To continue our monthly series of book lists, the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library would like to recommend the following novels about sports.
National Velvet by Enid Bagnold. Classic story of a girl and her horse. Fourteen-year-old Velvet Brown is determined to turn the unruly piebald horse she won in a raffle into a champion. But it will take more than just hard work and dedication to win the Grand National steeplechase. Braille book BR 15997. Cassette book RC 60250. Large Print book LP 11391. Digital book DB 60250.
Dead Heat by Dick Francis and Felix Francis. Newmarket, England. Guests suffer food poisoning after a horseracing gala catered by chef Max Moreton. At the races the next day a bomb detonates on the grandstand where Max is serving lunch -- killing and injuring dozens. Determined to find out who is ruining his business, Max begins investigating. Bestseller. Braille book BR 17426. Cassette book RC 65413. Large Print book LP 23405. Digital book DB 65413.
Playing for Pizza by John Grisham. Parma, Italy. Third-string quarterback Rick Dockery of the Cleveland Browns disgraces himself in a championship game and is fired. Dockery insists that his agent, Arnie, find him another job. When Arnie comes through, Dockery heads to Parma, Italy, where he faces culture shock. Bestseller. Braille book BR 17339. Cassette book RC 65195. Large Print book LP 23279. Digital book DB 65195.
The Professional by W. C. Heinz. Classic boxing tale of aspiring New York City prize fighter Eddie Brown and his quest for the middleweight championship of the world. Eddie's story and those of his crusty manager, Doc, and other assorted hangers-on unfold through the eyes of sports writer Frank Hughes. 2001 foreword by Elmore Leonard. Cassette book RC 60300. Digital book DB 60300.
Semi-Tough by Dan Jenkins. Football player Billy Clyde Puckett of the New York Giants comes to Los Angeles with his pals for an epic duel with the Jets in the Super Bowl. Basis for the 1977 Burt Reynolds / Kris Kristofferson film. Followed by "Life Its Ownself" (RC 21223). Strong language and some descriptions of sex. Cassette book RC 52159. Digital book DB 52159.
Full Court Press by Mike Lupica. Delilah "Dee" Gerard, a former basketball star in Europe, is persuaded by scout Eddie Holtz to come out of retirement and play for the New York Knights. But she struggles on and off the court, teammates ignore her, and old demons plague her. Strong language. Cassette book RC 55569. Digital book DB 55569.
The Natural by Bernard Malamud. Roy Hobbs is a born athlete who should be a baseball hero, but his lifestyle interferes with his career. Roy's misplaced love for Memo Paris, the team manager's niece, overrules his passion for baseball and makes him agree to throw a play-off game. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Cassette book RC 58059. Large Print book LP 4077. Digital book DB 58059.
Miracle on the 17th Green by James Patterson. Travis McKinley is an ordinary man living an ordinary life until Christmas Day when he goes out to play a round of golf. Always a fairly good golfer, he finds himself playing like a pro and gets so caught up in his excitement that he misses dinner with his wife and family. Strong language. Braille book BRW 1133. Cassette book CBA 7827. Large Print book LP 17720.
The Cuban Prospect by Brian Shawver. Dennis Birch, a washed-up, retired ballplayer turned scout, is asked to smuggle Cuban pitching prospect Ramon Diego Sagasta to America. The assignment gets larger than Birch anticipated when he confronts his own strengths, weaknesses, and cultural prejudices. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Cassette book RC 59160. Digital book DB 59160.