Beginnings
On Sunday we’ve been doing beginnings – all the Peter Abrahams novels, including those written under the Spencer Quinn pen name. Here, from 1995, THE FAN (filmed by Tony Scott with a fine cast). Sports often play a role in PA’s work, but never more than in this one. It begins with sports talk radio – a kind of Greek chorus that appears several times in the book. Gil is the fan.
[“Peter Abrahams’ The Fan is a shrewdly crafted thriller about a spoiled, egotistical home run hitter and the schlemiel hunting knife dealer’s rep whose hero worship metastasizes into obsession…the tale’s sharp characterizations, crisp style, and unpredictable plot twists add up to a highly credible and suspenseful literary entertainment.” – Entertainment Weekly]
“Who’s next? Gil on the car phone? What’s shaking’, Gil?”
Dead air.
“Speak, Gil.”
“Is this …”
“Go on.”
“Hello?”
“You’re on the JOC.”
“Am I on?”
“Not for long, Gil, the way we’re going. This is supposed to be entertainment.”
Dead air.
“Got a question or a comment for us, Gil?”
“First-time caller.”
“Fantabulous. What’s on your mind?”
“I’m a little nervous.”
Tags: baseball, beginnings, Greek chorus, The Fan, Tony Scott
This entry was posted on Sunday, February 17th, 2019 at 7:13 am and is filed under Chet The Dog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
7:56 am on February 17th, 2019
Good morning everyone. Rain here for a week and we see snow ⛄️ in Anchorage this morning.
Remember The Fan, interesting.
Have a good Sunday.
8:30 am on February 17th, 2019
Hi Sis–Good (rainy) morning to you–ours has stopped briefly, so I’m checking in.
Wose, a Happy Belated! (It looks like we’re both Year of the Pig people! And I hope you have leftover cake to snack on.)
A Happy Sunday to everyone! I have a concert of William Grant Still’s music to look forward to this afternoon (so I hope the “atmospheric river” to which we’ve been recently treated holds off or disappears entirely).
I am also voting “NO” on glittery boy-bits (they get too much attention in general anyway…)
9:00 am on February 17th, 2019
Sissy, sounds like great plans for your “sunny “ day. We’ve been watching the So Cal weather/news. We remember the mudslides after fire season and it can be scary.
10:14 am on February 17th, 2019
Greetings!
Diane C: Thanks for the birthday wishes! Grizz got me a very glittery ice cream cake (Belle Starr would be proud!), and there is still a lot left over…Yay!
Glittery boy-bits is so, so WRONG!
Good day to all!
10:19 am on February 17th, 2019
Good morning all.
12:18 pm on February 17th, 2019
Rose!…I missed your birthday yesterday, but I’m telling youse to have another great day today…snort!snort!
Paw!…So Chet does have one white paw! And the puppy on the cover of the new book does not!…sneeze!…I rest my case.
12:19 pm on February 17th, 2019
Rose!…Just for youse my friend will be making Brioche today…snorkel!
12:37 pm on February 17th, 2019
I am happy to report my in derbits are safe from glitter on account of me not having any. What a relief. Belle Starr has a some glitter left over from my birthday party and there was no telling what she might do. I can honestly say this is the first time I’ve been grateful for that particular trip to the vet’s office.
12:48 pm on February 17th, 2019
Ole Doc!…Saved by the Knife!…yeeep!
2:13 pm on February 17th, 2019
RIO! Ask your Friend to put a candle in the Brioche and make a wish for me! :^)
4:59 pm on February 17th, 2019
Rose!…The pans are going in the oven any minute now…yeeep!
6:16 pm on February 17th, 2019
RIO! That Brioche sure smells good!
7:16 pm on February 17th, 2019
Brioche!…For Rose and Company!…snort!snort!…Many happy returns of the Day my Dear…snorkel!
7:17 pm on February 17th, 2019
Birthday!…Wish on a Loaf!…chuffle!
7:19 pm on February 17th, 2019
Candles!….My friend only has large decorative candles so I improvised with a toothpick…grunt!
8:43 pm on February 17th, 2019
RIO! 60 candles would have made toast out of that loaf! :^) That bread looks delish! Slobber! Thanks for the birthday wishes!