Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #80714 in Books
• Published on: 2002-01-31
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Customer Reviews

Sporting Masterpiece
"Fever Pitch is a heartfelt and occasionally too self-deprecating attempt to explain how someone becomes a rabid fan of the English soccer club Arsenal. Definitely not for those in search of facts, Pele anecdotes, or soccer history, the book is as much about obsession and a sensitive young man's search for direction and community as it is about goals and penalty kicks.Amazingly in the UK, soccer is still regarded as the working class equivalent of weekly entertainment and for somebody who is a Cambridge graduate to describe life in the stands as well as the high and lows of a genuinely top performing club reflects prose of the highest standard.Arsenal were a team who in the 1980's were overshadowed by their North London rivals, Tottenham; Whereas the latter symbolized free flowing football, Arsenal were regarded as simply 'boring' The turnaround in fortunes has been dramatic, and I can feel for Hornby when he describes his team's greatest moment in winning the League Final of 1987 against Liverpool. I'm a Spurs fan and I ought to hate this book. I loved it because at the end of the day despite the author's footballing affinities, he has written a sporting masterpiece !

A must read
I received this book from a friend as a birthday present, who chose it because of its subject knowing I was a big football fan. Perhaps this was a rather misguided choice, though, as although Fever Pitch is based around Hornby's childhood (and early manhood) experiences of football, it is so much more than a run-of-the-mill football book. Its beautifully crafted life experience stories are, admittedly, set around key Arsenal matches in the 1980s, but if this were to put of non-football fans it would truly be a shame. Unlike many authors, especially in this genre, Hornby has a gift of true communication - throughout the book one gets the feeling of being with him as he searches for the purpose of his life, and the position of his hobby-come-obsession within that.
Although for non-football fans the match descriptions may seem dull and unappealing, they make up only a small percentage of the book and are included in such a way as to be intrinsic to the storyline rather than as an added extra to appeal to the terraces. It is in crafting this into his personal life that Hornby achieves his real success, and creates what many believe to be the best football book ever.
But don't forget, this book isn't just about Arsenal, or even football, but about how a young Londoner grows up, and learns to live his own life. A heart-warming tale, not to be overlooked.

Amazing
I am a woman, not british and not a big football fan, but I do watch a match every now and then. I came upon this book by accident and I was very reluctant to start reading, as I guessed I was not the intended audience. I have watched a couple of times Arsenal games on tv, I can identify a hadfull of the most important british players and I have a vague idea where Highbury is, but I imagined it would take more than this to enjoy the book. I was pleasantly surprised to discover some authors can really capture any audience. This book is brilliant. You can completely relate to the writer and feel his passion, his anticipation for the next game, his disappointments and his happy moments. A great read, highly entertaining, and not just for hardcore Arsenal fans (ok, I will not recommend it to people who have never watched a football game in their life).