The Game Player [Hardcover]

Rafael, Yglesias (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1978

 

The critically acclaimed novel from a master of contemporary American fiction—now available as an ebook

A story of genius, performance, and the psychological forces that drive the competitive spirit

 

Brian Stoppard is blessed with prodigious natural talents. Howard Cohen, less so. Starting in middle school in New York, Howard watches Brian effortlessly win at everything he tries: He’s a natural chess champion, a perfect athlete, a brilliant student. As the two move through life as friends and competitors, Brian’s easy success is a constant source of envy, awe, and inspiration for the ambitious but less-gifted Howard.

 

Told with great humor and style, The Game Player is a story of those born to greatness and those who must strive for it.

 

This ebook features a new illustrated biography of Rafael Yglesias, including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the author’s personal collection.

 

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Rafael Yglesias has a winner with this quiet, beautifully crafted book that grabs hold of its readers by leaps and bounds . . . stunning.”—The Boston Globe

 

“Yglesias is . . . a skilled and intellectually vigorous artist. His writing is crisp and poised, and his ideas are fresh and honestly examined.” —Virginia Quarterly Review

 

“Rafael Yglesias’s third novel is cleverly written and skillfully captures the grim and airless high school and college milieu through which Brian and Howard cut their swathe.”—Katha Pollitt, The New York Times Book Review

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Doubleday; First Edition edition (January 1978)
• ISBN-10: 0385124481
• ISBN-13: 978-0385124485
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,711,293 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rafael Yglesias is an American novelist and screenwriter, the son of writers Jose and Helen Yglesias. He dropped out of high school upon publication of his first novel, Hide Fox, And All After in 1972 at age 17. He is the author of nine novels, including A Happy Marriage, winner of the 2009 Los Angeles Times Fiction Prize, Dr. Neruda's Cure For Evil and Fearless, which he adapted for the screen. He also wrote the screenplays for Death And The Maiden, Les Miserables, From Hell, and Dark Water. He has two sons: Matthew Yglesias, a Fellow at the Center For American Progress, public intellectual and author of Heads In The Sand; Nicholas Yglesias is a fantasy novelist who has recently completed Succession, the first of a three volume trilogy. Rafael lives in the city of his birth, New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, August 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Game Player (Hardcover)

Not being a brilliant writer myself, I am not sure I can effectively convey the brilliance of this book with words. This is the first book by Rafael Yglesias I've read. It is the greatest novel I have ever read in my life. I feel robbed that this book was not required reading when I was in college. Instead of going into detail about the plot, I will just say if you are bothering to read this review then this book is a must-read. It has left an indelible mark on my soul and I will never be the same because of it. I know that's a corny thing to say, but I never knew a book could be this enlightening. I look forward to reading other books by this author.