Saved

By Jack Falla

Veteran Boston goaltender Jean Pierre Savard sees stardom and the money it brings as fate's make-up call for a life in which he lost his father, his wife, and most of his self confidence for anything not involving saves or sex. Now late in his career, Savard and his teammate and best friend, Cam Carter, are trying to fulfill their boyhood dreams of winning a Stanley Cup before they retire. A surprise late-season trade pits the friends against each other in a playoff series both could lose but only one can win. Saved takes the reader into the rinks, dressing rooms, planes, buses, and hotels that are the backdrop to the long grind of an NHL season. That grind is made bearable by the likes of players such as Bruno Govoni, whose cell phone ring tone is the orgasmic moaning of a porn star Loretta (Lash) LaRue; of Phil "Flipside" Palmer, the only person besides the Kingsmen who knows all the words to "Louie Louie" or that "Child of the Moon" was the flipside of the Rolling Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash" ; and team enforcer Kevin Quigley, who claims all his fights are retaliations, "but sometimes I retaliate first." Most sports novels bring the game to the reader. Saved brings the reader to the game. Praise for Jack Falla "Falla's graphic portrayal of a violent sport (and its colorful players) and his insider's view of how hockey is played, coached, and officiated is exciting, surefire entertainment." - Publishers Weekly on Saved "Literary hot chocolate that will warm your heart." - Robert Lipsyte, The New York Times, on Home Ice "The best hockey book ever." - John Buccigross, ESPN sportscaster, on Home Ice "Possibly the best hockey book since Ken Dryden's The Game ." - Toronto Globe and Mail, on Home Ice

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312368267
• ISBN13: 9780312368265
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
• Length: 276 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Great book about hockey and life

I really enjoyed this book as a hockey fan. The characters and relationships are well-drawn, and the choices and struggles of life are not short-changed. Definitely recommended for anyone who enjoys sports (especially hockey) and is looking for a fun and fast read.

There is NO better book out there for those who love hockey!

This book is GREAT! I immediately wanted to fly to Boston to try to find JP and crew. Jack Falla has created the kind of characters you will think about long after you've finished this hysterical, action packed and yes, heartwarming book. Heartwarming? Hockey? YES - they can go together! Not to give anything away, but JP's life outside of hockey will make you cry (just a little), laugh (a lot) and make a die hard Blackhawks fan root for Boston.. AND Montreal! It's that good. All hockey fans out there - you must make your linemates read this book. I loved every, single page.

Hockey and more!

I just zipped through this wonderful read in a few days and I hardly ever do that. Saved is a fabulous look at the world of hockey; both on and off the ice. From the first period, it takes the reader on an extended power-play and doesn't let up until the final horn sounds. Besides the hockey, SAVED also deals with marriage, career and personal stories that just might capture your heart. Bonus; you'll love the Zamboni story. Enjoy!

Fun Read

Saved is simply an engaging and fun read. Any sports fan will appreciate the sports quips and analogies that Falla has collected over a career of covering, watching and writing about the sport he loves. The characters are warm and well drawn, and the book is enjoyably well paced.

Falla's "Saved" Hits Home

With his first novel, Saved, legendary hockey writer Jack Falla (author of Home Ice) takes us behind the scenes for a season in the life of the Boston Bruins and, in particular, fictional starting goaltender Jean Pierre Savard. Drawing from his experience covering the NHL for Sports Illustrated [1-year Subscription], Falla brings the reader on a roller-coaster ride, humanizing the NHL experience in ways that are likely to make passionate fans care even more about Savard's real-life counterparts. From the wacky and competitive relationships between both teammates and rivals to the unique challenges players face in their off-ice relationships, Falla's three-dimensional characters are extremely likable, their melange of attributes and flaws giving the reader a real sense of what life in the NHL is like. In particular, Falla's account of the trade deadline (and trades in general) will give diehard fans a whole new way to look at things when they're cavalierly posting trade rumors on their favorite hockey message board. Falla's love for hockey is evident from cover to cover, the spirit of his backyard rink present in every on-ice scene. And where during his days with Sports Illustrated [1-year Subscription] Falla might have been limited in which stories he could--and couldn't--share with readers, the world in Saved is presented filter-free. From the frank depiction of the locker-room atmosphere to the unofficial code of conduct between teammates, Saved gives readers a unique opportunity to see the NHL in an entirely new way. Although it's quite unlikely that anyone will feel much sympathy for Savard as he evaluates his multi-million dollar contract options, particularly in the wake of Alexander Ovechkin's landmark 13-year, $124 million deal with the Washington Capitals, it is refreshing to see that dollars and cents aren't the only factors when a player chooses where to play. Perhaps the most controversial subject Falla broaches in Saved is that of concussions. Head injuries are a huge issue in sports at all levels, and Falla delicately toes the line between the player's desire to return to action and the prudence of keeping the player off the ice until all post-concussion symptoms have vanished. The urge to ignore the warning signs is often driven by a combination of loyalty to the team and machismo, but the lure of the Stanley Cup and the possibility of a huge offseason payday certainly exert tremendous influence as well. A wonderful read for hockey fans from age 15 to 105, Saved captures the essence of the sport in all its glory. Combining the spirit of Home Ice (a collection of stories about his backyard rink) with the knock-down, drag-'em-out energy of the NHL, Saved is great fun from start to finish.