand" in this book. Reminded me of college English when I questioned if I was truly a reader or not...but those years are long gone, and I know that I am indeed a reader, but I don't think this book was for me. I read it in full, but I can't say I enjoyed it.

tstuppy's review against another edition

5.0

Read first in Aug 2013

Second time in 2015

Upon rereading, I was captured by the language but less engaged. I just read THE HUNTERS, so maybe it was a comparative thing, or maybe that I am not reading on the beach this second time. Either way, still quite a novel.

morganmcburney's review against another edition

2.5

I can’t lie- the writing was beautiful. I just have no idea what happened throughout the book even after finishing 

joshcoh85's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

karcherj's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

shawnita's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

booksnbops's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

3.0

Beautiful sentences marred by racism

johndiconsiglio's review against another edition

You always remember your first time…reading Salter’s much beloved 1967 erotic classic. (What did you think I meant?) His publisher complained that the novel had “more than the normal amount of sex.” Strange then that the mismatched (& explicit) Paris lovers—a callow Yale dropout adrift in Europe & a young French shopgirl—are less intriguing today than the monumentally unreliable (& sorta creepy) narrator. The years haven’t put out this fire.

jillrisberg's review against another edition

4.5

unmatched prose, particularly in the descriptions of setting/weather. really crisp, short sentences which I love. beautiful little book.