The Hustler

Rating:
Summary: Better than the movie???
Review: Excellent book! After reading I learned so much I had to rewatch the movie because I thouught they left so much out; most of the profound ideas are there but very subtle and lost in the film, which I also adore. Tevis is a wonderful writer and this is one book that you can enjoy and learn from both. Each have much to offer so don't choose one... have the best of both; read the book AND see the movie.

Rating:
Summary: A classic novel about winning and losing
Review: I have a BA in English literature and am an avid pool player, and I enjoyed The Hustler on both levels. Tevis' well written treatment of winning and losing as it happens on the green cloth and in the gray matter is realistic and detailed. The book goes into more detail about the psychology of competition than the movie does and differs from the movie at a few points in the plot. I thought the book was better than the movie, but I recommend them both.

Rating:
Summary: The Movie was better
Review: One of those few books that one can say the movie was much more livelier. In the book we never know whether Fast Eddie pays Bert the money that he wins in the final game and of course Sarah does not go with Bert and Eddie to Lexington. On the whole it was a lifeless novel. It seems the reputation of Tevis is based more on the success and acting of Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason , Piper Lori as well as the direction of Robert Rossen than anything that he wrote. I was not impressed by his writing. I loved the movie.

Rating:
Summary: The Movie was better
Review: One of those few books that one can say the movie was much more livelier. In the book we never know whether Fast Eddie pays Bert the money that he wins in the final game and of course Sarah does not go with Bert and Eddie to Lexington. On the whole it was a lifeless novel. It seems the reputation of Tevis is based more on the success and acting of Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason , Piper Lori as well as the direction of Robert Rossen than anything that he wrote. I was not impressed by his writing. I loved the movie.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Book
Review: This is a great novel, and Tevis is a very good writer. It is a morality tale brought down to the level of the worst aspects of American capitalism (that is, the seediest levels, which remain with us today). But hidden in Tevis' story of gambling, alcoholism and identity crisis is an empathy for people that redeems their worst habits. I really enjoyed it and recommend it highly.