A review by pookykun
The Hustler by Walter Tevis

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.