Reviews

While not as good as the Queen's Gambit (Beth Harmon was oh so much more compelling than Eddie Felson), this still captured the same type of "experiencing the game" magic. I felt like I'd stayed up all night myself after Fast Eddie's initial encounter with Minnesota Fats in Chicago. Looking forward to reading the sequel and then watching the movies. Then on to Tevis's sci-fi books!

elymomo's review against another edition

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3.0

Cosa significa essere un vincente? Cosa porta una persona dotata di un talento qualsiasi ad eccellere? “Fast” Eddie potrebbe essere un asso del biliardo, ma dovrà cadere e rialzarsi più volte prima di capire la differenza che corre fra il VOLER vincere e il POTER vincere. Il libro di Tevis è una bella metafora su cosa ci rende speciali, su come spesso ci poniamo dei limiti nascosti dietro scuse e giustificazioni. Non pensavo mi potesse interessare una storia su uno sport che proprio non conosco e invece il racconto funziona e avvince.

puzzled_pagan's review against another edition

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4.0

A solid little noir, like a shot of whiskey. The sad fate of Fast Eddie Felson, damned to spend his life chasing the highs and lows of professional pool sharking is a hell of a thing to experience.

maiopony's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense slow-paced

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

3.0

danjk's review against another edition

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5.0

The Hustler explores the dingy, low class world of the American pool hall with a minimalist style that reminded me of John Fante. Tevis delves into psyche of a sport where money and self worth are intertwined. Beautiful drawn and seedy characters litter the pages in-between poetic descriptions of pool.

I was hustled into giving this book 5 stars.

pookykun's review against another edition

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5.0

Occasionally despicable, almost entirely brilliant, The Hustler is a thrilling, weird, delightful story, and is one of the best books I've read this year. I love a book that can focus on one thing, in this case pool, with such attention and make it interesting to people like me who know nothing about the sport, or indeed about hustling. But the arcs, the lessons, they are applicable to competition as a whole, and indeed to the pursuit of art. Though the characters can be old fashioned at times, which is a rather polite way of putting it, the writing is full, vibrant, and easy going, while the plot is well paced. You can't help but root for fast Eddie.

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