Have you read Fever Pitch?

[Bozza]

Nick Hornby's Fever Pitch is 20 years old.

I suspect there are few of my age who haven't read it, but what about our younger fans now. Have you even heard of it? Have you read it?

 

[perseus]

It is easier to watch the film. For non-football supporters, this is the best explanation of the football supporter's world. Not prefect, but it rings a chord with me.

 

[Worthingite]

but the film was utter, utter shite. The book, albeit about one of my most loathed clubs, was a thing of beauty. I understand the agony, despair, joy and just about every other emotion the fella felt.

Admittedly, Hornby kind of ruined it afterwards by writing a string of shit, middle class holiday tat (High Fidelity aside)

 

[Simon Morgan]

Under 30. Haven't. Should I?

 

[The Buttery Biscuit Base]

Colin Firth made me dislike football for about two hours.

 

[Seagull kimchi]

Any good?

 

[W.C.]

It is easier to watch the film. For non-football supporters, this is the best explanation of the football supporter's world. Not prefect, but it rings a chord with me.

Lord! The film was appalling!

It's a great book.

No doubt we're going to get the accusations of the MIDDLE CLASSES flying around soon but IMHO that's bollocks. Hornby seemed to have had a very normal English upbringing and he loved his football, which he managed to put into words very well.

 

[W.C.]

That said, I haven't read it for about 18 years so perhaps it isn't as good as I remember it!

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Can't believe I'm going to agree with Perseus the nutter, but I really liked the film and thought the book was shite.

 

[rcf0712]

hell yeah, really took me back to my youth what with tales of midweek afternoon cup replays and the like. It's the only book I have ever read twice. Never seen the film.

 

[jonny.rainbow]

The part that sticks in my mind most from the book is his sudden realisation that his current Arsenal idol, David Rocastle, is younger than him and that one day he'd be an old man worshipping teenagers pulling on the shirt.

 

[no81skint]

Film and book just different to be honest. Film helped to explain my obsession to others, although it takes me back to a dark, dark time following the Albion.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Under 30. Haven't. Should I?

Any good?

Yes and yes!


(the book that is!)

 

[Seagull kimchi]

Yes and yes!


(the book that is!)

Thanks! I'll pick up a copy this week.

 

[Codner pharmaceuticals]

Loved the film and book.

Film had the great line'its not the smoking, its the crapness'.

Who else was at the Arsenal vs Albion game in the book?

 

[JCL666]

Great book. Especially as it doesn't harp on about how exciting football related violence is.

 

[Notters]

Read it last month on holiday as it happens. He does come across as a bit of a glory supporter but well akrth the read.

 

[boik]

Just like Fever Pitch - the book is great and the film is shit. In fact just like almost every book that has ever be "filmified".

 

[Pogue Mahone]

but the film was utter, utter shite. The book, albeit about one of my most loathed clubs, was a thing of beauty. I understand the agony, despair, joy and just about every other emotion the fella felt.

Admittedly, Hornby kind of ruined it afterwards by writing a string of shit, middle class holiday tat (High Fidelity aside)

It's a great book.

He has written a string of really funny, well written books since despite your snobby dismissal.

 

[The Large One]

It is easier to watch the film. For non-football supporters, this is the best explanation of the football supporter's world. Not prefect, but it rings a chord with me.

Bollocks.

It's AN explanation. The film wasn't shit, it just wasn't a representation of the book, as the book, in truth, was fundamentally unfilmable. It's an adaptation of a slice of Hornby's book.

The book, however, lifted the football-writing genre out of fantasy and into a kind of intelligent, reasoned way of describing emotions (even if the subject matter was a bit nerdy - but then there's plenty on here like that).