I finished The Miracle of Castel Di Sangro last night. Joe McGinnis captures a year in the life of a small-town Italian professional soccer club competing in the Serie B (the second best league in Italy), and puts the reader in the locker room, on the pitch, and caught up in the drama as the season unfolds. A must-read for soccer (and sports) fans, McGinnis at times becomes too involved in the story he's reporting, but overall this is as good a "behind the scenes" sports book as I have ever read.
Next up is The General in His Labyrinth, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the only novel by him that I haven't read. I've been amazed by the diversity of people reading One Hundred Years of Solitude (thanks, Oprah), and a couple of Ms. Winfrey's earthly minions have inspired me to read this fictionalized account of Simon Bolivar.
Posted by david on March 01, 2004i've never read any marquez, however, i did go to graduate school with his niece!
Posted by: janelle on March 1, 2004 09:11 AM"General" is a fantastic book, and I devoured it during a flight from Brazil to NYC. Once I hit the first page I never looked up from the book. A really excellent story and seemingly the shortest flight i've ever had. enjoy!
Posted by: rob on March 1, 2004 10:49 AMI just finished 100 Years of Solitude (I bought it right before Oprah announced it was her next book club book.) I love the way he writes.
I was part of a v. eclectic book club back in Dallas, and I'd love to either start or find one like it. I loved reading a book and then getting together to argue, discuss, ponitificate, etc. the details over cocktails.
Posted by: kelly on March 1, 2004 02:48 PM