Publication Date:November 7, 2000 Availability:Usually ships within 1 - 2 business days Shipping:International shipping available Condition:A tradition of southern quality and service. All books guaranteed at the Atlanta Book Company.
Editorial Reviews:
From Amazon.com The author was in her mid-30s and "looking for a fight" after a humiliating divorce, when she began training as a boxer at Gleason's, the legendary Brooklyn gym. She wasn't there just to blow off steam, however. A veteran journalist, whose research had driven her to perform as a stripper and tour as a roadie for a heavy metal band, Picket "wanted the real deal," as she told Gleason's owner. And she got it: her brisk, no-frills prose cogently conveys the sweaty, muscle-fatiguing slog of training; the visceral fear that she experienced in her first sparring matches; the elation that was prompted by her trainer's approving comment, "You hit like an animal"; and the shock of her realization--when she punched a guy who accidentally spilled beer on her while they were watching a match--that, "once violence is learned, it cannot be unlearned." The squeamish are unlikely to yearn to pick up gloves after reading Picket's vivid descriptions of swollen knuckles mottled with bruises, blood pouring down her injured face, and blackened toenails dropping off; she makes the physical toll of boxing very real, particularly in a sobering afterword about the sport's high incidence of brain damage. The author herself quit after her first big bout (which she won), concluding that fighting was a misguided attempt "to settle a score that was started back in sixth grade when I was pushed off the swings by a bully." Yet, she limns emotions that are familiar to many women ("I wanted to feel powerful, to take up space in the world, to stop apologizing") and chronicles a personal journey in which boxing was, perhaps, a necessary way station. --Wendy Smith
Braver than me ... or crazierDecember 23, 2000 Either way, the product is a fantastic book. I'm just glad it wasn't me who had to step into the ring, so she could make the discoveries for me. Not that I have ever wanted to become a boxer, but it was exciting to read about. It was also scary to see what it turned her into. One part in particular involving a father and his son is a moment that is both hysterical and horrific all at the same time. That chapter alone is worth the price of the book. Thankfully, the rest of the book is equally captivating.
An Inspiring ReadDecember 21, 2000 I have to admit that when I pre-ordered this book from Amazon several months ago I was afraid that I would be bored by a memoir about boxing. I mean as far a sports go, boxing is WAY DOWN on my list of favorites. The concept of two people getting into a ring and punching each other until one falls down on death's door is less than appealing. However, Snowden is of one of my favorite female authors and I LOVED her previous book "Nine Lives, which, by the way, I would HIGHLY recommend purchasing. I've also read dozens of her magazine articles over the years and think she's an incredible journalist. Therefore, I had to order this book, no matter what the subject matter because I'm definitely a loyal fan.
As it turns out I LOVED this book, subject matter aside. Not only did I find her courage and dedication inspiring, but I also learned a lot about boxing and am actually looking forward to watching the next fight that airs on HBO.
Snowden entered the boxing world after a bitter and painful divorce seeking an outlet for her bottled-up pain and anger that accompanied the separation. "Looking for a Fight" is a memoir about her 10 month experience which was both emotionally and physically brutal, yet exhilarating and spiritually uplifting. I found myself literally squirming during the scenes where she gets punched in the ribs and socked in the nose, to the point where she had globs of blood hanging out of each nostril. What amazed and inspired me was that she stuck it out and kept coming back for more. But she didn't come back in a masochistic way, she came back because she wanted to achieve her personal best. And she did. But she also knew when it was time to quit.
Snowden's trainer was an interesting and evasive man named Hector whose professional ethics, were not very professional in the beginning of their relationship when he made an uninvited sexual pass at Snowden during a trip to Atlantic City for a boxing match. But on the positive side, I could immediately feel his remorse as he made a complete professional turnaround. Overall he turned out to be an outstanding trainer. He is the type of trainer I would want to have because he is both tough yet gentle. Hector is not one to easily offer praise so when he did dish it out he genuinely meant every word. His respect and admiration for Snowden grew as the months went by and I could tell he really cared for her as a boxer and as a *non-sexual* person.
Snowden is an excellent writer who doesn't waste words. The story is well paced and expresses a variety of emotions, a great sense of humor, insightful wisdom, strong ethics and incredible sensitivity and awareness to those around her. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has always wanted to achieve a goal but has never had the courage to go for it, or, to someone who is struggling with the willingness to persevere through a tough, challenging situation. But all of that aside, I simply recommend this book to ANYONE because it's an excellent, thought-provoking, well written book. Five stars and "two-gloves up!"
InspiringDecember 17, 2000 I read in the Washington Post that this was an exceptional book, so I picked it up, and I was not disappointed. I don't know much about boxing (or at least I didn't), but I do know how hard it is to describe yourself and your feelings honestly. Lynn Snowden Picket does just that, revealing parts of herself to her readers that wouldn't otherwise be seen. She mixes humor, tragedy, ego, and humbleness into one fascinating story. Take the time to read this excellent memoir, and see for yourself.
Every human emotion is right hereDecember 15, 2000 From arogance to helplessness, from shame to pride, and from naivete to knowing, Picket touches upon so many different emotions felt by not only a novice boxer but also an experrienced one. One cannot help but wince at Picket's descriptions of her constant sparring matches. A truly descriptive as well as eye opening memoir.
I read this book numerous times and I'm better for it.December 6, 2000 I have been a big fan of this author for a long time and so I latched on to this book with maximum interest. And I am happy to say that it certainly exceeded my expectations in every way. I had advanced knowledge that this book was going to be about boxing but I had to wait several years to finally get to read it.
That was a long time to wait, especially in my case as I wanted to get my hands on it for a practical reason. I knew that if I could read it it would give me some guidance on how to stop being what some would describe as a wimp.
It all started when I was walking a little dog in Central Park one day. A passing tough let me know my little dog was "pathetic" and I was so overwhelmed that I am ashamed to say that I didn't do a thing in response. As a result, the little dog became mortified and swooned on the spot after the verbal assualt. I proceeded to pick him up and cradled him in my arms, and at the fountain I applied cool compresses to his head, but no matter what I did from then on he was never the same. He became withdrawn and morose.
Seeing the dog laying in the darkness of my apartment night after night, knowing that he was reliving that fateful encounter, made me resolve then and there to stop living the life of a wimp. From then on, I resolved to defend my loved ones like a tiger! And so, knowing this book on boxing would be out any day, I waited. And I waited and waited and waited and after many years it finally arrived via UPS which the dog is afraid of as well.
All I can say is thank God I finally got my hands on this book. I can tell you that if you are worried and fear that you might be something of a wimp, read this book carefully and study every sentence closely at least twice and you will soon find yourself capable of handling any situation no matter how you had initially viewed yourself. For example, it has given me a lot of new found confidence and if I can ever convince the dog to leave the apartment again I'm sure I will be ready for his next assailant.
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