I have never written a book review before and I hesitate doing so now, because I do not believe that I will be able to do this particular book full justice. Frustratingly, I also feel that whatever I write, most will ignore it and many will believe that I am somehow biased in my views.
Steve Goddard (To view the link you have to Register or Login on the BBS) sent me a PM in late summer 2013 asking me if I would read the draft of a novel he had written. I did not know Steve, who made contact with me through the BBS. I agreed to do so, but without any great enthusiasm. Indeed, when the draft arrived by email in September last year, I ignored it and (I am ashamed to say) forgot about it.
Steve wrote to me again in November asking if I had any comments and I replied:
I did go away in December, but without his script.
In April this year, Steve sent me a hard copy of his complete book and I settled down to read it, hoping to finish it over the next week or so. However, after the first two Chapters I was completely hooked and didn't put the book down until I finished it later that evening.
Believe me, this is an absolutely brilliant book which tells two stories in parallel (although without wanting to spoil the ending, the two come together in the end in a beautiful and emotional way).
The story which might interest Palace fans the most features Dan Howard, a Crystal Palace fan, who follows the team during the traumatic administration year of 2009/2010. As the Season develops (ending at Hillsborough with a winner stays up showdown), we discover more about Dan; his passion for Palace; his girlfriend sally; his music and - most interestingly of all - his mysterious grandmother.
The parallel story tells of an impoverished working class Lancashire miner Tom Daws - and his team Burnley in their quest for FA Cup glory in 1914 - who ends up fighting in the trenches during World War I. Tom has an unlikely romance with an upper class girl Emily, who is the daughter of the family his mother works for as a maidservant. There is more to Emily than is first apparent. She is a suffragette, who doesn't care much for class barriers or authority.
Steve Goddard has produced a perfectly crafted first novel which really does grip the reader from the first chapter. Reading the book, you care about the characters and need to know how things will turn out. That's one of the reasons why I could not put this down after I had started it.
Please do try and get hold of a copy of this book. I promise that you will not be disappointed. The ending is wonderful (and - spoiler alert - not just because Palace managed to survive in that last day of the season match in 2010 by holding Wednesday to a 2-2 draw).
Steve Goddard (To view the link you have to Register or Login on the BBS) sent me a PM in late summer 2013 asking me if I would read the draft of a novel he had written. I did not know Steve, who made contact with me through the BBS. I agreed to do so, but without any great enthusiasm. Indeed, when the draft arrived by email in September last year, I ignored it and (I am ashamed to say) forgot about it.
Steve wrote to me again in November asking if I had any comments and I replied:
Quote:
Steve - I do apologise for not getting back to you on this. The truth is that your draft has been sitting in my inbox and I haven't yet had the chance to review it. I am going away in December and will take it with me to read while I am away, if that's OK. I appreciate that you wanted more immediate feedback and again, I apologise for being so slow. |
I did go away in December, but without his script.
In April this year, Steve sent me a hard copy of his complete book and I settled down to read it, hoping to finish it over the next week or so. However, after the first two Chapters I was completely hooked and didn't put the book down until I finished it later that evening.
Believe me, this is an absolutely brilliant book which tells two stories in parallel (although without wanting to spoil the ending, the two come together in the end in a beautiful and emotional way).
The story which might interest Palace fans the most features Dan Howard, a Crystal Palace fan, who follows the team during the traumatic administration year of 2009/2010. As the Season develops (ending at Hillsborough with a winner stays up showdown), we discover more about Dan; his passion for Palace; his girlfriend sally; his music and - most interestingly of all - his mysterious grandmother.
The parallel story tells of an impoverished working class Lancashire miner Tom Daws - and his team Burnley in their quest for FA Cup glory in 1914 - who ends up fighting in the trenches during World War I. Tom has an unlikely romance with an upper class girl Emily, who is the daughter of the family his mother works for as a maidservant. There is more to Emily than is first apparent. She is a suffragette, who doesn't care much for class barriers or authority.
Steve Goddard has produced a perfectly crafted first novel which really does grip the reader from the first chapter. Reading the book, you care about the characters and need to know how things will turn out. That's one of the reasons why I could not put this down after I had started it.
Please do try and get hold of a copy of this book. I promise that you will not be disappointed. The ending is wonderful (and - spoiler alert - not just because Palace managed to survive in that last day of the season match in 2010 by holding Wednesday to a 2-2 draw).
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