BOOK BRIEF

A Fan's Notes

Frederick Exley
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A Fan's Notes

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1988

Book Brief

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Frederick Exley

A Fan's Notes

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1988
Book Details
Pages

385

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre
Classic Fiction

American Literature

Modern Classic Fiction
Setting

United States • 1950s-1960s

Topic
Sports

World History
Publication Year

1988

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

A Fan's Notes by Frederick Exley is a semi-autobiographical novel that explores a person's struggle with mental health, alcoholism, and the search for identity. The narrative interweaves personal experiences with an obsession for football and a famous player, offering insights into the individual's turbulent life and the yearning for recognition and purpose.

Melancholic

Contemplative

Gritty

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

4.1

4,820 ratings

74%

Loved it

17%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Frederick Exley's A Fan's Notes is lauded for its raw, candid portrayal of identity and obsession, blending autobiography with fiction. Critics praise its dark humor and unique narrative voice, yet some find the protagonist's self-destructiveness challenging. Its introspective nature resonates deeply with readers, offering a poignant, if occasionally unsettling, exploration of human flaws.

Who should read this

Who Should Read A Fan's Notes?

A reader who enjoys A Fan's Notes by Frederick Exley likely appreciates semi-autobiographical narratives with themes of obsession, failure, and existential angst. Fans of Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger and On the Road by Jack Kerouac may find similar appeal in its raw, introspective prose and exploration of the American psyche.

4.1

4,820 ratings

74%

Loved it

17%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

385

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre
Classic Fiction

American Literature

Modern Classic Fiction
Setting

United States • 1950s-1960s

Topic
Sports

World History
Publication Year

1988

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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