Following his remarkable fiction debut, Rope Burns, author F. X. Toole's Pound for Pound is a big, brawny novel of honor, perseverance, family, and forgiveness, set in towns where violence is the norm and success stories take on an almost mythic importance. It is the story of Dan Cooley, an aging, legendary Los Angeles trainer, who takes on Chicky Garza, a troubled young fighter hungry for glory in the notoriously corrupt San Antonio boxing circuit. Written in the masterful style that has earned the author glowing comparisons to Ernest Hemingway, Raymond Carver, and Frank McCourt, this unforgettable posthumous novel celebrates a unique and powerful bond, and the courage that overcomes insurmountable obstacles in and out of the ring.
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Toole, who died before seeing the Oscar-winning movie adaptation of his short story "Million Dollar Baby," weighs in posthumously with this bruising smoker of a novel. (The novel was "shaped," notes James Ellroy in the introduction, from a 900-page manuscript by Toole's agent and a freelance editor.) Dan Cooley, a onetime contender who has outlived his wife and children and whose life revolves around his grandson, Tim Pat, goes off the rails after Tim Pat is killed in a traffic accident. As Cooley vacillates between booze-fueled suicidal thoughts and fantasies of homicidal vengeance, Hispanic teenager Eduardo "Chicky" Garza y Duffy begins his troubled ascent in the amateur boxing world. That these two men, separated by thousands of miles, ethnicity and generations, will become the vehicle for one another's redemption is inevitable, but Toole's unsentimental prose and knack for creating tragic characters (whose sufferings, in turn, lead to plausible triumphs) overcome the ready-made plot. Cooley's thesis—that prize fighting, for all its apparent brutality, is a sport that rewards wisdom, skill and (at times) fair play—informs Toole's writing; the result is a stunning cap to a short but brilliant writing career. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Bookmarks Magazine
With unexpected twists and even more unexpected emotional largesse, this unfinished novel stands toe-to-toe with some of the best writing on boxing. Pound for Pound reaches bookshelves four years after its author's death. Better known in the boxing world by his given name, Jerry Boyd, F. X. Toole came to the attention of most folks for his collection of short stories Rope Burns (2000). Published when Toole was in his 70s, a longer piece in the collection served as screenplay grist for Clint Eastwood's Oscar-winning film, Million Dollar Baby. Toole never saw the film—he passed away before it was released—but he left behind more stories, including the 900-page manuscript from which Pound for Pound was whittled. The majority of critics find the book inherently imperfect but overflowing with the magic that brought the ripe talent of Toole to the public's attention.
Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great book,
By A Reader "noelrd" (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Pound for Pound: A Novel (Hardcover)
I loved this book. Initially, for the first fifty pages or so, I was fearful that I had selected a book only about the art of boxing. It isn't this at all. It's the story of friendship, loyalty, love, dishonesty, greed, and most of all folks with dreams shattered and fulfilled. The characters are real. This reader could empathize with Dan's losses and subsequent depression and rejoice when he begins to live again. As a female, I am not an avid fan of any sport, but enjoyed this novel immensely. This theme may lead one to believe it's exclusively a 'guy' book- not so. I chose this book because the author wrote Million Dollar Baby, an acclaimed film I haven't seen. BRAVO, F.X. Toole, may you rest in peace."
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unfinished Masterpiece,
By
This review is from: Pound for Pound: A Novel (Hardcover)
'Pound for Pound' gives us a brief glimpse into one man's artistic greatness. This book takes some of the themes from 'Rope Burns' and expands upon them at much greater depth. Rather than being a story about boxing, this is a book that examines the nature of grief for the lost, devotion to the living, and the hopes of one's wildest dreams.
The character development in 'Pound for Pound' compares to John Irving's best work, though in an entirely different style. Even the most minor characters are brought to life in a way that is highly detained, but never long-winded. The reader is able to get inside the head and motives of both the protagonists and the antagonists in a very rare way. My only disappointment in 'Pound for Pound' is that F.X. Toole did not live long enough to finish it. His editors did a nice job with piecing together what was available, but the ending is so sparce, I'm not sure Toole would have wanted it published this way. There was too much development that lead to a very sudden halt in the action. Despite the unfinished ending, however, I strongly recommend 'Pound for Pound' to anyone looking for a beautifully crafted, character-centered story.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Packs a Wallop,
By Bunniman (Grover Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Pound for Pound: A Novel (Hardcover)
I bought this book after seeing a listing and learning it was written by the same author who wrote the story behind the film "Million Dollar Baby." This novel is similar to that experience in terms of emotional impact and boxing lore. Toole obviously writes from direct experience when describing how to maneuver in the ring, as well as how naive fighters are victimized and manipulated. After reading it I gave it to a young woman who is herself a professional boxer, knowing that without a doubt she'd enjoy it even more than me. Toole does the essential thing for any good read: gets you involved with the characters, and then he keeps you on the hook with the myriad insights into the fighter's life.
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