Early in 2004, two writers and Red Sox fans, Stewart O'Nan and Stephen King, decided to chronicle the upcoming season, one of the most hotly anticipated in baseball history. They would sit together at Fenway. They would exchange emails. They would write about the games. And, as it happened, they would witness the greatest comeback ever in sports, and the first Red Sox championship in eighty-six years. What began as a Sox-filled summer like any other is now a fan's notes for the ages.
Faithful
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Fans watching the 2004 baseball playoffs were often treated to shots of Stephen King sitting in the stands, notebook in hand. Given the bizarre events on the field, from the Red Sox's unprecedented comeback against their most hated rivals to their ace pitcher's bleeding, stitched-together ankle--not to mention the Sox's first championship in 86 years--you could be forgiven for thinking King was writing the script as he went along, passing new plot twists down to the dugouts between innings.
What he was writing, though, along with his friend and fellow novelist Stewart O'Nan, was Faithful, a diary of the 2004 Red Sox season. Faithful is written not from inside the clubhouse or the press room, but from the outside, from the stands and the sofa in front of the TV, by two fans who, like the rest of New England, have lived and died (mostly died) with the Sox for decades. From opposite ends of Red Sox Nation, King in Maine and O'Nan at the border of Yankees country in Connecticut, they would meet in the middle at Fenway Park or trade emails from home about the games they'd both stayed up past midnight to watch. King (or, rather, "Steve") is emotional, O'Nan (or "Stew") is obsessively analytical. Steve, as the most famous Sox fan who didn't star in Gigli, is a folk hero of sorts, trading high fives with doormen and enjoying box seats better than John Kerry's, while Stew is an anonymous nomad, roving all over the park. (Although he's such a shameless ballhound that he gains some minor celebrity as "Netman" when he brings a giant fishing net to hawk batting-practice flies from the top of the Green Monster.)
You won't find any of the Roger Angell-style lyricism here that baseball, and the Sox in particular, seem to bring out in people. (King wouldn't stand for it.) Instead, this is the voice of sports talk radio: two fans by turns hopeful, distraught, and elated, who assess every inside pitch and every waiver move as a personal affront or vindication. Full of daily play-by-play and a season's rises and falls, Faithful isn't self-reflective or flat-out funny enough to become a sports classic like Fever Pitch, Ball Four, or A Fan's Notes, but like everything else associated with the Red Sox 2004 season, from the signing of Curt Schilling to Dave Roberts's outstretched fingers, it carries the golden glow of destiny. And, of course, it's got a heck of an ending. --Tom Nissley --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Publishers Weekly
Of all the books that will examine the Boston Red Sox's stunning come-from-behind 2004 ALCS win over the Yankees and subsequent World Series victory, none will have this book's warmth, personality or depth. Beginning with an e-mail exchange in the summer of 2003, novelists King and O'Nan started keeping diaries chronicling the Red Sox's season, from spring training to the Series' final game. Although they attended some games together, the two did most of their conversing in electronic missives about the team's players, the highs and lows of their performance on the field and the hated Yankees ("limousine longballers"). O'Nan acts as a play-by-play announcer, calling the details of every game (sometimes quite tediously), while King provides colorful commentary, making the games come alive by proffering his intense emotional reactions to them. When the Red Sox find themselves three games down during the ALCS, King reflects on the possibilities of a win in game four: "Yet still we are the faithful... we tell ourselves it's just one game at a time. We tell ourselves the impossible can start tonight." After the Sox win the Series, O'Nan delivers a fan's thanks: "You believed in yourselves even more than we did. That's why you're World Champions, and why we'll never forget you or this season. Wherever you go, any of you, you'll always have a home here, in the heart of the Nation." (At times, the authors' language borders on the maudlin.) But King and O'Nan are, admittedly, more eloquent than average baseball fans (or average sportswriters, for that matter), and their book will provide Red Sox readers an opportunity to relive every nail-biting moment of a memorable season.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
54 of 60 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As a Detroiter, I am truly happy for Sox Fans...I know how happy we hockey Fans were when the Red Wings won their first Stanley cup in 48 years back in 1997...I can only imagine what sox fans felt waiting over 80 years!
I've had the opportunity to meet Stephen King..Oddly enough here in Detroit as he was following his Red Sox on a road trip. We talked for about 15 minutes and he wanted to talk more about the Sox than his books! That was about 15 years ago and he's remained a truly passionate fan.
This book with his daily journal is really a hoot to read. It's kind of cool to see a guy who's a millionaire many tims over agaonizing over his favorite sports team just like the guy on the assembly line in the Ford plant.
King paints a picture filled with hope yet covered with a layer pessimism that only one who has seen so many dashed hopes can ever relate to. The missives back and forth between King and O' Nan, discussing stats and performances like a couple of fan boys was so fun to read. It's serendipitous too that this, the most significant and eventful season in Red Sox history, was the one King and O'Nan happened to chronicle. It had more tortuous (often torturous) story lines and plot points than either novelist could hope to devise - from the team's promising start to its maddening mid-season mediocrity to its overpowering win streak that annihilated the wild-card competition to its monumental post-season comeback.
What a read. Enjoy it Sox fans!
I've had the opportunity to meet Stephen King..Oddly enough here in Detroit as he was following his Red Sox on a road trip. We talked for about 15 minutes and he wanted to talk more about the Sox than his books! That was about 15 years ago and he's remained a truly passionate fan.
This book with his daily journal is really a hoot to read. It's kind of cool to see a guy who's a millionaire many tims over agaonizing over his favorite sports team just like the guy on the assembly line in the Ford plant.
King paints a picture filled with hope yet covered with a layer pessimism that only one who has seen so many dashed hopes can ever relate to. The missives back and forth between King and O' Nan, discussing stats and performances like a couple of fan boys was so fun to read. It's serendipitous too that this, the most significant and eventful season in Red Sox history, was the one King and O'Nan happened to chronicle. It had more tortuous (often torturous) story lines and plot points than either novelist could hope to devise - from the team's promising start to its maddening mid-season mediocrity to its overpowering win streak that annihilated the wild-card competition to its monumental post-season comeback.
What a read. Enjoy it Sox fans!
74 of 87 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Bear with me for a second here...I am not really a Red Sox fan. At least, I wasn't until the playoffs. Naturally, being a good American, I rooted for the Sox against the "Evil Empire," and I was worried about them when they were down 0-3. As they began their amazing comeback, I felt myself being swept under their spell and by the time they went into the Series, I had gone out and bought myself a nice "B" ballcap. This book captures all of the joy and magic that the Red Sox gave to ALL baseball fans (except for a few diehard fans of the Yanks and Cards). Let's face it...stories like the Red Sox in '04 are why we love baseball. It's the stuff of legends. Yeah, sure, the overpaid billionaires on the Yankees might win the Series every other year, but all of their victories combined aren't as special as that of the Sox this year. My team didn't make it to the Series this year, but thanks to the Red Sox, I had something to really cheer about. Steven King and Stewart O'Nan provide giddy, partisan commentary that perfectly reflects the hopes, fears, frustrations, and triumphs of this franchise and their fans. I read a pretty hateful review of this book from a Yankee fan who apparently can't handle the truth, but speaking as an * objective * fan of baseball at large, I can tell you that most of the country was pretty thrilled at the Red Sox and their victories, especially over the Yankees. Hey, the Cardnials are a great franchise also, but this was the year of the Sox, and this book gives underdogs everywhere cause to cheer. If you love baseball and great sportswriting, pick it up.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have been a Red Sox fan as long as I can remember. Moving out of New England years back, I still follow the Sox and ecstatic was not even the word when I saw Foulke throw the ball to first to record the final out. And I got to relieve this memory and more in Faithful. What I loved about the book is not only did it follow the games, it followed the life of two other Sox fans and how it can be all-consuming to be a part of "Red Sox Nation" I loved that even though Stephen King is a famous author he still gets excited by his idols and wants autographs and other memorabilia just like little kids. Being a Sox fan is not easy at times and they showed the angst and anxiety that comes along with the job. But I bet if they had to do it over again, they would not change being a Sox fan for anything. And neither would I.
27 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
"It's amazing how loud you have to yell at the TV so the players can hear." The amazing thing is that Stephen King was just as scared to watch the Red Sox as the rest of us were this year. Thankfully, this is one of the great baseball books, and I've read most of them, from Bouton to Stengalese. Netman in the Monster Seats, Mr. King's tics, and a double diary format that makes it very tempting to skip to the end to see if they had as tough a time as I did watching the playoffs! This is a must have for any real baseball fan's library.
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Humbabe
Format:Hardcover
Stephen King is more than a horror writer, he has seen horror first hand. He's survived a horrific car accident, but also, he has seen too many Red Sox heartbreaks.
He can remember the days of Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Bucky F-ing Dent, 1986, 1999 and 2003. He and novelist Stewart O'Nan compiled their e-mails, correspondences and personal journal entries for this special book. What was going to be a discussion between two Red Sox fans showing their frustrations over another failed Red Sox campaign became an excellent recap of the 2004 season from Spring Training to the final out of the World Series.
O'Nan and King are excellent writers. Their styles shine brilliantly in their e-mails to one another.
They do not edit their original disgust about manager Terry Francona. They do not hide their frustation over the horrendous June stretch that eventually led to the trade of Nomar Garciaparra.
They can be funny, witty and critical at the same time.
This is not only for Red Sox fans, but baseball fans who follow thier teams as passionately as O'Nan and King.
I highly recommend the book.
He can remember the days of Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Bucky F-ing Dent, 1986, 1999 and 2003. He and novelist Stewart O'Nan compiled their e-mails, correspondences and personal journal entries for this special book. What was going to be a discussion between two Red Sox fans showing their frustrations over another failed Red Sox campaign became an excellent recap of the 2004 season from Spring Training to the final out of the World Series.
O'Nan and King are excellent writers. Their styles shine brilliantly in their e-mails to one another.
They do not edit their original disgust about manager Terry Francona. They do not hide their frustation over the horrendous June stretch that eventually led to the trade of Nomar Garciaparra.
They can be funny, witty and critical at the same time.
This is not only for Red Sox fans, but baseball fans who follow thier teams as passionately as O'Nan and King.
I highly recommend the book.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
It was okay
I did not expect a journal about baseball. I have not finished the book yet. I bought it because it is a Stephen King book and I have everything by him. Mixed feelings on this. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Baker Woman
5.0 out of 5 stars
I'm faithful to this book!
This book chronicles the most magical season in Red Sox history. The authors lucked out big time when they started this diary in the beginning of the season. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Section36
5.0 out of 5 stars
dirty water
It's difficult to imagine a more unlikely book concept. And *impossible* to absorb the luck of its timing. Read more
Published 16 months ago by David A. Baer
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good book but he should keep his politics out of it
I was looking forward to reading this book from the time I first heard of the project. I FINALLY got a chance to read it recently and it was a nice, relatively quick and fun read. Read more
Published on July 23, 2010 by James V. Froio Jr.
2.0 out of 5 stars
O'Nan drove me crazy--otherwise ok
I remember first reading this book in Cooperstown the day before the Sox played the Tigers in the 2005 Hall of Fame Game. Read more
Published on May 6, 2010 by John H. Clark III
4.0 out of 5 stars
faithful
The whole season, game-by-game, may be more than I want to read; but if one goes to the more interesting series' and the more compelling aspects of the season - like the trades,... Read more
Published on June 28, 2009 by W. B. Warme
1.0 out of 5 stars
I was disappointed with this book
You hear Stephen King is co-writing a book about his beloved Red Sox and you get excited. Unfortunately this book did not live up to my expectations. Read more
Published on April 25, 2009 by Anthony E. Lorenzo III
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Book. You relive the season thru It!
To preface this review, I am a die Hard Sox fan, so I am biased. But if you are as well, this book will take you thru the entire season, and allow you to relive it thru 2 other die... Read more
Published on March 4, 2009 by B. Murphy
3.0 out of 5 stars
Keeping the faith
No doubt about it, 2004 was a miraculous year for many, including myself. I'm Boston born and bred, and although I now live far away from my old hometown I'm still a diehard Red... Read more
Published on March 2, 2009 by Howlinw
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Curse is over!" review by former minor leaguer and ENG teacher turned...
Stephan King continues to demonstrate his versatility as a writer. What another great notch he has etched into his legacy as one of the most important writers of our time. Read more
Published on December 7, 2008 by Joel Katte
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 21
books:
See all 21 books this book cites
- Big Papi (Spanish edition): La Historia de Mis Anhelos y Mis Grandes Batazos by David Ortiz on 12 pages
- The Curse of the Bambino by Dan Shaughnessy on page 23, page 65, and page 380
- The Boston Red Sox (Team Spirit) by Mark Stewart in Front Matter, and page 13
- John Henry (Rabbit Ears: A Classic Tale (Spotlight)) by Brad Kessler on page 85, and page 187
- What is it? by Rose Williams on page 73
See all 21 books this book cites
