A Fan's Notes on A Fan's Notes


Frederick Exley's fictional memoir A Fan's Notes is The Catcher in the Rye for sporting types . . . Exley is a grown-up Holden Caulfield, and that's not very pretty-- he's alienated, can't "run with the herd," and the only thing that gives his life meaning is drinking and New York Giants football-- especially Frank Gifford-- and though he moves in and out of asylums, fights, womanizes, and generally despises himself and his fellow man, spending alternate periods of frantic energy and stupefying malaise, in the end-- like Holden-- at the end of this wild journey, he ends up missing all the fringe dwelling characters with which he shared booze and adventures . . . I don't recommend this book for women, especially since they will get an even worse view of men than they already have, but if you are a sportsmen who likes to drink, and you're concerned with your age and the mark you've made on the world, then I think this is hard to read without thinking: there by the grace of God go I. 

7 comments:

zman said...

I'm about 1/4 through this bOok and hope to finish it on my miserable flight to CA this morning. Newark airport was designed by MC Escher. Nothing is close to anything.

Jerry said...

I'd like to 2nd your comment on the rubber pellets. Also they're tough to completely remove from the home. At least for me. You live with a woman so maybe it's easier for her.

Clarence said...

Dave, you would have enjoyed a conversation with KQ at TJ's wedding on Saturday.

KQ (speaking of her husband): ...and he likes that rugby movie--
Me: Invictus?
KQ: No, not that one. The old one...
Me: You mean... uh... This Sporting Life?
KQ: Yes!
Me: Holy shit.

This post reminds me of that film.

Dave said...

yes-- that movie is definitely like this book. you should read it, it's up your alley. sort of a sporting man's great gatsby . . . with more drinking.

zman, i can't wait for your "a fan's notes on a fan's notes on a fan's notes."!

nothing is easier when you live with a woman. her method of removing the rubber pellets is to say: "dave! get those god-damned little rubber pellets out of the house! and your cleats stink!"

rob said...

i generally don't have a problem with my athletic shoes stinking, but i've racked up a lot of mileage running lately in high humidity, and my running shoes smell like canned ass. i've taken to storing them outside, the odor is so bad.

in unrelated news, i just started reading 'sugar frosted nutsack'. holy fuck, what a densely packed 'story'. i'm planning to do a review in the style of mark leyner, but it may take me 6-9 months to complete.

Dave said...

did you read my review? you might not make it through the book . . .

rob said...

yes. and yes.

A New Sentence Every Day, Hand Crafted from the Finest Corinthian Leather.