Fan Mail

by Nick Hornby

A new collection of soccer writing by the bestselling author of Fever Pitch.

After the phenomenal success of Fever Pitch, Nick Hornby tried to avoid writing about soccer, for fear that he'd be writing about it forever. But occasionally over the years he’s found it impossible to turn down a particularly enticing assignment or, in the case of the 2012-13 Premier League, just unable to resist writing about that most spectacular of seasons.

Fortunately for those who love great writing about soccer, all these fugitive pieces are collected in Fan Mail. You can follow the fortunes, as Hornby did, of a hopelessly out-of-their-depth Cambridge United in the old Second Division, discover why Perry Groves was an unlikely hero among Arsenal fans, enjoy Hornby trying to explain the World Cup to Americans, and share with him the pain of watching his national team.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Soccer, Ebooks, Essays

116 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 29, 2013

About the author

Nicholas Peter John Hornby is an English writer and lyricist. He is best known for his memoir Fever Pitch (1992) and novels High Fidelity and About a Boy, all of which were adapted into feature films. Hornby's work frequently touches upon music, sport, and the aimless and obsessive natures of his protagonists. His books have sold more than 5 million copies worldwide as of 2018. In a 2004 poll for the BBC, Hornby was named the 29th most influential person in British culture. He has received two Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay nominations for An Education (2009), and Brooklyn (2015).

Reviews

[Lucy H-W · Rating 5 out of 5]

On 11th July, I received a letter in the post, and I was totally overjoyed to open it and discover that it was a lovely letter from the Nick Hornby, in response to a letter I sent him a few months ago. In true fangirl fashion, my excitement made me put down my current read to read something else by Nick, and Fan Mail was perfect.

I am becoming a broken record when it comes to my Nick Hornby reviews; he made me laugh out loud and smile in a way that no other books do. There is nothing better to me than a Nick Hornby book about football.

Soon I’m going to try some of Nick’s fiction books; everything I’ve read of his so far (all non-fic) has been 5 stars, so I hope that trend continues!

(P.S. I’ve tried to share the kindle highlights I made of a few of my favourite lines, but I have no clue if it worked, as I clearly don’t know how to use goodreads properly😭)

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just under the wire for my reading goal this year, yet even as I began reading this one, I had that sinking feeling that I could have scores my final point with less trying ordeal, such as Pray, but in a way might still be at it by the eleventh hour (and fifty-ninth minute). While I made it through Fever Pitch the first time around, it is clear that subsequent attempts may prove too much for me and Nick Hornby - will go out on a limb by stating my preference for the American baseball adaptation of his memoir as I feel a bit burned out trying to follow along with all the ups and down of soccer. Hope that Funny Girl gets me back on track with the other Hornby I have read voluminously.

[Mimi V · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nick Hornby and football. Two things that just go together; can't be separated. I enjoy reading anything that Hornby writes about football and this book is no exception.

My favorite chapter is about Fever Pitch, his first book, which was a memoir about his life as an Arsenal fan. He recaps the changes in the game, in England, in the venues, in the teams, in the fans, and in his own life. The game has become more middle-class, safer for fans, but also more expensive. When he wrote Fever Pitch he was single and childless. Now he's married and has two children. He still goes to all the matches -- everybody in his life knows not to expect him at events if there's a match on.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a fan of Hornby and soccer then purchasing this e-book is a no-brainer. If you're NOT a fan Hornby AND soccer, then probably best to skip this one over.

It's amazing how quickly soccer articles become dated. I recognized a good number of the players mentioned in the book but at the same time, became increasingly curious what Hornby would say about some more recent games. I'll have to do some searching to see if he's still publishing soccer articles.

[Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

He's a Gooner but a great writer and he suffers for both so I'm in.

[SheMac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like most Hornbys, well written, humorous and insightful. Not too technical, either, and a stateside baseball fan like me will understand most of it.

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 3 out of 5]

33 - 2024

[Bocca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once you have written once about football, then everything you write for the rest of your life is about football, even if you don’t think it is.
Ника Хорнби, пожалуй, больше всего знают как автора книги о продавце музыкальных пластинок («High Fidelity»), о ребенке с проблемами развития («About a Boy»), о треснувшем браке («State of the Union: A Marriage in Ten Parts»), о перипетиях взаимоотношений двух совершенно разных по возрасту, статусу и цвету коже влюбленных («Just Like You»), но пожалуй, главной книгой Хорнби можно назвать его дебютный роман «Fever Pitch». Как признался в своей книге сам автор, «один раз начав писать о футболе, потом все остальное на протяжении всей своей жизни все равно будет о футболе, даже если ты так на самом деле не думаешь».

«Fan Mail» — очередной сборник авторских эссе, но на этот раз не о музыке, а на футбольные темы (про музыку можно почитать и послушать здесь). Данные статьи выходили в разные годы в различных английских изданиях, и возможно многими так и остались бы незамеченными, пока издательство Penguin очень любезно не собрало эти заметки в один сборник своей лимитированной серии Penguin Specials.

Если вы читали дебютный роман Хорнби, то наверняка в курсе, что он старый болельщик лондонского «Арсенала», судьба клуба за это время тесно переплелась с его собственной. Сквозь призму своего собственного восприятия Хорнби рассказывает свои наблюдения о беспросветной судьбе Cambridge Utd во втором дивизионе, почему Перри Гроувз был сомнительным героем среди болельщиков «Арсенала», а также делится своими личными переживаниями, поддерживая сборную Англии на Чемпионатах Мира.

[Lee Broderick · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think Nick Hornby is probably a better writer of non-fiction than of fiction, based on my limited experience. Even writing on a subject for which he is famously passionate, however, his writing rarely sparkles. He often seems to try just a little too hard to be stylish or to be funny. Though obviously knowledgeable, I'm left with the impression that he might be a slightly pretentious bore rather than erudite, charming company. All of that's probably unfair though - is it really possible to glean so much about someone based on their writing?

This particular book collects all of Hornby's sport writing in one place, excluding Fever Pitch (predictably) but including Pray: Notes on the 2011/2012 Football Season (surprisingly). These cover topics ranging from Perry Groves, to Manchester United, Cambridge United and the 2012 Olympics. The last of these is the only non-Football piece and, a lifelong Gooner myself, I enjoyed the Arsenal pieces. By and large though, the columns/essays wouldn't appear out of place on some of the better 'blogs that are around today. Really then, it's only worth the price of admission if you like reading those kind of commentaries (I do) but have no access to the internet, where you can read such things that are both more timely and free.

[David Bril · Rating 4 out of 5]

These excellent Ebook special from Nick Hornby, works as a perfect companion piece to Nick Hornby's wonderfully first novel Fever Pitch. Like Fever Pitch, Fan Mail tracks Nick's life as a fan of his sport of choice soccer (football). With this set Nick pin points some of the key moments in his fandom and talks about them in great length that is never ever boring even if you have never watched a single game in your life. Hornby has that rare ability to make you care about things you never thought you would care about, thanks to his sharp sense of humor and his wicked writing style. This book covers 20 years of Nick's fandom starting from 1983. He basically takes off right were Fever Pitch left off, having one piece from 1983 and then jumping right to 1993 (were Fever Pitch ended). Topics include Heroes and Villains, Trying to find the next Pele, The 2002 World Cup, The National Team from 2006 and the 2012 Olympics.

Hornby also includes here a re-visitation of Fever Pitch, were he rethinks what would actually make a perfect game for him now, as he did back toward the end of Fever Pitch.

Another bonus here is that this book also contains all of the other E-Book special Nick did called Pray, which appears here in its entirety.

Nick has said that he never wants to write another novel about Football, but some many fans have wanted it considering that Fever Pitch ends with 1992. So this works as the perfect piece to go with Fever Pitch so that you get a nearly complete set of Hornby as a fan of the sport. IF you loved Fever Pitch this is a must have!

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fan Mail collects Hornby's writings on football (soccer) from the past 20 years.

A few stray thoughts.

Readers who, as I was, are deciding between this and Pray: Notes on the 2011/2012 Football Season -- both $2.99 ebooks -- should know that Fan Mail includes Pray.

I found that Fan Mail was the perfect book to read as an ebook, because I could wander off to Wikipedia and find out what had happened to a player since Hornby's writing.

I often wish I had the time to follow the Premier League or the Champions League -- I only actually follow the international game. This book makes me wish I had that time, and I feel certain that if I could have Nick Hornby as a guide, I would follow whatever soccer he wrote about.

[Dana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had I known that nearly 1/4 of this book would be comprised of another Hornby e-book I already read, and that 1/2 of the remaining 3/4 would be painfully boring, I would not have bought it, nor wasted my time slogging through it. Two stars because it gave me something to read on the T when I forgot to bring another book along.

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brief collection of Hornby's soccer writing. As with all Hornby, it's smart, witty, and easy to read (though in this case I think you'd have to be interested in the subject). Only negative? He supports the wrong team*.

*While there's no "right" team to support, of course, there are definitely wrong ones.

[Ipswichblade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good short reads about football on Kindle

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nick Hornby writing about soccer? Hard to go wrong there. I just wish I could read his thoughts on every game.