The Penalty Area

(Paperback)

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Publishing Details

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Physical Properties

Description

Vincent once had a shot at becoming a professional football player but a knee injury put an end to his dreams. To keep alive his only passion, he coaches an under-16s club that is by no means champion material. When his sister dumps her 13 year old son on him, Vincent realises this absent, detached boy has a preternatural ability for anticipating each striker's intentions, making him a remarkable goalkeeper. The boy has undiagnosed Asperger's syndrome, but with him in the team, they might just reach the finals - if only Vincent can let down his guard and open his heart.

Reviews

Praise for The Penalty Area

"Expertly translated by Curtis, Gillot's novel about soccer is also a delicate character study of a solitary man slowly rejoining the world."
--Publishers Weekly

"No love of sport is required to feel the genuine emotion pulsing from this story about making connections."
--Shelf Awareness

"A slim, understated novel of nicely drawn vignettes."
--Kirkus Reviews

"Gillot tells a fresh, original story and writes with finesse."
--L'Express

"Gillot's enthusiasm for sport emerges early as he tenderly and humorously describes Lonard's discovery of soccer, a revelation that is reminiscent of Lionel Messi's story . . . Lonard and Vincent bring each other fresh perspectives on their situations, allowing each to begin a new life by repairing the wounds of the past."
--Le Monde

Praise for The Penalty Area
-Expertly translated by Curtis, Gillot's novel about soccer is also a delicate character study of a solitary man slowly rejoining the world.-
--Publishers Weekly
-No love of sport is required to feel the genuine emotion pulsing from this story about making connections.-
--Shelf Awareness
-A slim, understated novel of nicely drawn vignettes.-
--Kirkus Reviews
-Gillot tells a fresh, original story and writes with finesse.-
--L'Express
-Gillot's enthusiasm for sport emerges early as he tenderly and humorously describes Leonard's discovery of soccer, a revelation that is reminiscent of Lionel Messi's story . . . Leonard and Vincent bring each other fresh perspectives on their situations, allowing each to begin a new life by repairing the wounds of the past.-
--Le Monde
Praise for The Penalty Area
"Expertly translated by Curtis, Gillot's novel about soccer is also a delicate character study of a solitary man slowly rejoining the world."
--Publishers Weekly
"No love of sport is required to feel the genuine emotion pulsing from this story about making connections."
--Shelf Awareness
"A slim, understated novel of nicely drawn vignettes."
--Kirkus Reviews
"Gillot tells a fresh, original story and writes with finesse."
--L'Express
"Gillot's enthusiasm for sport emerges early as he tenderly and humorously describes Leonard's discovery of soccer, a revelation that is reminiscent of Lionel Messi's story . . . Leonard and Vincent bring each other fresh perspectives on their situations, allowing each to begin a new life by repairing the wounds of the past."
--Le Monde
Praise for The Penalty Area
"No love of sport is required to feel the genuine emotion pulsing from this story about making connections."
--Shelf Awareness
"Expertly translated by Curtis, Gillot's novel about soccer is also a delicate character study of a solitary man slowly rejoining the world."
--Publishers Weekly
"A slim, understated novel of nicely drawn vignettes."
--Kirkus Reviews
"Gillot tells a fresh, original story and writes with finesse."
--L'Express
"Gillot's enthusiasm for sport emerges early as he tenderly and humorously describes Leonard's discovery of soccer, a revelation that is reminiscent of Lionel Messi's story . . . Leonard and Vincent bring each other fresh perspectives on their situations, allowing each to begin a new life by repairing the wounds of the past."
--Le Monde
Praise for The Penalty Area
Expertly translated by Curtis, Gillot s novel about soccer is about more than the bruising arena of competitive sports. It is also a delicate character study of a solitary man slowly rejoining the world.
Publishers Weekly
A slim, understated novel of nicely drawn vignettes.
Kirkus Reviews
"Gillot tells a fresh, original story and writes with finesse."
L'Express
Gillot s enthusiasm for sport emerges early as he tenderly and humorouslydescribes Leonard s discovery of soccer, a revelation that is reminiscent ofLionel Messi s story . . . Leonard and Vincent bring each other freshperspectives on their situations, allowing each to begin a new life by repairingthe wounds of the past.
Le Monde"
Praise for "The Penalty Area"
Expertly translated by Curtis, Gillot s novel about soccer is about more than the bruising arena of competitive sports. It is also a delicate character study of a solitary man slowly rejoining the world.
"Publishers Weekly"
A slim, understated novel of nicely drawn vignettes.
"Kirkus Reviews"
"Gillot tells a fresh, original story and writes with finesse."
"L'Express
" Gillot s enthusiasm for sport emerges early as he tenderly and humorouslydescribes Leonard s discovery of soccer, a revelation that is reminiscent ofLionel Messi s story . . . Leonard and Vincent bring each other freshperspectives on their situations, allowing each to begin a new life by repairingthe wounds of the past.
"Le Monde""
Praise for "The Penalty Area"
"Gillot tells a fresh, original story and writes with finesse."
"L'Express
" Gillot s enthusiasm for sport emerges early as he tenderly and humorouslydescribes Leonard s discovery of soccer, a revelation that is reminiscent ofLionel Messi s story . . . Leonard and Vincent bring each other freshperspectives on their situations, allowing each to begin a new life by repairingthe wounds of the past.
"Le Monde""

Author Bio

Alain Gillot is a French journalist, screenwriter, and comic book author.The Penalty Areais his first novel. Award-winning translator Howard Curtis has worked on more than sixty books from French, Italian and Spanish. Among his recent translations for Europa are works by Jean-Claude Izzo and Santiago Gamboa.