Excerpt: "A Bloody Habit is a bloody good read because Ms. Nicholson not only entertains, she enlightens. The theological conversations between Gilroy and Kemp are handled with a light touch. They are integrated into the plot appropriately without being imposed, and most of all, the underlying theme of vampires (with sacrifices and the consumption of flesh and blood) being a kind of anti-Catholicism, is done through the storytelling. It is never on the nose, preachy, or didactic."
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Veteran New York Daily News sportswriter Gola delves deeply into a fascinating forgotten story of a national champion high school football team from his hometown of Garfield, NJ. The book depicts life there during the Great Depression. Garfield was an industrial mill town, largely populated by Polish, Italian, and German immigrants, whose sons were brought together by a charismatic young coach to win consecutive state championships in 1938 and 1939. The team was then invited to Miami's Orange Bowl to face the powerful Miami High in a charity game for the national championship. Gola covers the backgrounds of both cities, teams, and coaches, as well as the trip South and the game itself-won on a field goal in the closing minutes by Garfield star Benny Babula. Many of the players would serve overseas just a couple years later, and some would not survive the war.
"VERDICT
Extremely well done. Impeccably researched, with writing that is warm and moving. This beautiful book deserves the broadest of audiences.
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