Task #1: Read a book about sports.

[Theresa]

If anyone's still looking for ideas... The Guardian posted an article today, "Hits and misses: indie publishers pick their books of 2016." One of the publisher wrote about Sudden Death. To quote the article, "This is one of the best novels I’ve read all year. It is, on the surface, about a tennis match between the poet Quevedo and the painter Caravaggio in Rome in the 16th century. But it’s also about the conquest of Mexico, sex, art, the novel, the Catholic church, the history of tennis. You’d be hard-pressed to find a book that was at once so bold in style and ambitious in structure and so much fun to read."

[Traci]

I'm thinking about Basketball Jones as both a book about sports (task #1) and a LBTGQ Romance (task #20). https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/030...

Has anyone read this?

[Kupo]

I've been recently obsessed with roller derby. If this counts, would anyone have any recommendations off-hand? I'm looking at Amazon's list and most have pretty good reviews. I'm thinking this book would be a great start Down and Derby, but if anyone has read up on this I would love to hear about it!

[Caitlin]

I read Derby Girl by Shauna Cross a few years ago and liked it a lot--it's YA fiction about a girl joining roller derby (it was the basis for the film Whip It).

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson was also great--a middle grade graphic novel about friendship and roller derby.

I haven't read it yet but I've had Melissa Joulwan's Rollergirl: Totally True Tales from the Track on my TBR list for a while. I haven't really started thinking about this task yet but this might be the one that I choose!

[Lisa]

I see that Sunny Jim: The Life of America's Most Beloved Horseman would be a good one. Love horses, so I feel this would be a good pick..

[Diana]

I'll either be reading Seabiscuit or The Boys in the Boat for this one. I've intended to read both, so no time like 2017!

[Diana]

Shawn wrote: "I know the "rules" aren't strict but is the intent for this to be non-fiction?"

I don't think it necessarily needs to be non-fiction.

[Elaine]

I'm thinking either Quidditch Through The Ages or The Flip Side. Has anyone read either?

[Bobby]

I can't decide amongst Friday Night Lights, The Boys in the Boat, or Once a Runner. I may end up reading them all!

[Ann]

Bobby wrote: "I can't decide amongst Friday Night Lights, The Boys in the Boat, or Once a Runner. I may end up reading them all!"

As a runner and a paddler (not a rower, but still loved the stroke mechanics), I loved the latter two.

[Carrie]

Would Invictus: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation count?

[Emma]

Thinking "Unsportsmanlike Conduct" Jessica Luther will be the start of my journey!

[Kenneth]

I've read Road to Valor by Aili & Andres McConnon, a biography of Tour De France winner and Righteous Among the Nations humanitarian Gino Bartali (world record for longest gap between TDF titles, and smuggled papers and photos to help Italian Jews escape).

For this challenge though, I've got my eyes on The Ball: Discovering the Object of the Game by John Fox. Might be interesting to go to the heart of sport through one of its most ubiquitous objects.

[Kupo]

Caitlin wrote: "I read Derby Girl by Shauna Cross a few years ago and liked it a lot--it's YA fiction about a girl joining roller derby (it was the basis for the film Whip It).

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson w..."

This is great, thanks for the recs!

[Jeanne]

Marianne wrote: "I was about to start What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami, but maybe I'll save it til January for this!"

I loved this book. The audio version is especially wonderful for long runs (or walks).

[Beachesnbooks]

Theresa wrote: "If anyone's still looking for ideas... The Guardian posted an article today, "Hits and misses: indie publishers pick their books of 2016." One of the publisher wrote about [book:Sudden Death|256146..."

That's a great suggestion! I have this on my TBR and it didn't even cross my mind for this task, thanks!

[Emma]

Carrie wrote: "Would Invictus: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation count?"

Hey I think so!

[Cheryl Daly]

Would Shoeless Joe by W. P. Kinsella work for this category?

[vanessa]

Bonnie wrote: "For anyone who has not read Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream I can not recommend it more heartily. I am not a sports person and this is a book that changed the way I vi..."

This is the book I think I will read - has been on my TBR pile for years.

A book I can recommend is Outcasts United: A Refugee Team, an American Town - it's a story about soccer uniting refugees and the struggle of coming to the U.S. as a refugee. A touching book.

[Carolyn]

Decided to read the book Concussion about the doctor who discovered long term effects of multiple concussions on NFL players and how the NFL initially responded.

[Jen]

I am actually going to read
"A History of American Sports in 100 Objects"
I found it at the library and think it looks very interesting.
Every story is 2 or 3 pages and it is meant to be more about American society and the role of sports rather than just sports.

[Udeni]

For once, I'm posting a review ahead of schedule. Here's my review of A Yorkshire Tragedy: The Rise and Fall of a Sporting Powerhouse https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

[Judy]

Several of my favorite sports books: Swimming - "Find a Way: The Inspiring Story of One Woman's Pursuit of a Lifelong Dream" by Diana Nyad; Running - "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall; and Ice Hockey- "The Game" by Ken Dryden. I plan to read "Paper Lion" by George Plimpton.

[Judy]

Melissa wrote: "Morgan wrote: "Any tips on books about women in sports with deep and interesting life stories?"

Great idea! You made me think of the swimmer Diana Nyad Find a Way and Billie Jean K..."

I highly recommend Diana Nyad's book!

[[deleted user]]

i found TOUCHING THE VOID in the sports section so i personally believe this must work... any objections?

[Bobby]

Patrick wrote: "Would a book about chess count?"

That's a very good question, and according to the International Olympic Committee and over 100 individual countries, the answer is yes: http://londonchessconference.com/a-qu...

[Lee-Anne]

Bonnie wrote: "For anyone who has not read Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream I can not recommend it more heartily. I am not a sports person and this is a book that changed the way I vi..."

Thanks! Added to list.

[Tiffany]

I'm reading Rusch to Glory. Rebecca Rusch provides her POV as a woman taking on endurance adventure racing including: climbing, white water rafting, and mountain biking. These are pretty male dominated sports that require a lot of grit and resilience. I'm liking it so far.

[Niffer]

Rebecca wrote: ". At the risk of being self-promoting, here's a link to my blog's section from my own reading challenge of 2016, which included two sports categories (one history, one ethnography): http://readingl..."

I'm pretty sure this is on their given list, so yes :)

[Vanessa]

I plan on either reading Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina or Grace, Gold, and Glory: My Leap of Faith

[Jessica]

I'm thinking "Erratic Fire, Erratic Passion" by Pasha Malls and Jeff Parker. It's a book of found poetry using quotes taken from interviews, etc. of a particular athlete. (I.e.: a poem made up of random things Shaun White has said on-the-record over the years.)

[Sheri]

I'm thinking King of the World by David Remnick since 1) I have it and 2) It's about Muhammad Ali whose life had an incredible arc.

[Chelsea]

I wish I would have saved The Art of Racing in the Rain for this year. If anyone who, like me, has a hard time getting into sports in general, this might be a good book to try. The premise sounds stupid, but I'm so glad I gave it a chance.

[Isabelle]

For those who can read french, I will read Dépasser l'horizon
it's a book about a woman from Quebec who crossed the ocean between in a kayak alone.

[Elizabeth]

I haven't decided for sure yet, but I am considering Have a Nice Day!: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks by Mick Foley. I don't do much in the way of sports reading, but my boyfriend is a wrestling fan, and has recommended this one to me.

[Trina]

For this one, I'm going with Age is Just a Number by Olympic swimmer Dara Torres. She staged her comeback at 41, and that is how old I will be on my birthday in January.

[Wendy]

Bex wrote: "Would blind Side count? And if not anyone got any recommendations for a nonsporty person who doesn't mind tennis, snooker or horse eventing?"

I'm planning to read "Open" by Andre Agassi. It's the very first book I purchased on my Kindle and I have never read it!

Happy Reading!
-Wendy

[Julia]

Anyone have any good recommendations for someone who has zero interest in sports?

[Shatterlings]

Seabiscuit, it's a really good story with interesting characters, it's so much more than the sport.

[Sonia]

I'm seriously lost with this one! Would Nick Hornby's Fever Pitch fit? I've only read High Fidelity and loved it!

[Shatterlings]

Yes Fever pitch would count, has anybody guessed I like sports books, this is easy for me :D

[Carol]

I haven't decided if I will read fiction or nonfiction for this one. I've been planning to read A Good Walk Spoiled so that might be the determinant.

[Jodi]

I decided to read Meine Olympiade: Ein Amateur, vier Jahre, 80 Disziplinen by Illja Trojanow.

[Megan]

Ultra wrote: "Seabiscuit, it's a really good story with interesting characters, it's so much more than the sport."

Ooh, I second that. I thought I'd hate it (I'm not a person who follows horse racing), but I actually REALLY enjoyed it.

[Bex]

Lisa wrote: "Thanks for the replies about Wild - I'll have to think about it since I'm not a sports fan "

I'd still read wild, just use it for the travel memoir category instead. I read it whilst tramping round the north west coast uk

[Nina]

I was thinking of either reading Forward: My Story or How Soccer Explains the World for this one.

[Mark]

This is a category I read in regularly anyway.
I've started reading The End of the Road: The Festina Affair and the Tour that Almost Wrecked Cycling

[Brandy]

My Losing Season: A Memoir is a beautiful book. I listened to it not terribly long after my father died. He loved basketball and words so Pat Conroy on Basketball? I think I sobbed through the whole thing, but in a good way.

I've had The Last Amateurs: Playing for Glory and Honor in Division I College Basketball on my shelves forever.

Also considering Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream and The Crossover

[Ritika]

I'm reading String Theory: David Foster Wallace on Tennis!

[Judith]

I'm reading Eat Sweat Play: How Sport Can Change Our Lives for this. I've heard good things.