5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Coming Off the Ropes, June 12, 2004
This review is from: Every Time I Talk to Liston: A Novel (Hardcover)
Every Time I Talk to Liston is one of the most unusual sports novels I have ever read. Anyone who is interested in an exciting, genre-breaking book should consider this one.
Amos "Scrap Iron" Fletcher has never been knocked down in a heavyweight fight. He has lots of boxing savvy to go with his hard head. But neither quality has done him much good during a long career as a fighter and sparring partner for the greats. From his "hard knocks" career he's learned to walk the straight and narrow in most ways . . . and to put away a little extra cash into his mutual fund shares. He's also learned to appreciate the difficulties of being a fighter, and has developed a spiritual relationship with the memory of Sonny Liston . . . someone whom most people felt little sympathy. Scrap Iron realizes that everyone has a good side and would like to show that side more often to the outside world.
Following a series of unexpected events, Scrap Iron finds himself outside of boxing . . . looking in. How can he redeem himself? What does the future hold?
This book will remind many people of the Rocky saga, except that the Rockies here are African-Americans. The tale is told with enthusiasm and vigor, which will keep you up late reading the book. Mr. DeVido has a way of describing training, sparring and matches that can take a neophyte like me into the head and body of a fighter or trainer. The resulting story is a compelling read.
But don't forget. This is a book that will mostly appeal to men. Women are portrayed in very simplistic ways (as strippers, groupies and "angels" who want to redeem their men). Although the book doesn't glorify violence, it certainly deals centrally with that theme and the attraction of fighting to those in the profession.
The references to Sonny Liston give the book grounding in reality that makes the book more interesting. I loved the quote that opened the book from Mr. Liston:
"Someday they're gonna write a blues song just for fighters. It'll be for slow guitar, soft trumpet, and a bell."
I would have rated the book as a five-star effort except that by page 143 the rest of the story was pretty easy to anticipate. That transparency stole some of the power from the tale.
As I finished the book, I wondered what other well-known sports figures had a better side to them that was largely hidden from the public. Perhaps there are more legitimate role models in sports than we realize.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific!, May 28, 2004
This review is from: Every Time I Talk to Liston: A Novel (Hardcover)
A sports fan I am not, but I LOVED this book. Brian DeVido is a former Virginia Golden Gloves heavyweight champion who knows boxing intimately, yet his portrayal of the complexities and nuances of the boxing scene are so well-crafted that even though I was ignorant of the fight world, I was sucked right into the story. 'Every Time I Talk to Liston' is understandably graphic in places given its subject matter, but the violence isn't gratuitous - it's just part of the sport, providing an intriguing and emotional backdrop for the characters, who really shine. Not only did I come away from this book feeling as though I understood a sport which previously had been incomprehensible to me (men hitting each other? what's up with that?), I CARED about the outcome, which DeVido masterfully leaves in doubt right up until the very end.
Fast-paced, with likeable characters and wonderful insights ("You got to be a little crazy to be the best in anything." - Amos 'Scrap Iron' Fletcher), 'Every Time I talk to Liston' is a satisfying, heart-warming story about a man who refuses to give up.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exciting ~ Enjoyable~Energetic~, May 12, 2004
This review is from: Every Time I Talk to Liston: A Novel (Hardcover)
When I started to read this book, I didn't know what to expect. What I found was a "page-turner" of a book! Brian DeVido has captured the hard world of boxing and relates it to the reader in a very realistic way. We almost feel every punch and jab as if we were inside the ring ourselves. Amos, "Scrap Iron" Fletcher, is a down and out boxer who searches to find a way to be successful in the game that he loves. The character development of Amos, the protagonist, proceeds seemingly effortlessly, from beginning to end. Along the way, Amos seeks the approval of Sonny Liston's spirit as his mentor. The plot is convincing and well woven in rounds instead of chapters. This book is not just for the boxing afficionado. It is for EVERYMAN!!
DeVido has a clever style that ropes you in and keeps you coming back for more.
If you are looking for an exciting book... get Every Time I Talk To Liston.
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