Customer Reviews

Blue Ice and Other Stories from the Rink

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When I was contacted by Frank Ewert, the author of Blue Ice and Other Stories from the Rink, asking if I wanted to review his book, I was really trying hard to say no. I have so many books backed up in my "to be read/reviewed" list, and I'm trying to cut that down some. But trying to say no to a hockey book is really hard for me... and it was only a small book... really. :) Seriously, Blue Ice is an enjoyable compilation of short story hockey fiction that captures the feel of what hockey means to a kid growing up in Canada. Bottom line, it's life and death.

If you've had anything to do with hockey over the years, many of these stories feel authentic. There's the endless loyalty to your favorite team, knowing that they just *have* to win the Cup as the Cup belongs in Canada. There's the role of the "protector" on the ice, making sure that the team hotshot isn't harassed and abused by the opponents. There's even the harebrained scheme to "liberate" the Cup from its American place of residence, when really all the guys want is to be able to see it up close. For someone who doesn't follow the game, these stories will not have much resonance. But for those of us who do, these could be taken from our own lives.

The book is short, all of 82 pages, so it won't take you very long to read it from cover to cover. But you'll have more than a few smiles on your face during that time, and a number of you will feel like you're walking down memory lane.

Disclosure:
Obtained From: Author
Payment: Free

I really enjoy books that hold my interest when dealing with a subject I am not really interested in. I have never been to a "for real" hockey game, and have never seen more than a few seconds of a game on television. So I guess I would not be part of the natural market for this one -- but I really enjoyed this set of short stories in the genre called "hockey lit." Ewert has the Canadian/American thing down, and a knack for connecting you to his characters within a very short space of time. The language in the first story is a bit rough in a couple spots, but the prose is smooth throughout.