So many books, so much to choose from. Etc.
Finding the Game: Three Years, Twenty-five Countries, and the Search for Pickup Soccer (St. Martin’s Press) by Gwendolyn Oxenham. Much more than a companion to the great documentary Pelada, which Oxenham made with partner Luke Boughen, this account of the journey around the world to play pick-up soccer and make Pelada, is a fabulous read. Hey eye for the telling detail is magnificent and there are scenes in Brazil and in Palestine that are unforgettable. A stand-out too is her description of playing inside a jail in Bolivia. All the detail comes together in what is an exceptional celebration of football’s allure and meaning in every country, wherever the grass grows, and even where there is no grass. Just the ball and a surface to kick it about.
