Discussing everything from the leveling of the Twin Towers to the death of the sole survivor of that extraordinary match between British and German...
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Mar 30, 2008
jeremy
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galeano consistently composes some of the world's most elegant and engaging prose. whether writing about national histories, military juntas, the intrusiveness of advertising, the poetry of lovemaking, or, as in this case, the world's most popular sport, he invariably weaves grace and reverence into his recollections. eduardo galeano, uruguay's greatest writer, remains a singularity amongst his international contemporaries.
though he admits to a lifelong adoration for the pastim More...
though he admits to a lifelong adoration for the pastim More...
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Jul 29, 2011
These short essays feature some of the best efforts to describe what it is about the game and the spectacle of soccer that makes it so compelling.
I am reminded of the better dance reviews I have read. Though most of those do not go into what is represented by a club or national team. Soccer matches have provoked discussions of identity, class, race, and nationality for a hundred years.
One would also gain insight here into the mindset of Uruguay and the rest of Latin America.
Galeano's mel More...
I am reminded of the better dance reviews I have read. Though most of those do not go into what is represented by a club or national team. Soccer matches have provoked discussions of identity, class, race, and nationality for a hundred years.
One would also gain insight here into the mindset of Uruguay and the rest of Latin America.
Galeano's mel More...
Aug 14, 2010
Harry
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Soccer in Sun and Shadow is a string of hundreds of little vignettes, pen portraits, anecdotes, and mini-essays, each with it’s own heading, sometimes two or three pages long but often just a couple of paragraphs. Some are about broader subjects, like crowd violence or tactics or the commercialisation of the game; others about a particular player or game or even a single memorable goal. They’re arranged in chronological order, so they form a sort of idiosyncratic history of the game according to
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Jul 12, 2010
Oscar
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I've been reading this throughout this year's World Cup to give me more insight into global fútbol. Galeano's book delivered that and much more by speaking directly to how commercialization, racial prejudice and border politics have impacted soccer and its fans.
Rather than falling into the pit of self-destructive despair, Galeano balances the line between historical retelling and personal storytelling to extend the readers imagination to beyond the page, and imagine a world where a More...
Rather than falling into the pit of self-destructive despair, Galeano balances the line between historical retelling and personal storytelling to extend the readers imagination to beyond the page, and imagine a world where a More...
Feb 16, 2010
Damon
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Eduardo Galeano covers the early history of soccer, or football, or foosbal (depending are where you live), and he covers the history or how the game came to South America, and how it developed to today. He also covers the history of the World Cups from the South American perspective, particularly Brazil, Argentina, Uruquay, and Mexico. The stories are varied and cover many different perspectives, at times they're laugh out loud funny, and others are very sad to hear. Eduardo also argues agai
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Feb 01, 2011
Jan
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I fell in love with this book at the opening paragraph. I fell in love so hard with this book that a naughty part of me considered stealing it from the library. Note: I returned the book to the library, on time even. :)
I could see, if one has absolutely no interest in soccer, how a person could not be in love with this book. But I am a huge soccer fan, so not only does this book hold general interest for me, but it is also written beautifully. Galeano's masterpiece is a brief history o More...
I could see, if one has absolutely no interest in soccer, how a person could not be in love with this book. But I am a huge soccer fan, so not only does this book hold general interest for me, but it is also written beautifully. Galeano's masterpiece is a brief history o More...
Aug 16, 2011
Danica
rated it:
Originally posted here.
Not that all the key people in my life didn't already know this, but I'm bonkers for soccer. Doesn't matter how you paint it. When the World Cup rolls around I am up at seven in the morning with my face paints and noisemakers and rubber doll stand-in, a face crudely drawn on it to resemble the opposition's star striker, which I will prick, viciously, with sewing pins, until results favorable to my peace of mind have been achieved. Shouting obscenities and rolling More...
Not that all the key people in my life didn't already know this, but I'm bonkers for soccer. Doesn't matter how you paint it. When the World Cup rolls around I am up at seven in the morning with my face paints and noisemakers and rubber doll stand-in, a face crudely drawn on it to resemble the opposition's star striker, which I will prick, viciously, with sewing pins, until results favorable to my peace of mind have been achieved. Shouting obscenities and rolling More...
Dec 02, 2011
HEILA
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حينما يأتي التاريخ على هيئة رواية تصبح المتعة عالية . طبع على الغلاف بأنها رواية لكنها أقرب للحكايات والقصص المنفصلة من كونها رواية . عبارة عن قطع من صغيرة إلى متوسطة كل قطعة معنونة بعنوان محتلف يخص الجزء الذي سيتحدث به , ولم يكتب الكاتب ترقيمًا على القطع ولم أقوم بإحصاها لكنها ليست قليلة ربما تصل إلى 200 حادثة وقصة . على الرغم من كوني لست مهتمة بالرياضة بشكل عام والكورة بشكل خاص إلا إني استمتعت بها , كنت أقرؤها بشكل متقطع وفي الأوقات التي احتاج بها إلى حكاية وحينما أقول احتاج يعني كالمعتقل الذي
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May 18, 2011
N-rose
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Galeano manages to weave the dirty history of South American dictatorships (propped up by the US) and fascism into a flowing collection of short tales based around World Cups and other important games in soccer's history. It's fantastic, a look at the growth of soccer and how soccer pride and success intersects with the history of South America through a Uruguayan soccer fan's eyes - if you want it to be.
If you want the book to be striking prose (or nicely-translated prose?) about the More...
If you want the book to be striking prose (or nicely-translated prose?) about the More...
Mar 07, 2011
Mr.
rated it:
Written with the fire and joy of South American futbòl, Uruguayan Galeano scores a hat trick: his deft touches on soccer's history bring a nostalgic tear, his prose is as nimble and unexpected as Maradona, and he lays bare the inequity in the soccer and corporate world. Translator Mark Fried deserves great credit for bringing smoothness, speed and joy to our sometimes stodgy English tongue.
He better be working on another commentary bonus for the 2010 World Cup after his country shined More...
He better be working on another commentary bonus for the 2010 World Cup after his country shined More...
May 31, 2011
Jason
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Soccer in Sun and Shadow is a superb book covering the very early days of soccer to modern soccer's start in England to the world game that is played today, and all of it is superb. Even if you are not a huge soccer fan, Galeano's passionate writing will draw you into the fold and make you care for at least as long as the book is open.
Galeano recalls his childhood memories of goals scored and saves missed, the beautiful dance his heroes performed with the ball, and his pride in South A More...
Galeano recalls his childhood memories of goals scored and saves missed, the beautiful dance his heroes performed with the ball, and his pride in South A More...
Apr 05, 2009
Cait
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This book reminded me of hanging out at the corner store, watching old men play dominios and talk about soccer. (This image represents a solid third of my childhood.) Grouchy old men, and their step-by-step reconstruction of soccer goals that happened in countries they would never visit, by players they had never seen.
That is almost exactly what this book is- a history of the beautiful game from its first stumbling steps to the greatest goals of every world cup since 1921. There are More...
That is almost exactly what this book is- a history of the beautiful game from its first stumbling steps to the greatest goals of every world cup since 1921. There are More...
Jul 26, 2011
Emily
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Loved reading more about the beautiful history that is soccer! Though heavily based on the game in South America (obviously!) the book still ranges over some of the greatest and oddest moments in soccer history as well as the culture that surrounds the game. I appreciate the format, as I can always pick up the book and read one or two pages here and there without worrying about losing sight of a storyline. I found myself constantly wishing there existed youtube clips of all the crazy moments tha
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Jul 07, 2009
Erik
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Galeano is certainly a stylist with a poetic flair. For instance, his description of Gerd Mueller leading up the 1974 WC is fantastic.
That said, I wouldn't approach the book as a primer to learning the history of world soccer. It is too idiosyncratic, too modular, and too South American. That said, if you have read through Kuper and Winner and Foer and Goldblatt and Parks and need someone to make poetry for you, you will enjoy the literary quality of Galeano.
That said, I wouldn't approach the book as a primer to learning the history of world soccer. It is too idiosyncratic, too modular, and too South American. That said, if you have read through Kuper and Winner and Foer and Goldblatt and Parks and need someone to make poetry for you, you will enjoy the literary quality of Galeano.
Jun 15, 2011
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Apr 20, 2009
Raphael
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been hearing about this book for the last year plus, multiple folks recommending it as a primer for writing about sports and politics, with an eye and ear on poetic sensibilities. sat under a tree on the north side of lake merritt for a couple hours sunday afternoon, and devoured the first half. brilliant, beautiful, relevant to anyone interested in soccer as game/history/metaphor/politics/poetry. more soon...
Jan 18, 2012
Freddy
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excellent opinion about the emergence of industrialism and capitalism of football, eduardo galeano surely gave his "socialist" opinion how football should remain as a "proletariat sport"..
nice sarcasm points about how US have tried to overthrow Fidel Castro since decades ago...
nice sarcasm points about how US have tried to overthrow Fidel Castro since decades ago...
Aug 04, 2011
A witty book that deals with the history of football from its early stages to the modern era. Its a short book, very easy to read and very enjoyable. It has some funny points and there is no doubt that the author is an old sage of the game.
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Feb 28, 2008
Brendan
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really good overview of the history of soccer internationally. galeano takes a leftist approach which is really refreshing. most books about sports are very much pro-capitalism. i didn't know that much about the international history of the game and am only a very casual fan, so this book was really enlightening. the main focus is on soccer in latin america and how it has produced the best players and tactics while still remaining an area for europe to pillage for its national leagues. ther
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Oct 01, 2008
Brian
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A very well written book on the history and evolution of soccer in the world. It intersperses world events into the rollout of the "History of Soccer" (from a South American perspective, of course). Two to three paragraphs are presented on each World Cup, with additional sections included on the stars of each competition. Touches on the legends of South American football clubs through time as well. (There's a marked lack of depth regarding European clubs.)
But this book More...
But this book More...
Aug 12, 2011
Un gran libro. Para los fanáticos del fútbol leer la visión de Galeano sobre los mundiales y sus análisis cada cuatro años. Notable. Espero que haga una actualización después de Sudáfrica 2010. Lo recomiendo.
Jun 16, 2010
Robbie
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Soccer in Sun and Shadow was a great read. It is a very brief history of the sport and is written as poetically as any sport book I have ever read. With the World Cup in full swing, no time is better to read this book than now.
Dec 06, 2010
Amar
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Even though I've only read one other book by Galeano, I think it's safe to say Soccer in Sun and Shadow is very Galeano-esque. It's a collection of short lyrical passages about soccer, the World Cup, and memories of players/goals, in chronological order, interspersed with current events and Galeano's commentary on FIFA (he hates it) and modern sports in general (too commercial)
As well written as you'd expect. It conveys a fan's enthusiasm for soccer while retaining Galeano's typicall More...
As well written as you'd expect. It conveys a fan's enthusiasm for soccer while retaining Galeano's typicall More...
Jan 06, 2010
Austin
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The ultimate bathroom reading. Short, smart, prose-poem chapters about soccer. Picked it up because Barry Yourgrau (another good bathroom read) recommended it. Became an instant fan.
Nov 16, 2007
Eric
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Galeano is brillaint. In this book he takes the beautifully poetic style he has and applys it to another of his psaaions, futball. YES! Nothing like a South American Academic Lefty whos still has his head on straight enough to realize his love of footy.
This is one of those wonderful books that I thik appeal to non-football fans. For one thing, Galeano writes SO BEAUTIFULLY that I have to put the book down and rest after certain passages. In addition, the discussion of social a More...
This is one of those wonderful books that I thik appeal to non-football fans. For one thing, Galeano writes SO BEAUTIFULLY that I have to put the book down and rest after certain passages. In addition, the discussion of social a More...
Jul 19, 2011
Khalid
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History of football. Can't go wrong. Lots of details on each and every World Cup since 1930.
Jun 15, 2010
Sean
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I can't think of a better way to get in mood for the World Cup than reading this book. Although, it does make me miss how soccer was played when I was a kid.
