The Penalty Area

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.

Alain Gillot is a French journalist, screenwriter, and comic book author. The Penalty Area is 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.

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 "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""