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  <title><![CDATA[A Season with Verona: Travels Around Italy in Search of Illusion, National Character, and...Goals!]]></title>
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  <description><![CDATA[After 20 years of living in Italy, Tim Parks, whom Joseph Brodsky, has called &quot;the nest British author working today,&quot; spent a full year following the fortunes-and misfortunes-of the Verona football-oops! Soccer-club. Here is his rollicking report. Fro Udine to Catania, from San Siro to the Olimpico, traveling with the fans and the players from the tip to the toe of Italy, Tim Parks offers a highly personal account of his relationship with a country, its people, and its national sport.  The fans, as always are accused of vulgarity, racism, and violence.  The police are ambiguous, the journeys exhausting, the referees unforgivable, the anecdotes hilarious.  In a world stripped of idealism and increasingly bereft of religion, Parks suggests that soccer offers a new and fiercely ironic way of engaging with the sacred.]]></description>
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    <![CDATA[A Season with Verona: Travels Around Italy in Search of Illusion, National Character, and...Goals!]]>
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    <![CDATA[After 20 years of living in Italy, Tim Parks, whom Joseph Brodsky, has called &quot;the nest British author working today,&quot; spent a full year following the fortunes-and misfortunes-of the Verona football-oops! Soccer-club. Here is his rollicking report. Fro Udine to Catania, from San Siro to the Olimpico, traveling with the fans and the players from the tip to the toe of Italy, Tim Parks offers a highly personal account of his relationship with a country, its people, and its national sport.  The fans, as always are accused of vulgarity, racism, and violence.  The police are ambiguous, the journeys exhausting, the referees unforgivable, the anecdotes hilarious.  In a world stripped of idealism and increasingly bereft of religion, Parks suggests that soccer offers a new and fiercely ironic way of engaging with the sacred.]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[Tim Parks is an Englishman who has lived and taught for many years in Verona. He has written several books about Italian life (Italian Neighbors, An Italian Education), all worth reading. This is probably the most amusing. He attaches himself to an unruly band of tifosi (soccer fans) who call themse...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/40600057">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[A Season with Verona: Travels Around Italy in Search of Illusion, National Character, and...Goals!]]>
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    <![CDATA[After 20 years of living in Italy, Tim Parks, whom Joseph Brodsky, has called &quot;the nest British author working today,&quot; spent a full year following the fortunes-and misfortunes-of the Verona football-oops! Soccer-club. Here is his rollicking report. Fro Udine to Catania, from San Siro to the Olimpico, traveling with the fans and the players from the tip to the toe of Italy, Tim Parks offers a highly personal account of his relationship with a country, its people, and its national sport.  The fans, as always are accused of vulgarity, racism, and violence.  The police are ambiguous, the journeys exhausting, the referees unforgivable, the anecdotes hilarious.  In a world stripped of idealism and increasingly bereft of religion, Parks suggests that soccer offers a new and fiercely ironic way of engaging with the sacred.]]>
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  <read_at>Fri Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 2004</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Mar 26 20:19:29 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Mar 26 20:46:48 -0700 2009</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[Only a handful of books have ever brought me to tears from laughter, yet Park's account of &quot;da bomb&quot; had me rolling.  Overall a very well written account, featuring future stars like Mutu and Laursen.  And what a deal, &quot;Honey, I have to attend every road game for the whole season.  It...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/50577385">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/50577385]]></url>
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</review>
      <review>
  <id>5329075</id>
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    <id>251136</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Michael]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Season with Verona: Travels Around Italy in Search of Illusion, National Character, and...Goals!]]>
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    <![CDATA[After 20 years of living in Italy, Tim Parks, whom Joseph Brodsky, has called &quot;the nest British author working today,&quot; spent a full year following the fortunes-and misfortunes-of the Verona football-oops! Soccer-club. Here is his rollicking report. Fro Udine to Catania, from San Siro to the Olimpico, traveling with the fans and the players from the tip to the toe of Italy, Tim Parks offers a highly personal account of his relationship with a country, its people, and its national sport.  The fans, as always are accused of vulgarity, racism, and violence.  The police are ambiguous, the journeys exhausting, the referees unforgivable, the anecdotes hilarious.  In a world stripped of idealism and increasingly bereft of religion, Parks suggests that soccer offers a new and fiercely ironic way of engaging with the sacred.]]>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[Italophile soccer fans]]></recommended_for>
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  <date_added>Wed Aug 29 21:07:08 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Dec 17 07:46:10 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This book sits rather uneasily between categories. It is in some sense the third volume of Parks's trilogy on Italian society from the perspective of a permanent resident (it follows Italian Neighbors and Itialian Education). And it is clearly a contribution to the long series of studies of the cult...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5329075">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5329075]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5329075]]></link>
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      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Robt.]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Season with Verona: Travels Around Italy in Search of Illusion, National Character, and...Goals!]]>
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  <average_rating>3.94</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>67</ratings_count>
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    <![CDATA[After 20 years of living in Italy, Tim Parks, whom Joseph Brodsky, has called &quot;the nest British author working today,&quot; spent a full year following the fortunes-and misfortunes-of the Verona football-oops! Soccer-club. Here is his rollicking report. Fro Udine to Catania, from San Siro to the Olimpico, traveling with the fans and the players from the tip to the toe of Italy, Tim Parks offers a highly personal account of his relationship with a country, its people, and its national sport.  The fans, as always are accused of vulgarity, racism, and violence.  The police are ambiguous, the journeys exhausting, the referees unforgivable, the anecdotes hilarious.  In a world stripped of idealism and increasingly bereft of religion, Parks suggests that soccer offers a new and fiercely ironic way of engaging with the sacred.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2002</published>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at>Fri Dec 04 00:00:00 -0800 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Dec 04 18:53:32 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Dec 04 18:54:04 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Better than or equal to Nick Hornsby's Fever Pitch.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79927331]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79927331]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>68872323</id>
    <user>
    <id>2602418</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Austin]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Season with Verona]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>4.00</average_rating>
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  <description>
    <![CDATA[After 20 years of living in Italy, Tim Parks, whom Joseph Brodsky, has called &quot;the nest British author working today,&quot; spent a full year following the fortunes-and misfortunes-of the Verona football-oops! Soccer-club. Here is his rollicking report. Fro Udine to Catania, from San Siro to the Olimpico, traveling with the fans and the players from the tip to the toe of Italy, Tim Parks offers a highly personal account of his relationship with a country, its people, and its national sport.The fans, as always are accused of vulgarity, racism, and violence.The police are ambiguous, the journeys exhausting, the referees unforgivable, the anecdotes hilarious.In a world stripped of idealism and increasingly bereft of religion, Parks suggests that soccer offers a new and fiercely ironic way of engaging with the sacred.]]>
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  <date_added>Tue Aug 25 15:39:50 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Aug 25 15:40:15 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Well written.  I'm a sucker for anything calcio related.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/68872323]]></url>
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      <review>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Season with Verona: Travels Around Italy in Search of Illusion, National Character, and...Goals!]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174407839m/393128.jpg</image_url>
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  <average_rating>3.94</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[After 20 years of living in Italy, Tim Parks, whom Joseph Brodsky, has called &quot;the nest British author working today,&quot; spent a full year following the fortunes-and misfortunes-of the Verona football-oops! Soccer-club. Here is his rollicking report. Fro Udine to Catania, from San Siro to the Olimpico, traveling with the fans and the players from the tip to the toe of Italy, Tim Parks offers a highly personal account of his relationship with a country, its people, and its national sport.  The fans, as always are accused of vulgarity, racism, and violence.  The police are ambiguous, the journeys exhausting, the referees unforgivable, the anecdotes hilarious.  In a world stripped of idealism and increasingly bereft of religion, Parks suggests that soccer offers a new and fiercely ironic way of engaging with the sacred.]]>
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  <published>2002</published>
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  <read_at>Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Aug 29 19:43:42 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Aug 29 19:47:55 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Just as thrilling and wonderful a read as it was the first time. Engagingly written, Parks' book is not only an irresistible story for fans of Italian soccer, but also anyone interested in how culture and sport overlap. It's also a fascinating sort of frozen moment in the early careers of players, c...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/31568197">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/31568197]]></url>
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</review>
      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Noreen]]></name>
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    <![CDATA[A Season with Verona: Travels Around Italy in Search of Illusion, National Character, and...Goals!]]>
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    <![CDATA[After 20 years of living in Italy, Tim Parks, whom Joseph Brodsky, has called &quot;the nest British author working today,&quot; spent a full year following the fortunes-and misfortunes-of the Verona football-oops! Soccer-club. Here is his rollicking report. Fro Udine to Catania, from San Siro to the Olimpico, traveling with the fans and the players from the tip to the toe of Italy, Tim Parks offers a highly personal account of his relationship with a country, its people, and its national sport.  The fans, as always are accused of vulgarity, racism, and violence.  The police are ambiguous, the journeys exhausting, the referees unforgivable, the anecdotes hilarious.  In a world stripped of idealism and increasingly bereft of religion, Parks suggests that soccer offers a new and fiercely ironic way of engaging with the sacred.]]>
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  <published>2002</published>
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  <read_at>Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Nov 01 08:17:30 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Nov 01 08:19:32 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Very funny and somewhat philosphical view of the Italian football fanatic's life. Written by a longtime resident of Verona, this follows his journey through one of their awful seasons, from the terraces, with the most hated fans in Italy. A truly nail-biting finish too - will they stay in Serie A or...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8516955">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8516955]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8516955]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>32816481</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Brian]]></name>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">13</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Season with Verona: Travels Around Italy in Search of Illusion, National Character, and...Goals!]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174407839m/393128.jpg</image_url>
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  <average_rating>3.94</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>67</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[After 20 years of living in Italy, Tim Parks, whom Joseph Brodsky, has called &quot;the nest British author working today,&quot; spent a full year following the fortunes-and misfortunes-of the Verona football-oops! Soccer-club. Here is his rollicking report. Fro Udine to Catania, from San Siro to the Olimpico, traveling with the fans and the players from the tip to the toe of Italy, Tim Parks offers a highly personal account of his relationship with a country, its people, and its national sport.  The fans, as always are accused of vulgarity, racism, and violence.  The police are ambiguous, the journeys exhausting, the referees unforgivable, the anecdotes hilarious.  In a world stripped of idealism and increasingly bereft of religion, Parks suggests that soccer offers a new and fiercely ironic way of engaging with the sacred.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2002</published>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <date_added>Sat Sep 13 21:06:32 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Sep 13 21:07:22 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[If you are not in love with Italy already, you will be after reading this British expat's experience of living in Verona with his Italian wife and children.  This book, in particular, touches on the universal experience of world soccer fanaticism.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/32816481]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/32816481]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>4541485</id>
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    <id>276933</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Marc]]></name>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">13</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Season with Verona: Travels Around Italy in Search of Illusion, National Character, and...Goals!]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174407839m/393128.jpg</image_url>
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  <average_rating>3.94</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>67</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[After 20 years of living in Italy, Tim Parks, whom Joseph Brodsky, has called &quot;the nest British author working today,&quot; spent a full year following the fortunes-and misfortunes-of the Verona football-oops! Soccer-club. Here is his rollicking report. Fro Udine to Catania, from San Siro to the Olimpico, traveling with the fans and the players from the tip to the toe of Italy, Tim Parks offers a highly personal account of his relationship with a country, its people, and its national sport.  The fans, as always are accused of vulgarity, racism, and violence.  The police are ambiguous, the journeys exhausting, the referees unforgivable, the anecdotes hilarious.  In a world stripped of idealism and increasingly bereft of religion, Parks suggests that soccer offers a new and fiercely ironic way of engaging with the sacred.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2002</published>
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    <rating>4</rating>
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  <read_at>Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Aug 14 11:49:20 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Dec 17 05:11:20 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I guess it's a travel book and a soccer book but it's more about the Italian people and culture. It no doubt helps to have an interest in soccer and/or sports to really enjoy this book. I haven't done much reading about Italy, so I learned a lot from this. ]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4541485]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4541485]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>14243960</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Danny]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">13</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Season with Verona: Travels Around Italy in Search of Illusion, National Character, and...Goals!]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174407839m/393128.jpg</image_url>
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  <average_rating>3.94</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>67</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[After 20 years of living in Italy, Tim Parks, whom Joseph Brodsky, has called &quot;the nest British author working today,&quot; spent a full year following the fortunes-and misfortunes-of the Verona football-oops! Soccer-club. Here is his rollicking report. Fro Udine to Catania, from San Siro to the Olimpico, traveling with the fans and the players from the tip to the toe of Italy, Tim Parks offers a highly personal account of his relationship with a country, its people, and its national sport.  The fans, as always are accused of vulgarity, racism, and violence.  The police are ambiguous, the journeys exhausting, the referees unforgivable, the anecdotes hilarious.  In a world stripped of idealism and increasingly bereft of religion, Parks suggests that soccer offers a new and fiercely ironic way of engaging with the sacred.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2002</published>
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    <rating>4</rating>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Jan 31 22:56:17 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Feb 28 14:10:49 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[read this book while on tour with a band. was fun to read about a persons travels while traveling. also great to see one not necessarily associated with soccer culture travel with superfans]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/14243960]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/14243960]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>32126484</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Durdles]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Swansea, The United Kingdom]]></location>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Season with Verona: Travels Around Italy in Search of Illusion, National Character, and...Goals!]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174407839m/393128.jpg</image_url>
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  <average_rating>3.94</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>67</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[After 20 years of living in Italy, Tim Parks, whom Joseph Brodsky, has called &quot;the nest British author working today,&quot; spent a full year following the fortunes-and misfortunes-of the Verona football-oops! Soccer-club. Here is his rollicking report. Fro Udine to Catania, from San Siro to the Olimpico, traveling with the fans and the players from the tip to the toe of Italy, Tim Parks offers a highly personal account of his relationship with a country, its people, and its national sport.  The fans, as always are accused of vulgarity, racism, and violence.  The police are ambiguous, the journeys exhausting, the referees unforgivable, the anecdotes hilarious.  In a world stripped of idealism and increasingly bereft of religion, Parks suggests that soccer offers a new and fiercely ironic way of engaging with the sacred.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2002</published>
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    <rating>4</rating>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[Soccer fans everywhere]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 -0800 2003</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Sep 05 16:13:21 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Sep 05 16:17:31 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Thoroughly enjoyable; although we are Empoli fans and know about relegation struggles too.  Best read with a bottle of Limoncello to hand.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/32126484]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/32126484]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>9636297</id>
    <user>
    <id>645381</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Scott]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/645381-scott-edmonds]]></link>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Season with Verona: Travels Around Italy in Search of Illusion, National Character, and...Goals!]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174407839m/393128.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174407839s/393128.jpg</small_image_url>
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  <average_rating>3.94</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>67</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[After 20 years of living in Italy, Tim Parks, whom Joseph Brodsky, has called &quot;the nest British author working today,&quot; spent a full year following the fortunes-and misfortunes-of the Verona football-oops! Soccer-club. Here is his rollicking report. Fro Udine to Catania, from San Siro to the Olimpico, traveling with the fans and the players from the tip to the toe of Italy, Tim Parks offers a highly personal account of his relationship with a country, its people, and its national sport.  The fans, as always are accused of vulgarity, racism, and violence.  The police are ambiguous, the journeys exhausting, the referees unforgivable, the anecdotes hilarious.  In a world stripped of idealism and increasingly bereft of religion, Parks suggests that soccer offers a new and fiercely ironic way of engaging with the sacred.]]>
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  <published>2002</published>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <date_added>Tue Nov 27 20:53:28 -0800 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Nov 27 20:54:03 -0800 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I think that this is the best book written on soccer fanaticism and regionalism. Ever. ]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/9636297]]></url>
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</review>
      <review>
  <id>20515195</id>
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    <![CDATA[A Season with Verona: Travels Around Italy in Search of Illusion, National Character, and...Goals!]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>3.94</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>67</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[After 20 years of living in Italy, Tim Parks, whom Joseph Brodsky, has called &quot;the nest British author working today,&quot; spent a full year following the fortunes-and misfortunes-of the Verona football-oops! Soccer-club. Here is his rollicking report. Fro Udine to Catania, from San Siro to the Olimpico, traveling with the fans and the players from the tip to the toe of Italy, Tim Parks offers a highly personal account of his relationship with a country, its people, and its national sport.  The fans, as always are accused of vulgarity, racism, and violence.  The police are ambiguous, the journeys exhausting, the referees unforgivable, the anecdotes hilarious.  In a world stripped of idealism and increasingly bereft of religion, Parks suggests that soccer offers a new and fiercely ironic way of engaging with the sacred.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2002</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at>Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 -0800 2003</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Apr 19 06:40:04 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Apr 21 17:02:09 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[The best first chapter of any book ever.  Hysterical.  Dio Bon, Butei!]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/20515195]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/20515195]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>33800827</id>
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    <id>1563775</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Stan]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Saint Louis, MO]]></location>
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  <isbn>1559706813</isbn>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">13</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Season with Verona: Travels Around Italy in Search of Illusion, National Character, and...Goals!]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174407839m/393128.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174407839s/393128.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/393128.A_Season_with_Verona_Travels_Around_Italy_in_Search_of_Illusion_National_Character_and_Goals_</link>
  <average_rating>3.94</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>67</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[After 20 years of living in Italy, Tim Parks, whom Joseph Brodsky, has called &quot;the nest British author working today,&quot; spent a full year following the fortunes-and misfortunes-of the Verona football-oops! Soccer-club. Here is his rollicking report. Fro Udine to Catania, from San Siro to the Olimpico, traveling with the fans and the players from the tip to the toe of Italy, Tim Parks offers a highly personal account of his relationship with a country, its people, and its national sport.  The fans, as always are accused of vulgarity, racism, and violence.  The police are ambiguous, the journeys exhausting, the referees unforgivable, the anecdotes hilarious.  In a world stripped of idealism and increasingly bereft of religion, Parks suggests that soccer offers a new and fiercely ironic way of engaging with the sacred.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2002</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Sep 25 06:17:15 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Sep 25 06:17:45 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Another great book that offers insight into the Italian mindset.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/33800827]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/33800827]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>80845285</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[James]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Limerick, 16, Ireland]]></location>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Season with Verona]]>
  </title>
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  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1247463.A_Season_with_Verona</link>
  <average_rating>3.94</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>67</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[After 20 years of living in Italy, Tim Parks, whom Joseph Brodsky, has called &quot;the nest British author working today,&quot; spent a full year following the fortunes-and misfortunes-of the Verona football-oops! Soccer-club. Here is his rollicking report. Fro Udine to Catania, from San Siro to the Olimpico, traveling with the fans and the players from the tip to the toe of Italy, Tim Parks offers a highly personal account of his relationship with a country, its people, and its national sport.The fans, as always are accused of vulgarity, racism, and violence.The police are ambiguous, the journeys exhausting, the referees unforgivable, the anecdotes hilarious.In a world stripped of idealism and increasingly bereft of religion, Parks suggests that soccer offers a new and fiercely ironic way of engaging with the sacred.]]>
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  <published>2002</published>
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