City Travel Guides
Home Page > Go back a page
Books : A Season with Verona
Rating: 
- Parks Plays A Blinder!
This is a must for all literary football fans, following one of Italian soccer's less fashionable, and decidedly right wing, clubs Hellas Verona during the ill-fated season when they were last in Serie A. Like his previous books, Italian Neighbours and An Italian Education, Parks really delves deep into the psyche and delivers prose with all the colour and vivaciousness of a carnival parade. The noise, the sights, even the smells and tastes of top-drawer Italian football leap from virtually every page and the real emotion which simmers eternally can be sensed as it reaches its inevitable, sometimes violent, crescendo.
The Englishman abroad style of book has often been criticized, sometimes quite rightly so, for its over prosaic, condescending treatment of the "simple, rustic locals" but, thankfully, Parks is a writer who is too close to his subject to stoop so low; he is also a writer who can express his own emotive state whenever his side loses as readily and as honestly as when he is chanting and celebrating a goal with his fellow supporters.
Great books about football are about as rare as honest politicians (or football Presidents) in Italy; this is one of those gems.
Rating: - Per sempre Gialloblu!
I won't bore you with my loquacious opinion on this magnificent book (other people have done that probably better than I can among these readers' reviews). No, I will simply tell you the truth.
When I finished reading the book in May 2003, I booked a flight to Verona and a hotel near l'Arena, and went to the stadium for the last game of that season (Bari, 1-1, for the statiticians among you). I had to see la Curva Sud for myself. Since then, having made friends with one or two members of I Piu Mati (ciao Christian, ciao Alberto, ciao Fabio!) I've been back several times (including a memorable 5-3 win over rivals Vicenza [di merda!]) and they've even been over to see my humble bunch of sleeping giants (the West Country's top team, Bristol City. Well, excluding Yeovil). In short, the book inspired me, it coursed through my veins and I was like a junkie, needing a fix of the Brigate Gialloblu (minus the violenza!). A terrific, vibrant, inspiring read. Forza Signor Tim!
(PS If you liked the social/cultural/non-football parts to the book, make sure you read his Italian Neighbours and Italian Education books. The description of which coffee to drink when in the former book is as good as the opening chapter of A Season With Verona)
Rating: - Classic Writing
Ask on any website message board that has anything to do with football what are the best football books and this comes up every time.
Following the unglamourous Serie A side Hellas Verona home and away through the whole Italian season, the book describes more than just the mechanics of the game, but rather the emotion and etheral stuff, the relationship between fans and team, rival fans, and indeed indiviuduals within the social group of Hellas' hardcore fans. Indeed if it is match by match 'stats' commentary you want this is nt the book, but if it is the description and analysis of the word of fotball fandom then this is it. The subtext to the football is Italy and Italian culture and this is both interesting, funny, scary and head scratching in equal measure. The author as an 'insder' in terms of his love of Hellas. whilst at the same time being an 'outsider' in regards to being an Englishman in Verona, a provincial city with an insular mindset 'us against the world' makes the writing even more interesting.
A book that is essential reading for anyone with an interest in Football, Italy, Travel or Social issues. The only criticism is on some areas the feeling is more could be said or eexplored, but thats because the writing and 'story' is so fascinating and absorbing.
Rating: - Forza Verona!
I had read about this book when it first came out and was interested, but it took me five years to get round to buying it. What an idiot I was!
The idea is fantastic - to follow a side across the country to every league game. Parks is true to his word and makes it to every game, taking the reader from Sicily to Udine and to the Stadio Olimpico and the Delle Alpi.
The book is superbly written. The author is a real fan and the emotions and frustration that he feels are ones with which the reader can instantly empathise.
I don't want to spoil any surprises, but the first chapter is possibly the best in the book and the away trip to Napoli is also memorable (not least for Gabriella on the train - I hope she has read it!).
This is essential reading for any fan who has followed their team to somewher grim and miles away (Port Vale, Rotherham or QPR) to see them capitulate horribly and then still turned up the next week.
A great guide to Italian football and a nice introduction to Italy and Italians, too.
Very highly recommended.
Rating:
- A Season to Remember!
A great book loosely based upon Verona's epic 2000-2001 Season in Serie A. The book is in diary form, so the author, like the reader, doesn't know the eventual outcome when he writes each chapter. This somehow adds to the excitement whilst reading it.
As well as Verona the book covers many asides in all sorts of areas such as Italian politics, hooliganism, life in Italy, the Italian language, racism, the difference between the north and the south, the bias towards the big clubs and the Italian police's awful treatment of away fans.
My favourite part was the description of the regular supporters of Verona, and their travels to away games (the first chapter is an absolute classic). Parks clearly adores Italy and his enthusiasm for the country is infectious (I challenge anyone not to want to stand on Verona's Curva Sud after reading this book). Parks also gets to interview some of the players, management and club owners which adds to the pure adventure of the unfolding tale.
At the end of the day - despite all the differences between Italy and England - the comforting fact to know is that being a fan of any football team, especially a small, unfashionable one, is essentially the same.
- Parks Plays A Blinder!This is a must for all literary football fans, following one of Italian soccer's less fashionable, and decidedly right wing, clubs Hellas Verona during the ill-fated season when they were last in Serie A. Like his previous books, Italian Neighbours and An Italian Education, Parks really delves deep into the psyche and delivers prose with all the colour and vivaciousness of a carnival parade. The noise, the sights, even the smells and tastes of top-drawer Italian football leap from virtually every page and the real emotion which simmers eternally can be sensed as it reaches its inevitable, sometimes violent, crescendo.
The Englishman abroad style of book has often been criticized, sometimes quite rightly so, for its over prosaic, condescending treatment of the "simple, rustic locals" but, thankfully, Parks is a writer who is too close to his subject to stoop so low; he is also a writer who can express his own emotive state whenever his side loses as readily and as honestly as when he is chanting and celebrating a goal with his fellow supporters.
Great books about football are about as rare as honest politicians (or football Presidents) in Italy; this is one of those gems.
Rating:
- Per sempre Gialloblu!I won't bore you with my loquacious opinion on this magnificent book (other people have done that probably better than I can among these readers' reviews). No, I will simply tell you the truth.
When I finished reading the book in May 2003, I booked a flight to Verona and a hotel near l'Arena, and went to the stadium for the last game of that season (Bari, 1-1, for the statiticians among you). I had to see la Curva Sud for myself. Since then, having made friends with one or two members of I Piu Mati (ciao Christian, ciao Alberto, ciao Fabio!) I've been back several times (including a memorable 5-3 win over rivals Vicenza [di merda!]) and they've even been over to see my humble bunch of sleeping giants (the West Country's top team, Bristol City. Well, excluding Yeovil). In short, the book inspired me, it coursed through my veins and I was like a junkie, needing a fix of the Brigate Gialloblu (minus the violenza!). A terrific, vibrant, inspiring read. Forza Signor Tim!
(PS If you liked the social/cultural/non-football parts to the book, make sure you read his Italian Neighbours and Italian Education books. The description of which coffee to drink when in the former book is as good as the opening chapter of A Season With Verona)
Rating:
- Classic WritingAsk on any website message board that has anything to do with football what are the best football books and this comes up every time.
Following the unglamourous Serie A side Hellas Verona home and away through the whole Italian season, the book describes more than just the mechanics of the game, but rather the emotion and etheral stuff, the relationship between fans and team, rival fans, and indeed indiviuduals within the social group of Hellas' hardcore fans. Indeed if it is match by match 'stats' commentary you want this is nt the book, but if it is the description and analysis of the word of fotball fandom then this is it. The subtext to the football is Italy and Italian culture and this is both interesting, funny, scary and head scratching in equal measure. The author as an 'insder' in terms of his love of Hellas. whilst at the same time being an 'outsider' in regards to being an Englishman in Verona, a provincial city with an insular mindset 'us against the world' makes the writing even more interesting.
A book that is essential reading for anyone with an interest in Football, Italy, Travel or Social issues. The only criticism is on some areas the feeling is more could be said or eexplored, but thats because the writing and 'story' is so fascinating and absorbing.
Rating:
- Forza Verona!I had read about this book when it first came out and was interested, but it took me five years to get round to buying it. What an idiot I was!
The idea is fantastic - to follow a side across the country to every league game. Parks is true to his word and makes it to every game, taking the reader from Sicily to Udine and to the Stadio Olimpico and the Delle Alpi.
The book is superbly written. The author is a real fan and the emotions and frustration that he feels are ones with which the reader can instantly empathise.
I don't want to spoil any surprises, but the first chapter is possibly the best in the book and the away trip to Napoli is also memorable (not least for Gabriella on the train - I hope she has read it!).
This is essential reading for any fan who has followed their team to somewher grim and miles away (Port Vale, Rotherham or QPR) to see them capitulate horribly and then still turned up the next week.
A great guide to Italian football and a nice introduction to Italy and Italians, too.
Very highly recommended.
Rating:
- A Season to Remember!A great book loosely based upon Verona's epic 2000-2001 Season in Serie A. The book is in diary form, so the author, like the reader, doesn't know the eventual outcome when he writes each chapter. This somehow adds to the excitement whilst reading it.
As well as Verona the book covers many asides in all sorts of areas such as Italian politics, hooliganism, life in Italy, the Italian language, racism, the difference between the north and the south, the bias towards the big clubs and the Italian police's awful treatment of away fans.
My favourite part was the description of the regular supporters of Verona, and their travels to away games (the first chapter is an absolute classic). Parks clearly adores Italy and his enthusiasm for the country is infectious (I challenge anyone not to want to stand on Verona's Curva Sud after reading this book). Parks also gets to interview some of the players, management and club owners which adds to the pure adventure of the unfolding tale.
At the end of the day - despite all the differences between Italy and England - the comforting fact to know is that being a fan of any football team, especially a small, unfashionable one, is essentially the same.