Customer Reviews

Flatbellies: It's Not about Golf. It's about Life.

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Growing up in Oklahoma in the 1960s could be like a ride on a rollercoaster. Girls, cars, sports, even bullies - all the things that we teenagers were so involved with. Alan B Hollingsworth has managed to capture every sudden swerve and rolling upturn in his first novel, Flatbellies. Richly populated with characters drawn from his high school years, Hollingsworth has recreated in the not-so-mythical hamlet of El Viento the world as he knew it. I found myself drawn into the lives of his characters, heroes and villains alike. This became one of those books where you say, "I just have to read another chapter, even if I do have to get up in the morning to go to work!" You too will find it was worth it.

What a great weekend read! The struggles of golf do recapitulate the struggles of life, so in slight contradistinction to the subtitle, this book is about golf AND it's is about life. Reminiscent of Dan Jenkins' Baja Oklahoma, but somehow with a more poignant side, A. B. Hollingsworth spins a great story about a small town Oklahoma high school golf team set in in the 1960's. For me the book evokes memories of the hormones, the love, cockiness and the fear that surrounded adolescence. Perhaps it is solely because I grew up in small town America during that era; perhaps because I can identify with several of the characters, but its pages held me close. At times it made me laugh, and at times made me stare right into a passing rain storm. Any book that can do that is wonderful. If A. B. Hollingsworth can find more stories to tell, I'll find time to read them.

Flatbellies is a brightly lit trip back to the best side of your last smooth ice. Hollingsworth weaves together the innocence and awakening of a group of friends on the brink of fun, heartbreak and life its ownself. Golf is a great backdrop for a coming of age story that is more about love and faith than a white knuckle six iron from behind the trees. I am no night owl, but I could not put this down until I finished it at 2:58 a.m.

This is just a well-written book on adolescence in small Oklahoma community. I as the other reviewers was entranced by the book, couldn't put it down. Devoured it in two days. Great finish, and one that didn't leave me cold or wandering or even wanting more about the characters lifes, due to the Epilogue.

It's about a group of guys who grow up together and eventually happen to win the state golf tournament. Intertwined in this is their love life, expectations, and the fluid-raunchy mouth of one Peachy. Fascinated by the interjection at many points of faith or lack of towards God, and ending up of Jay.

Loved every minute. I too hope Hollingsworth writes more like this.

I bought this book because I am a golfer, but the memories it stirred up of the glory days of high school in a small town are what kept me from putting it down. Hollingsworth developes the characters so vividly that you feel like you know, or know someone like each one of them. Golfer or not, you will love this book. The stories of the coming of age of the "Flatbellies" are something in which everyone can relate. This book is "Stand By Me" and "Hoosiers" rolled into one. "Great job Alan." I hope to see more from this guy.

Even a female, non-golfer like me found this book delightful. The fun, fear, eagerness and poignancy of growing up is common to us all. Hollingsworth has combined the innocence of a time gone by with a generation who believes nothing is impossible. The ending will astonish you!

I could not put this book down. I felt like I knew each and evry one of the characters in this book. Hollingsworth has written a masterpiece. I can only hope he will produce more fiction as great as Flatbellies.

As a golfer who was once part of a high school championship golf team myself, everything about this book brings back memories. They are of simpler times, of days when a guy's only worries were about who to ask to the prom next month, a C-minus in Physics, and a hooking 6 iron.

But Hollingworth's Flatbellies, as anyone who has read the book can attest to, is as much about life, love, and the pursuit of a dream than the game of golf.

Written with true character and passion, Flatbellies is example of a unique sports novel- a compelling page-turner that is a challenge to put down!

This story reminded me to Stephen King's Stand By Me or Lorenzo Carcaterra's Sleepers. All are stories about a group of four teenagers who use their relationship with each other to survive the pains of growing up in the 1960;s. Where Stand By Me was grounded upon the kids' search for a dead body and Sleepers was located in a juevenile detention facility, Flatbellies is located in a sleepy Oklahoma town and the boys are the members of the local golf team.

I found that I could sympathize with the storyteller, Chipper DeHart, who cares less about his own scores than whether the team can progress to the championship. You definitely want to see both the team and Chipper succeed, both on and off the course.

The only real problem that I had with the book was that some of the characters seemed a little bit too stereotypical, particulary the teen wonder, Jay Justice, who combines good looks, athletic ability, and a photographic memory into a package that is just a bit too good to be true. If asked whether I wanted to spend a round golfing with Jay or the rebel from the other town, Smokey Ray Divine, I guess I'd have to take the later.

Overall, I really liked the book and look forward to see if Hollingsworth has another story to tell.

What a joy to read! I picked this book up based on a recommendation from a friend who knows I'm both a reader and a golf fan. Boy, this couldn't have been better - a great weekend read. This book grabs you from Page 1 and doesn't let go. Even after completing the book, I found myself curious about what would come next for these boys and their dreams of Sooner Magic, medical school, and the PGA Tour. Chipper, Jay, Peachy, L.K., and Buster comprise an unlikely high school golf team and the book chronicles their adventures on and off the links. Golfer or not, all readers will find something in the book to which they can relate, whether it be the mysterious Gail, the athlete L.K., or the colorful Smokey Ray Divine. I raced through this book and was sad to see it end. Could there be more from Hollingsworth and the El Viento golf team? I sure hope so!