Penguin Modern Classics 2009. Cover Photograph: Grey Villet
BOOKS READ 33: THE HUSTLER BY WALTER TEVIS
This book felt like a hustle.
It begins with a fast hustle pool game, Eddie Felson (hero in the book) losing hard to Minnesota Fats (who is, as his name implies, an overweight, best of the best pool player), and realizing/being told he lost not because of circumstances beyond his control, but that he wanted to lose and all the things he thought made him lose are just excuses to comfort himself about losing. It transitions on to owning up, accepting what was dealt, and doing something about it - developing character, which is needed to win (major major theme in this book and the movie, that is almost cheesily and barfingly repeated explicitly whenever possible, which is…a lot). Because winning includes other things that we subconsciously realize we do not want or think we can handle, winning involves a lot of pressure to continue and progress a new expectation that has been put upon you, and it takes a certain kind of personality to really be able to deal with that.
Reading this book, you think that you get a better sense of what character is in a person and how it is developed and how you can apply it to yourself. It felt…kind of good.
The character (Bert Gordon) who explained and helped instill character in Eddie Felson to help him beat Minnesota Fats in a rematch, seemed like a really well meaning character. One that was looking out for Eddie and wanted to make him a better player because he showed promise and was worth it (i.e, warm, altruistic reasons). But he only really did it out of boredom, money, and to have a new, highly profitable player that he could exploit. Can’t believe that I and Eddie Felson let lame-ass Bert Gordon take us for a ride.
I mean, yah, I wasn’t taking these words as if they were the word of god (not that I’m even religious, but you know what I mean) or anything, but I did think they had some value, and I felt like a rug was purposefully put under me for the sole purpose of being yanked out at the moment where I’d least expect it. But maybe there is something in that as well, something to take away from.
That yes, there are rugs, and they are there for yanking out.
And when it happens, get up and put one under Bert Gordon and whoever else deserves it and get on with it.
