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sofi0518's review against another edition
3.0
Being a football (soccer) fanatic myself, and having loved the Colin Firth film, I felt this was a good book for my Book Club Bingo (a sports themed book). If it had been set in more recent years, with people and players I recognized, I think I would have liked it more. It was still relatable to read the author's story of how he came to love Arsenal and how it impacted his life, I just wish I knew who he was talking about most of the time.
bpc's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.25
criminolly's review against another edition
3.0
Well written, engaging, amusing and honest memoir of what it means to be a football fan. There’s a lot of interesting stuff in here about the nature of obsession and the clash between big business and fandom. At the end of the day, though, it’s about football. A subject I have no interest in at all.
devnall's review against another edition
3.0
Read Fever Pitch several years ago because I like Hornsby but I wasn't a soccer fan at the time and didn't much care for the book; gave it 2 stars.
Now that I'm more interested in soccer (Premier League, in particular) I re-read it and enjoyed it much more; 3.5-4 stars.
Splitting the difference and changing my review to 3 stars. If you're not specifically a soccer fan (I was [and still am] a passionate sports fan on initial read, [American] Football in particular) it's a slog to read. If you're into soccer, it's much more enjoyable.
Now that I'm more interested in soccer (Premier League, in particular) I re-read it and enjoyed it much more; 3.5-4 stars.
Splitting the difference and changing my review to 3 stars. If you're not specifically a soccer fan (I was [and still am] a passionate sports fan on initial read, [American] Football in particular) it's a slog to read. If you're into soccer, it's much more enjoyable.
samherriman's review against another edition
4.0
Amazing to think this was 30 years ago. At points it feels timeless, and at others hopelessly archaic. A fascinating relic - Hornby should write another.
himsul's review against another edition
5.0
An entertaining ride throughout the life of a massive football fan, that I felt particularly connected to. Being in my twenties and obsessed with the game I could relate to the author’s journey through life, understanding almost all of his dilemmas. It’s a book about quite an ordinary life, but the way that it was described makes it a phenomenal read. Humor, true insight into the mind of a Arsenal’s obsessed fan, superb change in tone as the author grows up, all of that causes it to be much better than it should’ve been while tackling such an monotonous subject.
lucahws's review against another edition
4.0
Absolutely hilarious, tender and bittersweet Fever Pitch confirms my suspicions that Hornby is one of my favourite writers. Reading this book feels like looking back through your parents photo albums, there’s a wonderful feeling of nostalgia that he recalls despite writing about 0-0 draws and defeats to Swindon and Wrexham. Hornby captures a very authentic experience of growing up being a football fan as both a teenager and an adult in a changing world. To quote Danny Rojas: “Football is life”.
x0pherl's review against another edition
2.0
I've been putting off this book by an author I generally like because sports are not my thing and a memoir about football (that kind, not the other) was unlikely to be my thing but then I saw it sitting there and decided to read it and would have been fine without. it's not *bad* but it just wasn't good either.
but it gets an extra star for some interesting observations about his divorced long distance dad working to have a relationship with him and finding a way through football.
but it gets an extra star for some interesting observations about his divorced long distance dad working to have a relationship with him and finding a way through football.