Tim Parks versus Joe McGinniss

[Anthony]

Steel Cage Match!

Who wrote the better book on Italian soccer?

Joe McGinniss -- The Miracle of Castel di Sangro -- with the jaundiced eye of an outsider, he gets to know a small Italian Serie B team and town well. He dishes out the inside dirt in a most scandalous manner! Despite only discovering soccer in 1994, he feels he understands the sport better than anyone else, and tries to tell the team what to do.

Tim Parks -- A Season with Verona -- a long time fan follows a team for a year. Does not get into the intimate with the team like Joe McGinniss, but clearly understands the Italians much better. Also, although a life long soccer fan (and player as a child), he does not try to tell team management what to do.

I voted for Parks. While I liked Castle di Sangro, it was in spite of McGinniss, not because of him. To me, he seemed to make no attempt to understand the Italians, and frankly came off like a bit of a jerk. Parks, with the advantage of living in Verona for the past 20 years, clearly understands the people. He also keep a fan's distance from the team, making some connections (his interviews with team officials and players are formal, though funny), but keeping the focus on the insane fans.

And how many of us have shared a bus to an away game like the folks in Chapter 1?

[Easybake15]

McGinniss. I liked both, but you just don't see books like "Miracle" come out all that often. I agree that much of my enjoyment of the book was not derived from the author, but the uniqueness and confluence of the circumstances make for just a better story.

[supersport]

I think they are both great. "Castel", really kept my attention though. Parks, could have chosen any number of teams to follow, his was a more commen story. "Castel", on the other hand was a much more unique story so it seemed more interesting. Anyway, I think both are great writers and I hope we see them produce more books with football as the subject. A draw.

[sydtheeagle]

The unfortunate thing is that Parks is a great writer, whose worst book (by a very considerable distance) happens to be about a subject near and dear to the hearts of people on this board. I would unreservedly recommend just about anything and everything Parks has ever written with the sole exception of the Verona football book, which at its best is just about readable and at its worst borders on the dire. There are simply so many good football books (not to mention so many books that demand reading, period) that this one is best left on the shelf.

[Jawz10]

I loved both books, but I would give the nod to Parks. His book helped me understand the Italian people so much more than I had before. His witty quips about their peculiarities and idiosyncratic behavior had me giggling the whole time. I do think he got a bit wordy at times though.

I loved Miracle though, it was a fantastic read. A once in a lifetime book because of the circumstances it was set around. Also, unlike most I didn't dislike McGinniss's "american" attitude toward. I thought it was freakin hilarious, albeit a bit embarrassing.

[BrianCappellieri]

Joe McGinniss hands down. An absolutely incredible novel, one of my favorites ever.

Syd said it perfectly. This, unfortunately, is Parks' worst book and in my opinion doesn't even compare to The Miracle of Castel di Sangro.

[SueB]

In general, I think Parks offers more knowledgeable insights into Italian culture because he's lived there for a longer time. To me, McGinness definitely came off as a dilettante with some stereotypical views of Italians. The Castel di Sangro story was more amazing, of course, because of the things that happened to occur during the course of the season that he was there.

[phillips10]

Tough call, I just finished Parks' booked and loved it....Read Miracle a couple of years ago when it first came out but enjoyed it as well...

As has been said, I felt like Park was more a part of the Italian culture and brought your closer to the fans tho Castel Di Sangro's story was far more unique...

I'd love to read more books like these if anyone can reccommend any??..