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The Champ
This is the story of Wilber Patorkin. At the tender age of one hundred and fifteen he's the oldest man alive in the United States of America. His body is failing him gloriously, his legs will barely carry him, his quivering lips and dentures turn his words into meaningless babble... and yet he has the clearest brain and the brightest eyes you'll ever come across. His steps may be tiny, but his story is epic. His words may be few, but his mind goes beyond your wildest imagination. Join Wilber on a most unlikely journey and be prepared - you just may discover yourself along the way.
Critical acclaim: "Eckhart has created a wonderfully warm and eccentric main character in 115 year old Wilber Patorkin." - "A story of friendship, mortality, and good vs. evil, it was so good I couldn't put it down." - "A crossover between Amélie Poulain and Benjamin Button" - "The style is a compelling mix between Stephen King & JD Salinger."
Critical acclaim: "Eckhart has created a wonderfully warm and eccentric main character in 115 year old Wilber Patorkin." - "A story of friendship, mortality, and good vs. evil, it was so good I couldn't put it down." - "A crossover between Amélie Poulain and Benjamin Button" - "The style is a compelling mix between Stephen King & JD Salinger."
- GenresFiction
Kindle Edition
First published May 9, 2012
104 people are currently reading
280 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Martin Eckhart
19 books32 followersDaniel Martin Eckhart is the author of the novels The Champ, Barnaby Smith, Home, Tales of Wychwood and The Sweet-Maker of Connemara.
Eckhart has written screenplays for more than two decades, has published several of his original screenplays in the Eckhart Screenplays series and shared his experiences about the life of a screenwriter in his book, Write, Write, Write.
Before focusing on his writing career, Eckhart served in the Swiss military, guarded the Pope's life in the Vatican, worked for the United Nations, driving trucks across the Sinai Desert, delivering diplomatic mail to Damascus and driving armored limousines in Beirut. After five adventurous years in Israel, Lebanon, Iran and Iraq, Eckhart quit the UN to study acting in New York at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, where he discovered screenwriting. He has penned several feature-length movies, worked on TV shows and has adapted novels for the small screen.
Eckhart lives with his family on a 17th century farm in Switzerland.
Eckhart has written screenplays for more than two decades, has published several of his original screenplays in the Eckhart Screenplays series and shared his experiences about the life of a screenwriter in his book, Write, Write, Write.
Before focusing on his writing career, Eckhart served in the Swiss military, guarded the Pope's life in the Vatican, worked for the United Nations, driving trucks across the Sinai Desert, delivering diplomatic mail to Damascus and driving armored limousines in Beirut. After five adventurous years in Israel, Lebanon, Iran and Iraq, Eckhart quit the UN to study acting in New York at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, where he discovered screenwriting. He has penned several feature-length movies, worked on TV shows and has adapted novels for the small screen.
Eckhart lives with his family on a 17th century farm in Switzerland.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
April 19, 2016
I can't remember a time when a book got me quite emotional! What a lovely story. I absolutely fell for these characters and was genuinely sad when the book ended. I had to remind myself that the characters weren't real!! Definite 5 stars from me - everyone should read this book!!
December 11, 2021
Different kind of book for me. It was ok, but there was a lot of unnecessary foul language in it. Not sure why the writer thought it was necessary to add it in.
July 6, 2015
This was an amazing read, all the more surprising as I had never heard of the author before and I managed to get it during a free give-away. There were some formatting bugs (which, in fairness, could have been my device rather than the ebook itself) but I could not fault the actual read.
I don't know how you would define this book. Urban mystic fantasy drama with comic moments? Mindscape supernaturalism with bleeding heart emotional drama? A mess? This book brings together so many different stories, ideas, events, emotions, even styles, to a certain extent, and throws them all together in the glorious Eton Mess that is Wilbur Patorkin. I truly loved this book, because it is something I have definitely never seen before, and yet something that seemed warm and familiar to me. Read this book, but be aware that unless your mind is open, unless you are ready to listen and think, you may not understand or fully enjoy it.
I don't know how you would define this book. Urban mystic fantasy drama with comic moments? Mindscape supernaturalism with bleeding heart emotional drama? A mess? This book brings together so many different stories, ideas, events, emotions, even styles, to a certain extent, and throws them all together in the glorious Eton Mess that is Wilbur Patorkin. I truly loved this book, because it is something I have definitely never seen before, and yet something that seemed warm and familiar to me. Read this book, but be aware that unless your mind is open, unless you are ready to listen and think, you may not understand or fully enjoy it.
April 30, 2016
The Champ is unlike any other book I have ever read. I alternately cheered and got depressed reading about Wilber. How wonderful to be 115 and have lived and learned so much. His ability to communicate via the mind was amazing. To know how much time was left to live was depressing and almost made me cry. The entire time I read this book, I thought about Wilber dying and the impact it would make on others. It is a topic that is difficult to think about, yet Daniel Eckhart did a wonderful job making readers think about death and all the wonders of the beyond. It was bittersweet.
March 21, 2013
This is a great book. There are many characters, all of them interesting, whose stories are interwoven throughout the book. There is a great deal of buddhist and metaphysical philosophy, but you aren't being hammered with it because its all in the fabric of the story.
I found myself making very slow progress, not because it was boring or difficult, but because I was reading carefully so I wouldn't miss anything.
I found myself making very slow progress, not because it was boring or difficult, but because I was reading carefully so I wouldn't miss anything.
August 13, 2014
This is not the kind of book I usually read, but I found it interesting nonetheless. It leaves the reader with plenty of food for thought about what it means to grow old. I found the "paranormal" aspect of the story unusual, but it didn't affect what I believe is a story of growing old, looking back on your life and trying to do a few good things before you die.
April 13, 2014
A strange book that while is an interesting story and you slide the characters near the end it starts to bang on about its own philosophy and as it is not what I believe gets a bit much but very glad I took the time to read it as the message over all is very positive about being nice.
May 10, 2021
This is a very thought provoking book. It did border on fantasy but since I’ve no idea what it’s like to be dead, I had to give it the benefit of the doubt and go with it.
I enjoyed the characters and the storyline kept my interest.
I enjoyed the characters and the storyline kept my interest.
July 3, 2015
Different
Exciting but different. Once you get started it is hard to put down. Pretty good stuff. If only life could be like that.
Exciting but different. Once you get started it is hard to put down. Pretty good stuff. If only life could be like that.
August 20, 2016
Good Story
A wonderful story. Author's style reminds me of Mitch Ablom. It could use a bit of editing, but overall, worth reading.
A wonderful story. Author's style reminds me of Mitch Ablom. It could use a bit of editing, but overall, worth reading.
March 19, 2016
Science fiction, fantasy, or reality? The choice is yours to make. I thought it was...............
October 3, 2019
Kindle Buffet classifies this as “Literary Fiction”. I’m thinking, Anna Karenina, Madame Bovary, Don Quixote. Well, NOT.
But this is a keeper, and you won’t be able to put it down. Eckhart is a screen writer, and the book reads like a fast-paced movie.
It’s a gripping tale that incorporates the mystical, the mundane, the sacred and profane, violence, love, hate, Eastern philosophy, and other life forces too numerous to name. It’s all the same, as the main character, Wilbur, frequently asserts.
Wilbur is 115 years old, reads minds, and is an enigma. It seems that wisdom has come to him late in life (about 107 years old). His mission seems to be to help people by getting in their heads and redirecting them. He realizes it means nothing in the larger scheme of life, but it brings some relief and even happiness to others, so it brings happiness to Wilbur.
I guarantee you have never read anything like this, because it crosses so many categorical boundaries. It’s Mitch Albom, it’s Robert Fulghum, it’s Fredrik Backman, it’s suspense, it’s bittersweet memories, it’s love between the most unlikely of lovers, it’s deep sadness, it’s joy, it’s tragedy, it’s impending death, and it’s a meditation on reincarnation and the after-life. And on and on, with one surprise after another.
Not to mention a cast of unlikely characters, both eccentric and ordinary. We follow Wilbur into their heads, read their thoughts, explore their lives, suffer their pain, and watch the changes Wilbur helps them with.
There are several minds that Wilbur visits that are full of very disturbing images, so parts of the book are not for the faint of heart. Stand forewarned.
The Champ is weird and mesmerizing. You’ll just have to read it.
But this is a keeper, and you won’t be able to put it down. Eckhart is a screen writer, and the book reads like a fast-paced movie.
It’s a gripping tale that incorporates the mystical, the mundane, the sacred and profane, violence, love, hate, Eastern philosophy, and other life forces too numerous to name. It’s all the same, as the main character, Wilbur, frequently asserts.
Wilbur is 115 years old, reads minds, and is an enigma. It seems that wisdom has come to him late in life (about 107 years old). His mission seems to be to help people by getting in their heads and redirecting them. He realizes it means nothing in the larger scheme of life, but it brings some relief and even happiness to others, so it brings happiness to Wilbur.
I guarantee you have never read anything like this, because it crosses so many categorical boundaries. It’s Mitch Albom, it’s Robert Fulghum, it’s Fredrik Backman, it’s suspense, it’s bittersweet memories, it’s love between the most unlikely of lovers, it’s deep sadness, it’s joy, it’s tragedy, it’s impending death, and it’s a meditation on reincarnation and the after-life. And on and on, with one surprise after another.
Not to mention a cast of unlikely characters, both eccentric and ordinary. We follow Wilbur into their heads, read their thoughts, explore their lives, suffer their pain, and watch the changes Wilbur helps them with.
There are several minds that Wilbur visits that are full of very disturbing images, so parts of the book are not for the faint of heart. Stand forewarned.
The Champ is weird and mesmerizing. You’ll just have to read it.
February 5, 2017
OK, to be honest, I loved it at the beginning..then I thought "Is this all it's going to be, little silo's of interactions with different people?" but I could not keep from turning the page. Compelled during those earlier chapters solely by Wilbur's personality...which is completely fitting. (Once you read this, and you SHOULD read this, you will understand)
By the end of the book, or what in my opinion should have been the end of the book, you are completely sold out to Walter and the story. There is an old saying something to the effect of always leave them wanting more, and this story had a natural place to do that.
Unfortunately Mr. Eckhart did not stop there, and I felt the end was added because he wished to wrap up everything nicely in a neat package, and that was not necessary..in fact it really cheapened the emotion of the story, and I don't believe Walter himself would have added that piece. It is okay to let your reader speculate, and imagine, and dream, and debate, and ponder, and continue to be a part of what is otherwise a wonderful tale of and incredible man.
All in all...READ THE BOOK!
By the end of the book, or what in my opinion should have been the end of the book, you are completely sold out to Walter and the story. There is an old saying something to the effect of always leave them wanting more, and this story had a natural place to do that.
Unfortunately Mr. Eckhart did not stop there, and I felt the end was added because he wished to wrap up everything nicely in a neat package, and that was not necessary..in fact it really cheapened the emotion of the story, and I don't believe Walter himself would have added that piece. It is okay to let your reader speculate, and imagine, and dream, and debate, and ponder, and continue to be a part of what is otherwise a wonderful tale of and incredible man.
All in all...READ THE BOOK!
March 19, 2023
Eckhart creates a fascinating story that is quick to grab the imagination. Wilbur is that character that leaps off the page and comes to life. Most folks know of someone with high character that focuses life on making the world a better place through quality relationships. Wilbur is a guy I want to know. He lives above the ruckus of cultural conflict and calamity. His powers make him out to be an ordinary superhero that is growing into his calling in life. Super story! Why only 3 stars? I am not a fan of profanity in any format. The writer seems to enjoy saturating much of the dialogue with it. It definitely diminishes the impact of a fascinating story. I also had some issues with the ending as I do not embrace New Age ideology that we are all gods in the making. I do appreciate the overarching theme that we can all have a positive influence in the lives of those around us with a little bit of effort.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2021
Wilber is 115 and living in an old-age home. In his last days, he develops mental powers, like communicating without speaking and moving objects with his mind. He uses these tools to benefit the people who populate this novel. The author does a good job of creating characters and situations that are interesting and make you want to root for them. The book is nicely paced and there's a lot of humor.
Although I think the author wanted to use Wilber to convey some Very Empowering Truths about life, Eckhart's greater success was in the rich variety of characters and the many happy outcomes following their challenges. The home is more Marigold Hotel than institution. Wilber is almost too good to be true, evincing little complexity to his character, which consists of an almost saint-like generosity and patience. Still, a sweet, uplifting story.
Although I think the author wanted to use Wilber to convey some Very Empowering Truths about life, Eckhart's greater success was in the rich variety of characters and the many happy outcomes following their challenges. The home is more Marigold Hotel than institution. Wilber is almost too good to be true, evincing little complexity to his character, which consists of an almost saint-like generosity and patience. Still, a sweet, uplifting story.
May 7, 2021
Nice read
Wilber, 115 years old, can read minds. Oh yes he can! He hasn't really discovered exactly what to do with that interesting power, though. He sits on a bench at the bus stop and watches the bus go by and knows what's going on with the bus driver, father of 7 with number 8 on the way, and the kids who go by. Then he goes back to the nursing home and knows what's going on with his friend Frank, and in the mind of nurse Amanda. Somehow he engineers something between them, because he knows what he knows. But he doesn't understand his own abilities until the day one of the kids is about to get hit by the bus, and things spiral from there. It gets more and more amazing because things happen that otherwise might not have, all set in motion by one action.
Wilber, 115 years old, can read minds. Oh yes he can! He hasn't really discovered exactly what to do with that interesting power, though. He sits on a bench at the bus stop and watches the bus go by and knows what's going on with the bus driver, father of 7 with number 8 on the way, and the kids who go by. Then he goes back to the nursing home and knows what's going on with his friend Frank, and in the mind of nurse Amanda. Somehow he engineers something between them, because he knows what he knows. But he doesn't understand his own abilities until the day one of the kids is about to get hit by the bus, and things spiral from there. It gets more and more amazing because things happen that otherwise might not have, all set in motion by one action.
April 20, 2019
Great story!
Wilber waiting in a bus stop everyday is always my best part in the story. Being a busy adult, it reminds me to sit with Wilber and appreciate the every single moment of my life. Just like stop for a moment, breathe and be grateful on small things.
It also made me realize to reconnect friendship an love relationships. Sometimes these things are being forgotten.
After finishing the story, it made me think who is my Wilber in my life, or can I be my own version of Wilber?
Wilber waiting in a bus stop everyday is always my best part in the story. Being a busy adult, it reminds me to sit with Wilber and appreciate the every single moment of my life. Just like stop for a moment, breathe and be grateful on small things.
It also made me realize to reconnect friendship an love relationships. Sometimes these things are being forgotten.
After finishing the story, it made me think who is my Wilber in my life, or can I be my own version of Wilber?
June 28, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. It’s kind of hard to give a concise, complete review. It touched on a lot of emotions about living life, friendships and helping people see the good in themselves and others. The characters were brought to life and you felt like you knew them.
One criticism is the use of the “F” word. It is too bad the author felt the need to use it excessively. I would think an author should be able to express himself without the over use of foul language and still get his point across.
One criticism is the use of the “F” word. It is too bad the author felt the need to use it excessively. I would think an author should be able to express himself without the over use of foul language and still get his point across.
October 9, 2023
I guess since it’s October it is only apt that almost every book I’ve read this month is a little odd and quirky. Truthfully, I’m not sure where The Champ came from. I think it must have been one of the free books I’ve received lately. Yes, The Champ certainly met the criteria of odd and quirky. Any time you have a man of 115 with supernatural powers its going to be a little “out there.” Did I like the book? Actually I’m not sure. I didn’t dislike it though so I’m giving it a generous three stars.
July 27, 2024
For all of the MANY grammatical and punctuation errors, I stuck with it and really enjoyed this book. Unfortunately, the plethora of errors glaringly proves the need that proper proofreading cannot be understated. It's a shame because the mistakes were so prevalent I guarantee it will keep many readers from finishing what turned out to be a sweet book. I became invested in the characters and wanted to see how their stories wrapped up. IF errors were corrected I would highly recommend this title. As is, avoid the irritation of blatant problems.
May 7, 2021
YOU WILL NEVER FORGET THIS BOOK!
Seriously , you won't. Wilber is going to stick with you and he should. I could tell you a bit about the story, but I'd rather you uncovered its magic at your own speed. This book does one of the most important jobs of a book...it makes you think! ENJOY!
Seriously , you won't. Wilber is going to stick with you and he should. I could tell you a bit about the story, but I'd rather you uncovered its magic at your own speed. This book does one of the most important jobs of a book...it makes you think! ENJOY!
May 11, 2021
The Champ is a Winner
This wonderful book came to me at the most opportune moment in my life. I thoroughly enjoyed every word and have soared to new personal and inward heights. Thank you, Mr. Eckhart for reminding me that all things are possible.
Read this book with your most open mind and delight in its’ truths.
This wonderful book came to me at the most opportune moment in my life. I thoroughly enjoyed every word and have soared to new personal and inward heights. Thank you, Mr. Eckhart for reminding me that all things are possible.
Read this book with your most open mind and delight in its’ truths.
January 4, 2022
Wow
I literally sat in a parking lot and couldn’t drive away until I finished this book! I kept hoping that Wilbur would have more time…Because the language was a little strong I thought about not reading it…but I wanted to find out what happened to Frank and Jerry and Jerome…and found myself reading until the last page!
I literally sat in a parking lot and couldn’t drive away until I finished this book! I kept hoping that Wilbur would have more time…Because the language was a little strong I thought about not reading it…but I wanted to find out what happened to Frank and Jerry and Jerome…and found myself reading until the last page!
June 14, 2021
Captivating
An intriguing story with many twists and turns, kept me from putting the book down until completed. The storyline moves along quickly. Thanks for this captivating tale.
An intriguing story with many twists and turns, kept me from putting the book down until completed. The storyline moves along quickly. Thanks for this captivating tale.
July 18, 2021
Life. Great story warm funny and wholesome. A great book to look at life
Great story. The life of one is he ages.I recommended this book to anyone who wonders about why were here and where we're going.
Great story. The life of one is he ages.I recommended this book to anyone who wonders about why were here and where we're going.
October 19, 2021
Can't wait to share
Thank you for writing and sharing a story that touched my heart. Working as a nurse on hospice, Wilbur reminded me of several of my little men, my little gems of humanity!
Thank you for writing and sharing a story that touched my heart. Working as a nurse on hospice, Wilbur reminded me of several of my little men, my little gems of humanity!
February 23, 2022
A wonderful book!
This book is for those who wonder about the meaning of life and all the biggest and most beautiful questions. We meet a handful of people whose hearts and souls show us sweet examples of life's heartache and joys.
This book is for those who wonder about the meaning of life and all the biggest and most beautiful questions. We meet a handful of people whose hearts and souls show us sweet examples of life's heartache and joys.
January 5, 2023
I get a kick out of books like this that are fantastical, feel good and give us an idea of someone's view of a possible afterlife, and what happens on your run up to it. I'll be checking out his other books.
August 29, 2017
Disappointed
Some warm and thoughtful passages. The rest just becomes nonsense. Surreal becomes unreal. Some good reflection about friendship and kindness, but then all goes down.
Some warm and thoughtful passages. The rest just becomes nonsense. Surreal becomes unreal. Some good reflection about friendship and kindness, but then all goes down.
April 2, 2019
This is a rather eccentric tale of a most eccentric 115 year old man; it is a bit difficult to follow at first, but proved to be a fascinating book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews