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eshugarman's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
quietjenn's review against another edition
4.0
Huh. I never expected to like a book about soccer so much. But, probably most books about soccer aren't also ghost stories, eh?
thebooksupplier's review against another edition
4.0
After reading Tamar, and not really liking it, I thought I'd give Mal Peet another chance. Keeper is a great story not only about soccer, but also about giving back and conservationism. It also has an element of the supernatural that lends itself to a Field of Dreams (or Shoeless Joe) connection.
megwingerd's review against another edition
4.0
I don't usually read "sports books," but I have many students who eat, drink, and breathe athletics, and I like to find books that might appeal to them. This interesting novel follows a frame story structure. The outer frame is a conversation between a goalie, El Gato, and a journalist. Inside that frame, the goalie describes how he came to be what many consider the greatest goalie of all time, his humble beginnings in a small, jungle village in South America, and the mysterious and supernatural coach who trained him.
As the reader, I shared the journalist's skepticism about the coach, but it made for a good story. The setting in Ecuador provides some insight into another culture, and El Gato was an inspiring character.
Plot: B
Characterization: A-
Thematic Ideas: B+
As the reader, I shared the journalist's skepticism about the coach, but it made for a good story. The setting in Ecuador provides some insight into another culture, and El Gato was an inspiring character.
Plot: B
Characterization: A-
Thematic Ideas: B+
gothamballer39's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
williamsdebbied's review against another edition
4.0
The story is told as an interview between a South American sports reporter, Paul Faustino, and the World Cup winning soccer goalkeeper, El Gato. Paul expects an ordinary interview focused on El Gato's triumph, but gets much more. El Gato describes his early life living in a small logging town at the edge of the rainforest. He goes on to describe how, one day, before he was known as El Gato, he wandered into a mysterious clearing deep in the rainforest. Once there, he met a ghost who trained him to become the world's best goalkeeper.
Paul can't quite decide if El Gato is crazy or if maybe he's playing a joke. After all, his story can't possibly be true, can it? The fast-paced sports action, combined with the element of mystery keep the pages turning.
The only thread that was left hanging was the environmental message. There was a lot of possibility for this part of the story that was never fully realized. Overall, though, a good read.
Paul can't quite decide if El Gato is crazy or if maybe he's playing a joke. After all, his story can't possibly be true, can it? The fast-paced sports action, combined with the element of mystery keep the pages turning.
The only thread that was left hanging was the environmental message. There was a lot of possibility for this part of the story that was never fully realized. Overall, though, a good read.
madhamster's review against another edition
4.0
I don't follow/like soccer - but this book will suck in even sports-haters.
It's a sport book, a coming-of-age, a mystery, an ecological warning, a ghost story, a tale of righting wrongs.
I DID own a copy - lent it someone who thought I'd bought it for them! Vanished - off my bookshelves! - where will I buy another copy for just $5!
It's a sport book, a coming-of-age, a mystery, an ecological warning, a ghost story, a tale of righting wrongs.
I DID own a copy - lent it someone who thought I'd bought it for them! Vanished - off my bookshelves! - where will I buy another copy for just $5!
scaifea's review against another edition
4.0
The South American goalkeeper who has just led his team in winning the World Cup tells his life story to the most famous South American sports writer in an exclusive interview, but Paul (the writer) gets so much more than he bargained for in El Gato's story, and the keeper has his own motives for telling all of his secrets.
I honestly didn't think I'd like this book, because I couldn't imagine enjoying any book about any kind of sport. But this one is about so much more than soccer. It combines a deep-set love of the game with a coming-of-age story wrapped in magical realism and with a healthy dose of environmental consciousness. In short, it's a winner.
I honestly didn't think I'd like this book, because I couldn't imagine enjoying any book about any kind of sport. But this one is about so much more than soccer. It combines a deep-set love of the game with a coming-of-age story wrapped in magical realism and with a healthy dose of environmental consciousness. In short, it's a winner.
claudiamacpherson's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Violence and Vomit
snarkywench's review against another edition
4.0
I am not, and will not ever be, a soccer buff - but this book gave me an appreciation for the game that I definitely did not possess beforehand. Peet has written a novel that weaves mysticism and football into one package that takes surprising turns.
Alternating between current day and El Gato's childhood, the reader is taken on a journey from his knobbly kneed, talentless beginnings to his World Cup winning present. It's a vivid journey, one where every event is written in action packed detail that allows you to be in the moment. The characters are expertly depicted. El Gato is a character that evolves beautifully, like a caterpillar into a butterfly, under the tutelage of the mysterious Keeper. In the end soccer/football is a metaphor for life; embrace your vulnerability and fear, work your butt off and stay open to opportunities and good things will come.
If there was anything to quibble, it would be the scenes in present day. Some of the dialogue felt a little flat for me, almost like it was an untruth. At time it was easy to resent Faustino and his interference into the unravelling past of El Gato. Perhaps this was the goal of Peet, for the journalist to add a splash of reality to the magical tale of the boy and the shadow? As the readers we want to return to the jungle, to the Keeper, to El Gato's journey as soon as possible. It's a fantastic way to build tension within the story and within the reader.
It's a lovely read. Full of joy for soccer, the technicalities of the game and of life, the need for belief in yourself and the impossible and the joy in success. It's quite a surprising read that runs the gamut of emotions and turns - highly recommended.
Alternating between current day and El Gato's childhood, the reader is taken on a journey from his knobbly kneed, talentless beginnings to his World Cup winning present. It's a vivid journey, one where every event is written in action packed detail that allows you to be in the moment. The characters are expertly depicted. El Gato is a character that evolves beautifully, like a caterpillar into a butterfly, under the tutelage of the mysterious Keeper. In the end soccer/football is a metaphor for life; embrace your vulnerability and fear, work your butt off and stay open to opportunities and good things will come.
If there was anything to quibble, it would be the scenes in present day. Some of the dialogue felt a little flat for me, almost like it was an untruth. At time it was easy to resent Faustino and his interference into the unravelling past of El Gato. Perhaps this was the goal of Peet, for the journalist to add a splash of reality to the magical tale of the boy and the shadow? As the readers we want to return to the jungle, to the Keeper, to El Gato's journey as soon as possible. It's a fantastic way to build tension within the story and within the reader.
It's a lovely read. Full of joy for soccer, the technicalities of the game and of life, the need for belief in yourself and the impossible and the joy in success. It's quite a surprising read that runs the gamut of emotions and turns - highly recommended.