Book/sport people - help please

Ok

children's books about sport - there's a horsey one about an eventing competition that I can't remember the title for the life of me but I'm working on it! I think I have a copy somewhere so will try and locate it!

Novel about sport - working on it!

Non-fiction. This is interesting but American - is that a problem? http://www.abebooks.com/Long-Way-Story-Womens-Tennis-King/746535864/bd

I have huge lists of sports books from my degree so could probably find different ones if not suitable

How about this for your third requirement?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Girls-Pretty-Boxes-Breaking/dp/0704344882/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242820200&sr=1-3

Gymnasts and figure skaters.

Oh and - The Damned United for the "general novel" - or is that too well known, given the recent film?

How about "double fault" by Lionel Shriver - two tennis pros, lots of tennis & marital problems. It's really good on sports pyschology as well as general psychology angle and her struggle to get to the top of pro tennis.

Oh goodness, there's a fabulous novel about rocking climbing which might fit the not well known bill - it's aimed at children but enjoyable for adults too. But I think you might know that one ?

There was a children's book called "First Team at Tennis" about a girl who was dicsovered and played her way up the ranks with no money - usual stuff for kids - I loved it!

National Velvet/International Velvet for children's books? Or how about ballet? there are tonnnnnnnes of children's ballet books. Or ice skating?

For the kid's book, how about "White Boots" by Noel Streatfield, or is that too obvious?

For the horsey ones, anything Pullein-Thomson would maybe fit the bill? Or "National Velvet" - too obvious?

Thanks Ladies.

PuP and Zeb - I have those ?

Cleo - LGIPB is EXACTLY what I was after, thank you. I'd read a review of it years ago and promptly forgotten its existence.

The Damned United is too welll known - I have gone for another Clough book instead.

So... one adult and one children's fiction to go....

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Ooh yes - Ballet Shoes/White Boots by Noel Streatfeild

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Good call on NS/National Velvet but I wonder if they're a bit too well know. The P-T sisters are fab but it's really hard to single out one book.

It's getting more tenuous, but "Electric Brae" by Andrew Greig is novel that is substantially about rock climbing (and menages a trois, and art and madness and all kinds of other stuff...in fact, read it anyway, it's great?)

Not sure if it fits your category on non-fiction, but "Feet in the clouds" (can't remember author) is a good one on fell running.

Sounds like an interesting project...

Bleachers by John Grisham is about sport - basically the bullying and poor treatment of young stars but again American.

Any Dick Francis - too obvious again?

Polo/Riders by Jilly Cooper ?

Oh no - I already have a rock-climbing book and a baseball book.

I'd love to include Jilly but she's not really "alternative" ?

Not sure if this iss along the lines you're thinking of, but "What I talk about when I talk about running" by Haruki Murakami is a great alternative sports book.

So much so that it is already on my list, Wonks ?

Up and Under by Godber is great but its a play unfortunately

No idea what this is like but: -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Comets-Sir-Gawain-Rugby-Sevens/dp/0003230481/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242823220&sr=1-6

How about the less well known noel streatfield ones? like Tennis Shoes?

Or thebook of Bend it like Beckham?

There was a fab book about a girl with anorexia who did ballet, but I can't remember what it's called. I also remember reading one at the same time about a girl doing gymnastics, but I can't remember much about that at all, except the cover had a girl doing splits on a beam. That's no use at all is it? ?

Who sir? Me Sir? by K M Peyton?

Lorna Hill's Sadlers Wells series?

scrambled legs by Jahnna N. Malcolm?

'Alex' by Tessa Duder is a book about a NZ girl swimmer who goes to the Olympics. I think they're about to be re-released but I remember them as being brilliant, perhaps to alternative for you though.

KM Peyton - great call! Fly-by-Night and The team are fab books. On the list. Just need one more adult fiction title now.

Goal by Robert Rigby?

Thanks Hecate. Kids' books all done now so just need adult stuff (do keep up!) ?

Oh feck it - i spend so long trawling through my stoopid list that I miss the updates!?

? All done now anyway, thanks - I remembered a series about a surfing detective so have stuck that in.

Many thanks and vitrual smarties cookies as always.