Slotback Rhapsody

By Christopher Harris
Agented by VogelLit
$5.99 Rating: Not yet rated.
Published: Oct. 25, 2011
Words: 72025 (approximate)
Language: English

Short description

At 27 years old, undersized but talented Nick "Mouse" Morrison has yet to realize his dreams as a pro football player. After several unsuccessful training camps, Nick decides a minicamp in Detroit will be his last go-round. But success comes at a cost as he encounters the pitfalls--steroids, gambling, and much more--of being an athlete in today’s 24/7 idol-obsessed culture.

Extended description

At 27 years old, undersized but talented Nick "Mouse" Morrison has yet to realize his dreams as a professional football player. After several unsuccessful training camps, Nick decides a minicamp in Detroit will be his last go-round. His rejections have been tough on him, spiritually and emotionally -- not least since the previous year marked the end of his on-again-off-again relationship with his college girlfriend Henny. The only way he's able to regroup for this final try is by attempting a Buddhist approach to his life as well as football, but even that stresses him out. While going through an existential crisis from which only a thinking man's athlete can suffer, he's being absolutely crushed by 350-pound defensive tackles and bellowed at by coaches.

The novel follows Nick as he finally finds success as a slotback. But his compromises are many. His buddy Gasper hooks him up with HGH (human growth hormone), while Gasper is betting more money than he’s got on football. Meanwhile,... (Read more) At 27 years old, undersized but talented Nick "Mouse" Morrison has yet to realize his dreams as a professional football player. After several unsuccessful training camps, Nick decides a minicamp in Detroit will be his last go-round. His rejections have been tough on him, spiritually and emotionally -- not least since the previous year marked the end of his on-again-off-again relationship with his college girlfriend Henny. The only way he's able to regroup for this final try is by attempting a Buddhist approach to his life as well as football, but even that stresses him out. While going through an existential crisis from which only a thinking man's athlete can suffer, he's being absolutely crushed by 350-pound defensive tackles and bellowed at by coaches.

The novel follows Nick as he finally finds success as a slotback. But his compromises are many. His buddy Gasper hooks him up with HGH (human growth hormone), while Gasper is betting more money than he’s got on football. Meanwhile, Henny makes a surprise visit, and now that he’s a pro Nick suspects he might have another chance with her. With his life hinging on each game, how much of his identity will he sacrifice for success in a profession that thrives on conformity?

This is Friday Night Lights all grown up. Not since Don Delillo’s End Zone has there been such a brilliant portrayal of charming meatheads and on-field action. From a writer who works as a journalist in professional sports, SLOTBACK RHAPSODY is a hilarious and surprisingly accurate inside look at what it’s like to be a professional athlete in today’s 24/7 idol-obsessed culture, as well as a meditation on the high cost of single-mindedness.
(Less)

Tags

fiction, debut novel, football fiction

Available ebook reading formats

Single purchase gains access to all formats. How to download ebooks to e-reading devices and apps.

Format	Full Book	Sample First 5%
Online Reading (HTML, good for sampling in web browser)	Buy	View sample
Online Reading (JavaScript, experimental, buggy)	Buy	View sample
Kindle (.mobi for Kindle devices and Kindle apps)	Buy	Download sample
Epub (Apple iPad/iBooks, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, and most e-reading apps including Stanza, Aldiko, Adobe Digital Editions, others)	Buy	Download sample
PDF (good for reading on PC, or for home printing)	Buy	No sample available
RTF (readable on most word processors)	Buy	No sample available
LRF (Use only for older model Sony Readers that don't support .epub)	Buy	Download sample
Palm Doc (PDB) (for Palm reading devices)	Buy	Download sample
Plain Text (download) (flexible, but lacks much formatting)	Buy	No sample available
Plain Text (view) (viewable as web page)	Buy	No sample available

Reviews

Log-in to write a Review   Log-in to add a Video Review

This book has not yet been reviewed.

Reason for report:
— Select a reason — Book is or contains spam Book infringes copyright Same content is published elsewhere with different author (for ex., by private-label rights) Duplicate Incomplete work (such as sample or serial) Should be marked adults-only Category is inappropriate Poorly formatted Nudity or other inappropriate content on cover Nudity or other inappropriate visual content in book Inappropriate erotica content Cover image is improper Content is inappropriate Other violation of Terms of Service Other reason not shown above.

Additional details: