Rating: 
Summary: A Hole-In-One
Review: A.B. Hollingsworth, where have you been? I can scarcely imagine that this richly entertaining "coming of age" story is Hollingsworth's first novel. What a gem!The antics and adventures of Chipper, Jay, L.K., Buster and irresistibly dysfunctional Peachy are laugh-out-loud hilarious. Yet Hollingsworth also provides us with a plethora of poignant, dramatic moments: scenes that will suck the wind right out of you. The pace and flow of this book are masterful, the writing extraordinary, the ending tender and wrenching. Kudos to Sleeping Bear Press for bringing out this wonderful book from a first-time author. Highly, highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A True Must-Read
Review: As a golfer who was once part of a high school championship golf team myself, everything about this book brings back memories. They are of simpler times, of days when a guy's only worries were about who to ask to the prom next month, a C-minus in Physics, and a hooking 6 iron. But Hollingworth's Flatbellies, as anyone who has read the book can attest to, is as much about life, love, and the pursuit of a dream than the game of golf. Written with true character and passion, Flatbellies is example of a unique sports novel- a compelling page-turner that is a challenge to put down!
Rating: 
Summary: horrifying
Review: Dr. Hollinsgworth embarassed me as a human, former teenager, and golf loadie. It was the worst thing I have ever read.
Rating:
Summary: WOW!
Review: Even a female, non-golfer like me found this book delightful. The fun, fear, eagerness and poignancy of growing up is common to us all. Hollingsworth has combined the innocence of a time gone by with a generation who believes nothing is impossible. The ending will astonish you!
Rating:
Summary: Flatbellies - growing up, mystery, golf and then some
Review: Flatbellies is a brightly lit trip back to the best side of your last smooth ice. Hollingsworth weaves together the innocence and awakening of a group of friends on the brink of fun, heartbreak and life its ownself. Golf is a great backdrop for a coming of age story that is more about love and faith than a white knuckle six iron from behind the trees. I am no night owl, but I could not put this down until I finished it at 2:58 a.m.
Rating:
Summary: It's About Life
Review: Growing up in Oklahoma in the 1960s could be like a ride on a rollercoaster. Girls, cars, sports, even bullies - all the things that we teenagers were so involved with. Alan B Hollingsworth has managed to capture every sudden swerve and rolling upturn in his first novel, Flatbellies. Richly populated with characters drawn from his high school years, Hollingsworth has recreated in the not-so-mythical hamlet of El Viento the world as he knew it. I found myself drawn into the lives of his characters, heroes and villains alike. This became one of those books where you say, "I just have to read another chapter, even if I do have to get up in the morning to go to work!" You too will find it was worth it.
Rating:
Summary: Hole in One
Review: I bought this book because I am a golfer, but the memories it stirred up of the glory days of high school in a small town are what kept me from putting it down. Hollingsworth developes the characters so vividly that you feel like you know, or know someone like each one of them. Golfer or not, you will love this book. The stories of the coming of age of the "Flatbellies" are something in which everyone can relate. This book is "Stand By Me" and "Hoosiers" rolled into one. "Great job Alan." I hope to see more from this guy.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best I Ever Read!!!
Review: I could not put this book down. I felt like I knew each and evry one of the characters in this book. Hollingsworth has written a masterpiece. I can only hope he will produce more fiction as great as Flatbellies.
Rating: 
Summary: Formulaic and symplistic
Review: I hate to disagree with the other reviews, but I purchased this book to read on my vacation and was very disappointed. I agree with others that it is a very breezy novel and was able to plow through it in two days. Unfortunately, this book fell well below my expectations. The characters were rather one-dimentional, the plot was predictable, and the conclusion flat. I'd recommend this as good adolescent fiction, but simplistic and formulaic for adult readers.
Rating:
Summary: 5 stars does not do it justice
Review: I have never golfed, nor have I any interest in the sport. However I must say this is one of the best books I have ever read. It truely is a timeless classic. The book is a comming of age story loosely based on the author's own childhood. It has very well developed characters that just about anyone can relate to. I absolutely loved it. 5 stars does not do it justice.
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