Animal's People

Indra Sinha

About twenty years ago, I remember sitting, reading in an aged armchair in a shabby student bedsit in the East End. It was January, about minus 12 outside and the snow was piled high in Stepney.

Continue Reading... Comments (0) 29.02.2008. 10:36

The Big Blind

Louise Wener

A long time ago in a Galaxy Far, Far away (okay it was this one and only about 11-12 years ago), inside the covers of NME magazine the cold war was being recreated between Blur and Oasis, deep inside that whole Indie/Brit Pop scene was a band lead by an angel sent down from the heavens, whilst the others bands around the time abused each other she sang about having sex and urban myths to do with the Apollo 11 moon landing, the band were called Sleeper, and her name was Louise Wener.

Continue Reading... Comments (0) 29.01.2008. 09:15

Fatty Batter: How Cricket Saved My Life (Then Ruined It)

Fatty Batter: How Cricket Saved My Life (Then Ruined It)
Michael Simkins



If you like many of us are bored of the same old ghost written autobiographies, penning down the same old crap, from a sportsman who has only just finished puberty then this is for you.

Continue Reading... Comments (0) 09.01.2008. 18:28

On the Corinthian Spirit – The Decline of Amateurism in Sport

On the Corinthian Spirit – The Decline of Amateurism in Sport
D.J.Taylor
2006
Hardback, 131 pages, £10.00



Lets get something out the way early here: this is an overpriced book. It does not represent good value for money. This book is 131 A6 pages in fairly large type, priced at a tenner. It can probably be presumed that the publishers did not intend this book for people who would complain about the price, or the lack of value, but rather those who understand the beauty of the Corinthians FC – a load of toffs travelling round the world dishing out stuffings to everyone they played. All delivered with style, grace and politeness.

Continue Reading... Comments (0) 19.12.2007. 09:52

The Rider - Tim Krabbe

The Rider
Tim Krabbe
1978
Bloomsbury Publishing


The Rider, by leading Dutch author Tim Krabbe, is one of the greatest sporting novels ever written. Do not worry that it concerns a sport you probably have little experience of, be assured instead that it gets to the very heart of why we all compete or feel admiration for those that compete themselves. This book stands up on its literary hind legs and barks, and not many sporting tomes can do that.

Continue Reading... Comments (1) 12.12.2007. 21:02

Broken Dreams - Tom Bower

Broken Dreams – Vanity, Greed and the Souring of British Football
Tom Bower
2003
Paperback, 372 pages. £6.99



When this book was released in 2003 it caused something of a stir. Highly regarded investigative journalist Tom Bower delivered a savage indictment of British football, and it was his position as a non-football person that allowed his incredibly well researched expose of football’s financial secrets to truly hit the spot. Four years on from then, it has lost none of its interest. For football fans interested in the future of the game, it is a must read.

Continue Reading... Comments (0) 10.12.2007. 09:43