Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Remember Why You Play

Remember Why You Play: Faith, Football, and a Season to BelieveAuthor: David Thomas
ISBN: 978-1414337272
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Source:  Tyndale House Publishers


Remember Why You Play documents the lives of the coaches and players of the Faith Christian School football team in Grapevine, Texas. The book follows the players and coaches through their season, struggles and triumphs. The author, David Thomas, followed the team for a full season, resulting in this story and its inspirational message of what sportsmanship is all about. The novel puts a focus on the importance relationships over winning. The highlight of the novel takes place as the Faith Christian team plays the Gainesville State Tornadoes, a team of convicted juvenile offenders. The outcome is one that will stick with the reader and inspire you to be better.

Remember Why You Play was pretty much what I expected it to be. It is a novel of faith, football and a team’s season with a focus on the one huge game that is a life changing memorable event regardless of outcome. While I don’t normally enjoy sports related novels, I did enjoy this one. It reminds me of other football related books & movies such as Remember the Titans, The Blind Side and Friday Night Lights. The novel takes a look at a team, a player, a coach and those around them as the events that could make or break them unfold. As in other inspirational stories, this true story has heartache and trials along with triumph and victory as it proves how one person’s choices can affect another, sending small ripples that make a larger wake when people band together to make a difference.

The novel was easy to read. It grabs your attention. I was curious to read on and see what the outcome of the final game would be. I enjoyed learning more about the key “players” in this story and their lives during the season. It was an inspirational story of compassion, understanding and sportsmanship as the players and coaches struggled with their own insecurities, doubts, and fears. Coach Hogan and his team have not only made a difference in each other’s lives, they have set an example for others and given many people a story to be inspired by. I thought this book was wonderful for its genre. Though personally most of the football as far as plays and such was lost on me, the story around it was heartwarming.

If I could give any one piece of advice I would suggest you go into this book reminding yourself it’s a quality story, based on true events that focus on faith, football and making a difference. I read reviews prior to reading this novel that discredited the book because it had too much football or too much God. This is a true story published by a Christian publisher about a Christian Schools football team; don’t discredit the book based on God and football. It is evident these aspects are a major part of the book. Personally it was great to read about quality values and choices. The author does a wonderful job of retelling the story he deemed important enough to write about.

**I received this book in exchange for an honest review from Tyndale House Publishers.**

5/5Photobucket
 

1 comment:

  1. I find it strange that anyone would complain that the book was too much about football and/or religion, when, as you point out, it is so clearly about both. Oh well, anyway, glad to see that you enjoyed it. I love a good sports book, although usually they are of the baseball variety, but I loved The Blind Side, so I will give this one a look.

    Hope you enjoy your New Year's weekend!

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