Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Othello in modern south America, March 21, 2009
Exposure reworks Shakespeare's Othello in a modern day South American soccer context .Othello is transformed into "Otello" ,the star name in his un-named South American country -handsome ,athletic and by far the nation's best known black man .He plays for a club in the impoverished Nothern half of the country and controversy arises when he is transferred to "Rialto" ,a wealthy club in the Southern region owned by a man named Nestor Brabanto who is prominent in the new Conservative ( in other words reactionary) government of the nation.Brabanto's daughter is a pop music icon in the country -the beautiful and headstong Desmerelda .She and Otello marry ,to the disgust of Brabanto ,who is racist to the core ,and to the delight of the media who enter intom a feeding frenzy . Stirring things up is Otello's agent ,the Iago figure ,Diego ,who hates Otello and sets out to destroy him ,first by stirring up jealousy against his white bodyguard Michael Cassio and then by instigating false charges of child pornography and complicity in the murder of a street kid ,Bianca ,a model for his sportswear range. Running parallel to the main story is that of a group of street urchins ,especially Bush who scrapes a living by running errands and cleaning cars .He is helped by the journalist Paul Faustino-returning from other Peet novels ,such as Keeper and Penalty The book is bleak in a way that even the source play is not .Nobody dies but their fates are to live in remembrance of what could have been and the overall tone is cynical and despairing .It is not a novel about soccer in the way Keeper was and I think this book may struggle to find an audience -too depressing for kids and not really sharp enough fior adults It is an ambitious misfire but worth reading if you want something out of the ordinary
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This sprawling, deeply engaging exploration of race, intrigue and betrayal transcends the label "sports novel", December 28, 2009
This review is from: Exposure (Hardcover)
Award-winning author Mal Peet has written three books about Paul Faustino, a soccer reporter for the newspaper La Nacion. His previous titles, KEEPER and THE PENALTY, utilized a blend of sports realism and magical elements to create a new kind of soccer novel. In EXPOSURE, Peet takes a somewhat different approach, continuing to explore the cultural undercurrents of the game while incorporating classical elements in this loose retelling of the Shakespearian tragedy OTHELLO. In the southern regions of an unnamed South American country, the whole area is abuzz with news that the local professional soccer franchise, Rialto, has just signed the continent's most talented and valuable player: Otello. Otello, whose signing has been coordinated by his crafty agent, Diego Mendosa, and by the powerful politician Nestor Brabanta has been warned that he will likely face racism and resentment on the team and in the South in general. But the prospects of fame --- and the size of his contract --- sway the talented black man's decision. Soon, Otello discovers another reason to celebrate his good fortune: Desmerelda, Brabanta's beautiful daughter and a popular singer/celebrity. Otello falls for Desmerelda immediately, and within weeks of meeting each other, the two elope. It turns out that the white Brabanta's gregariousness toward his star player might not persist when that player becomes his son-in-law. Meanwhile, the media sensationalizes Otello and Desmerelda's relationship (think Posh and Becks), not least because of the difference in their skin colors. But distrust and betrayal lurk not only in the tabloids but also closer to home. When a young, beautiful street kid named Bianca --- who just happens to idolize Desmerelda --- shows up murdered, suspicion is cast on Otello, threatening to bring down his marriage and the Rialto team. Mal Peet's award-winning novels (EXPOSURE was the recipient of the 2009 Guardian Prize for children's fiction, and his earlier book TAMAR won the Carnegie Medal) are the kind of young adult fiction that will appeal equally to teenaged and adult readers. EXPOSURE fearlessly takes on real issues --- race, fame and privacy --- that will resonate with people of all ages. Most notable is that its characters (with the exception of the three street kids who inhabit one sub-plot) are all adults, a risky move for a young adult novelist but one that pays off in a sophisticated and mature approach to themes. With its separation into acts, its list of dramatis personae and its dialogue that is sometimes set like lines from a play, EXPOSURE is clearly an homage to OTHELLO. Character names and plot points will be familiar to those who have read the original; enjoyment and appreciation of the novel, however, is not diminished for those unfamiliar with Shakespeare's play. EXPOSURE works for readers of many ages and on different levels; this sprawling, deeply engaging exploration of race, intrigue and betrayal transcends the label "sports novel" as well as its roots in Shakespearian tragedy. --- Reviewed by Norah Piehl
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
ending was really good, March 4, 2010
This review is from: Exposure (Hardcover)
Otello is a great soccer player recently recruited to play for a team in an area known to discriminate against black northerners like himself. He meets and soon marries a white pop star, Desmerelda, the daughter of a right-wing politician, which quickly starts a frenzy. Desmerelda and Otello encounter problems because of the media attention. An experienced soccer reporter observes how the media can affect lives, in both good and bad ways. When I got this book I was excited because I thought it would be a good book. I enjoy sports and the cover made me think it would be something I like. When I started reading it, however, I absolutely hated it. My teacher made me read, and read, and finally I got it done. It took me much longer to read this book than most books that I read. Towards the end, it started getting really good though and I finished the last 150 pages in just one day. That part of the book almost makes me want to read a sequel, if there is one. Reviewed by a young adult student reviewer Flamingnet Book Reviews Teen books reviewed by teen reviewers
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
