On Tennis: Five Essays

I liked his stories of junior tennis. It took some time to get used to his heavy use of words that made me grateful for “ highlight and get instant dictionary “. I loved his stories of Michael Joyce .Interesting takes on the top pros of tennis.Saddened to learn of the author’s passing in 2008.

If I had to pick the best tennis book I have ever read, it would be this one. Wallace is an amazingly creative and inventive writer who can make the smallest details fascinating. His unique writing style with it's long sentences, unusual use of vocabulary and acronyms is both lyrical and clever and funny at times. These five essays stand alone and are linked through his particular interests which even if one knew nothing about tennis would none the less be engaging and enjoyable to read. His sheer skill at writing, his keen observation and use of language make these essays riveting. I couldn't recommend them more highly. Treat yourself and explore this genius if you don't know his works.

Wallace's writing is the treat here. I read elsewhere a description of him as "the Federer of writing." It's appropriate. Gracefully reflecting on life itself, on the geometry of the midwestern land where he learned to play, and how that land and its winds enhanced his own "near-great" play. He aces each essay.

I liked this. I'm not an avid tennis player not do I play at all but the writing dragged me in and I learned a lot about the beauty and mathematics of the game.

The writing is so good the subject doesn’t really matter. But the subject, that the writer clearly loves, comes alive in theses pages. A great talent.

I like his writing style. Very good wordsmith to convey his meaning

Pretty damn good vocabulary!

I'm a long time tennis fan and have played in leagues myself over the years. I thought this book might have some interesting insights into the game. Unfortunately, it's a very short, yet verbose account of the author's attempt to get into professional tennis, his crush on Tracy Austin, minutiae of the qualifying rounds of the Canadian Open played in a now- defunct stadium, and a chapter on Roger Federer. I have no idea why a publisher would expend resources on bringing it to market. My only solace is that I bought it on Kindle, so I didn't contribute to the death of a tree.

David Foster Wallace war nicht nur ein begnadeter Autor (Infinite Jest), sondern auch begabter Tennisspieler in seiner Jugend. In fünf Essays schrieb er über den Sport und diese fübf Essays sind hier zusammengefasst:Im ersten geht es primär um seine Erfahrungen als Jugendspieler. Dieses Essay war auch schon in "A supposingly fun thing I never do again" zu lesen (nicht in der deutschen Ausgabe allerdings).Im zweiten geht es vordergründig um eine Biographie eines Tennisstars (Tracy Austen), wobei er generell über Sportbiographien und den Lebenslauf von Sportlern und deren Fähigkeiten sinniert.Im dritten geht es um die US. Open, wobei der Schwerpunkt weniger auf den Spielen selbst liegt, sondern um die Veranstaltung - Um die Logistik, um das Essensangebot usw.Im vierten geht es wieder um die US Open, diesmal liegt der Scwherpunkt aber eher auf den Qualifikationsturnier davor.Im fünften geht es um Roger Federer und warum dieser ein so starker Tennisspieler ist.Insgesamt geht Wallace immer auch auf das Tennisspiel selbst ein und erklärt hervorragend, was das Spiel ausmacht und warum Topspieler so gut sind, wie sich das Spiel entwickelt hat und wo der Unterschied zwischen Profis und Nichtprofis liegen. Das alles sind unglaublich gut geschriebene Erklärungen, die ich mir durchaus auch mal von Sportkommentatoren gewünscht hätte.Auch sonst bleibt Wallace sich treu: Es sit durchweg toll geschrieben und immer mit einem humorvollen Unterton. Drei der Essays habe ich bereits mal gelesen, aber ich habe sie erneut gelesen, weil sie einfach so gut sind!Wer sich für Tennis interessiert -und sei es als Laie und/oder Fernsehzuschauer, dem seien diese Essays ans Herz gelegt! Wann kommen sie mal auf deutsch??

Very few people have written so affectionately and with so much detail about this lovely game. If you have played it, you will get goose bumps and smiles throughout...

It is written in an interesting way but I miss the point of some of the essays.