Keeper by Mal Peet

After reading Life: An Exploded Diagram I was so thoroughly impressed by Mal Peet's writing that I vowed to myself that I would go back and read all his other books.

So, needing to start somewhere, I came to Keeper.

I need to be up front, I am not sporty at all. I dislike sports of nearly all kinds and so found myself cringing at the thought of reading a book that is, pretty much, all about football/soccer. But a promise is a promise, even if it is one you make to yourself and don't actually speak it out loud.

However, it did not take long for me to become riveted. Yes, I thought, this is writing should do you: make you hungrily devour a book on a topic you couldn't care less about. The story was great, going further than a typical sport book and adding layer after layer. Yes, this is a book about football, but it is also a ghost story, it is a superbly realised example of magic realism. I loved it. Think how much you would love it if you actually liked sport, or football?

I've heard glowing reviews of Mal Peet's books from a large number of people, and 'Life' was my first Peet experience. Keeper did not let me down. If anything, my resolve to read all of his books has been strengthened. And, learning that he is coming to Sydney for the Writer's Festival means I now have a dead-line to have them all read by.

From now on, if anyone asks me for a good sport related read, this will be top of the list. It's not far off the same list for a good read in general.

4 Gold Stars

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