Red or Dead - David Peace

Peter Grummit

Well-known member

Oct 13, 2004

6,769

Lewes

• Feb 28, 2014

• #1

Just reading this book about Shankly by the guy who wrote The Damned United.

Wonderfully evocative of the era and of the legend, can highly recommend it. Anyone else read it? The contrast with Vincent Tan couldn't be greater. Shankly didn't believe in luck, just hard work and attention to detail. He wasn't interested in money (lived in the same modest house the whole time) just the glory for the fans.

PG

 

Stinkers Bridge

New member

Jul 28, 2004

1,950

Buxted Harbour

• Feb 28, 2014

• #2

I've not read it. I'm not really that interested in football.

 

Kumquat

New member

Mar 2, 2009

4,459

• Feb 28, 2014

• #3

Hadn't heard of that particulat book but will definitely check it out. He's an excellent writer. I just revisited one of my favourite books as a kid "Goalkeepers are Different" by Brian Glanville. Also evocative of its era and what it was like as a kid then getting into professionalfootball.

 

F

fcportaloo

New member

Nov 1, 2009

242

• Feb 28, 2014

• #4

Peter Grummit said:

Just reading this book about Shankly by the guy who wrote The Damned United.

Wonderfully evocative of the era and of the legend, can highly recommend it. Anyone else read it? The contrast with Vincent Tan couldn't be greater. Shankly didn't believe in luck, just hard work and attention to detail. He wasn't interested in money (lived in the same modest house the whole time) just the glory for the fans.

PG

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I've read it. The style of the writing made it feel like I was living inside the 'obsessive will to win' world of Shankly. Great book about a great man. What really surprised me was teams having to play on consecutive days, sometimes really important games. Not sure what Shankly would make of Rooney on £300k p/w

 

Peter Grummit

Well-known member

Oct 13, 2004

6,769

Lewes

• Feb 28, 2014

• Thread starter
• #5

Yes these days it would be called OCD. Especially his gardening.

 

KZNSeagull

Well-known member

Nov 26, 2007

19,790

Wolsingham, County Durham

• Feb 28, 2014

• #6

I have not read this one but will check it out. Strangely, on the day Tom Finney died, someone bought a whole pile of old sports books into my shop and in there was "Finney on Football" and the Matt Busby book. Am reading the Secret Footballer at the moment, but those 2 are next.

 

Cadiz Seagull

Grey bearded old man

Jul 7, 2003

5,990

Between Haywards Heath and Trujillo, Extremadura,

• Feb 28, 2014

• #7

They don't seem to like it much on Amazon. Only three stars and the general feeling seems to be written in a very repetitive style. Quite put me off. Plus it's 7 odd quid, most of the Kindle books I buy from Amazon are a quid or so, often less!

Cheepskate? Me?

 

Skaville

Well-known member

Jun 10, 2004

10,100

Queens Park

• Feb 28, 2014

• #8

Has anyone read this AND the Damned United? If so, is it a bit same old same old?

 

CorgiRegisteredFriend

Well-known member

May 29, 2011

8,316

Boring By Sea

• Feb 28, 2014

• #9

His Red Riding books are brilliant. It's a violent portrayal of life between 1974 and 1983 in the Yorkshire Police Force. I can't recommend it enough. Not always easy to read though.

 

Tarpon

Well-known member

Sep 12, 2013

3,785

BN1

• Feb 28, 2014

• #10

Jimmy Skaville said:

Has anyone read this AND the Damned United? If so, is it a bit same old same old?

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Yes & yes but after initially struggling with the repetition it became quite mesmeric over long sittings. Having said that it wouldn't surprise me if many don't make it all the way through because it's quite a challenging style (especially over the longer Red or Dead).

 

Bill Cassidy's tie up

New member

Feb 9, 2011

1,047

Lancing

• Feb 28, 2014

• #11

KZNSeagull said:

I have not read this one but will check it out. Strangely, on the day Tom Finney died, someone bought a whole pile of old sports books into my shop and in there was "Finney on Football" and the Matt Busby book. Am reading the Secret Footballer at the moment, but those 2 are next.

Click to expand...

Secret footballer loved it