NONFICTION

God Is Round: Tackling the Giants, Villains, Triumphs, and Scandals of the World's Favorite Game

by Juan Villoro
Restless. Apr. 2016. 256p. tr. from Spanish by Thomas Bunstead. ISBN 9781632060587. pap. $16.99. ebook available. SPORTS
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Prominent Mexican writer and journalist Villoro has written extensively in fiction and nonfiction yet is only recently seeing his works translated into English. Originally published in 2006 as Dios es Redondo, this collection of essays describes soccer as a sport, lifestyle, and philosophy. The result is a witty, informative, and enjoyable journey through a global phenomenon. Villoro's voice (aided by translator Bunstead) takes a meandering stroll through a broad topic, with stories that have a satisfying path and always pay off, which makes reading this book feel like spending the afternoon with a well-informed and entertaining friend. Many writers treat sports seriously, assigning grandeur to an activity that doesn't always deserve the attention, but Villoro successfully avoids this trap.
VERDICT This volume will interest casual soccer fans along with students of global cultures and general readers of solid nonfiction.
Reviewed by John Helling, Johnson Cty. Lib., KS , Apr 01, 2016
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