Pound for Pound

by F.X. Toole and F X Toole

Book Overview

Pound for Pound is a big novel in the truest sense of the word, a story of family, honor, perseverance, and forgiveness. Set in towns where violence is the norm and success stories take on an almost mythic importance, it tells of grand-fathers and grandsons -- older men for whom life has not been easy and the young men who look to them for guidance -- and reveals the transformative power of that relationship. Dan Cooley, an aging but legendary...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 006088133X
• ISBN13: 9780060881337
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Ecco Press
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Packs a Wallop

I bought this book after seeing a listing and learning it was written by the same author who wrote the story behind the film "Million Dollar Baby." This novel is similar to that experience in terms of emotional impact and boxing lore. Toole obviously writes from direct experience when describing how to maneuver in the ring, as well as how naive fighters are victimized and manipulated. After reading it I gave it to a young woman who is herself a professional boxer, knowing that without a doubt she'd enjoy it even more than me. Toole does the essential thing for any good read: gets you involved with the characters, and then he keeps you on the hook with the myriad insights into the fighter's life.

Literature, not a boxing story

Anyone who read the stories by this writer collected in Rope Burn must have found themselves scalded by the intensity and pathos revealed in the characters' struggles with life. While the same qualities are in this novel, the underlying themes reflect on redemption and discovery of hope after overwhelming tragedy. A subset deals with how the prism of prejudice can distort reality. Without preaching, the author demonstrates the crippled emotions prejudice, of any kind, can create in an individual. The writing is outstanding. It makes one sad this writer didn't have enough time with us to share more work. Purchase of this book is highly recommended.

More Toole on Boxing

An excellent book for any sports fan, particularly for anyone wanting to know more about the inside of boxing. Very realistic.

Unfinished Masterpiece

'Pound for Pound' gives us a brief glimpse into one man's artistic greatness. This book takes some of the themes from 'Rope Burns' and expands upon them at much greater depth. Rather than being a story about boxing, this is a book that examines the nature of grief for the lost, devotion to the living, and the hopes of one's wildest dreams. The character development in 'Pound for Pound' compares to John Irving's best work, though in an entirely different style. Even the most minor characters are brought to life in a way that is highly detained, but never long-winded. The reader is able to get inside the head and motives of both the protagonists and the antagonists in a very rare way. My only disappointment in 'Pound for Pound' is that F.X. Toole did not live long enough to finish it. His editors did a nice job with piecing together what was available, but the ending is so sparce, I'm not sure Toole would have wanted it published this way. There was too much development that lead to a very sudden halt in the action. Despite the unfinished ending, however, I strongly recommend 'Pound for Pound' to anyone looking for a beautifully crafted, character-centered story.

A great book

I loved this book. Initially, for the first fifty pages or so, I was fearful that I had selected a book only about the art of boxing. It isn't this at all. It's the story of friendship, loyalty, love, dishonesty, greed, and most of all folks with dreams shattered and fulfilled. The characters are real. This reader could empathize with Dan's losses and subsequent depression and rejoice when he begins to live again. As a female, I am not an avid fan of any sport, but enjoyed this novel immensely. This theme may lead one to believe it's exclusively a 'guy' book- not so. I chose this book because the author wrote Million Dollar Baby, an acclaimed film I haven't seen. BRAVO, F.X. Toole, may you rest in peace."