Self – Yann Martel

$9.21 from Amazon.com

Buy it if: You want to like Gabriel Garcia Marquez, but the magic carpets are too much. You need something off-kilter…but just a little.

Don’t Buy it if: You’re expecting Life of Pi 2.

I’m big on story, no point denying it. Quick dialog, action moving forward, things happening… Personally, I believe these are the things that suck you into a good book, that give you an portable escape from the real world. Wordy descriptions, emotional landscapes, prose that borders on poetry? These are all things I can admire, but you will rarely find them on my own bookshelves. And if you do, there’s a very good chance they will be adorned with a fine layer of dust.

But I do occasionally give up my pulp for a turn with the slightly highbrow crowd and in this instance it’s led to Yann Martel’s Self. Best known for the surprisingly popular Life of Pi, Martel first struck out – in novel form at least - with this ‘fictional autobiography.’ OK, not an insanely odd slant, I’ll admit. Then again, did I mention that early on in the book the character changes sex? Not on purpose, not in a Transamerica way. Instead it just sort of...happens. It seems even a book that veers so far from being plot-driven can derive its principle twist from that most basic writer’s question: What if…

And indeed, that’s a big what if. Certainly one that’s been tackled by Hollywood ad nauseam. The Hot Chick, Switch…the list goes on. (Admit it, you can think of at least three more that you’ve seen. And probably liked. It’s OK,, you’re among friends.) Yet Martel doesn’t dwell on pragmatism - quite the opposite in fact - choosing to treat the odd occurrence as a progression of life. Unexpected? Perhaps. But not shattering nor untenable. If anything, the unique change in perspective allows the author freedom to rove through male and female emotion and perspective, which is really what makes the heart of the book. Situations and interactions may catalyze the thoughts, but the thoughts themselves form the meat of the novel.

For some, this may actually be where the books falls down. If you’re hoping for a ‘tale,’ for one happening to cause another and so forth, there’s a good chance Martel is going to let you down. Even the character actions that do make it to the page are relatively droll and mundane. However, if you’re looking for crafted prose that feels a bit like poetry deconstructed and placed into the framework of a narrated philosophy, perhaps Self will provide you with the necessary means for temporary distraction. (Here’s a hint: If you found that last sentence wildly pretentious, you should probably delete this selection from your Amazon shopping cart right now.)

The joys to be found here are in Martel’s precise and well-placed wording, his very sculpted questioning of experience. Despite being a thin paperback written by a bestselling author, this is not reading to be approached lightly. If you are only searching for mild distraction with unimportant details, the pages contained within will prove ever-frustrating. But if you take pleasure in the sentence savoring and the mild euphoria of confusion that can result from unexpected perspectives, this one may be worth the risk…

The Boys of Winter - Wayne Coffey

$10.04 at Amazon.com

Buy it if: You love a well-told story, especially when it’s true. Or you’re from Minnesota.

Don’t Buy it if: Your reaction to Miracle: “That was boring, I already knew the ending…”

It’s tough not to be a sucker for a good, underdog sports story. Rocky, Invincible… Even Major League fits the bill to a degree. But a good story only gets you halfway to a good book. It’s the writing that brings you home. The Boys of Winter should be a familiar story to some – probably most – of you reading. ‘The Miracle on Ice’ is certainly one of the most-referenced sports moments in history, so what new can be added? And how does one tell a tale most readers already know?

In reality, this book probably contains little, if any, new information about the 1980 US Olympic Hockey team. Winter sports aficionados and ice hockey buffs will not be enthralled by previously undiscovered facts. The names and faces will certainly be familiar to anyone who had a drivers license by 1983. And is there anyone who doesn’t know who won the 1980 USSR vs. USA match up in Lake Placid?! Still, Wayne Coffey delivers nearly essential reading with excellent prose on three fronts: The sport, the player and the game.

The Sport:

For those who don’t know a blue line from a crease, not to worry…no necessary term is left undefined, no insider hockey knowledge is required. Coffey does an excellent job of describing techniques, scoring, etc without overwhelming or leaving a reader in the dark. It’s fine line to walk, but he pulls it off consistently.

The Players:

From legendary (and legendarily feared) Herb Brooks to enigmatic Jim Craig, the author weaves the backstories of the men on the 1980 roster (and a few who were left off) in and out of the narrative throughout the book. It’s not an uncommon technique for historical storytelling, but Coffey executes it uncommonly well. These are fascinating men, brought together from remarkably different walks of life. Placing each story into the context of the whole brings a surprising amount of depth to a book that covers a year of development and competition in only 272 pages.

The Game:

Anyone with ears, eyes and the ability to understand sports can tell you where they were when the US beat the Russians. (I was being Christened. No, I don’t remember it, but I know because everyone else that was there does.) Sportswriting is hard enough when the game is fresh in everyone’s mind, but the ‘Miracle on Ice’ was over a quarter of a century ago. And you know – unless you’re a complete moron – how the big showdown turns out. That Coffey can write this latest account and keep a reader so excited, so intrigued with the intricacies and details of what actually made the game what it was, is a testament to his skill as storyteller. Like the race scenes in Seabiscuit, the words draw you in to the past so much so that it feels present, something much easier said than done.

There are probably dozens of books more detailed, more technical or simply more intense than The Boys of Winter. But for those of you that missed it – or those you who want to relive its simple joy and excitement – I can’t imagine you’d find a better vehicle than this. The worn and wrinkled pages of my own copy stand witness to my belief that this is easily one of the best sports books ever written.