June 2017

Douglas Brunt’s novel, TROPHY SON, looks at the tennis world through the eyes of Anton, a prodigy who is coached and pushed to excel by his tennis-obsessed father, until he rebels against the pressure. I confess to having zip knowledge of tennis, let alone competitive tennis (I could not even score a match), but reading TROPHY SON I was quickly drawn inside that world and never felt over my head.

What I loved best is how Brunt captured the tension that exists in professional sports on so many levels, as well as the alienation of celebrity and the pressure of being in a world where the clock to retirement is always ticking.

Anton’s relationship with his dad was brilliantly captured. What does one do when the biggest pressure is coming from one’s own father? And when that relationship is a brutal one, what does it do to you, especially when you are a kid with no reference point? Anton’s brother leads a “normal” life far from the spotlight, and noting their comparisons between their two worlds shows how far apart their life experiences are. While athletes’ lives are envied for their fame and glory, there is another side where the control the game has on one eliminates an ability to enjoy life freely, including forming healthy relationships.

On many levels, TROPHY SON is a story not just of tennis, but also of the broader picture of what our achievement-obsessed society is driving children towards. Overscheduled days and multiple activities in a day have become part of our culture. While not on a world-class athlete level, I think many can look at their own lives and explore what kind of a crazy life scenario we are creating for children.

I have a couple of friends who played pro sports, and Brunt captured what they go through as people, not just as athletes. Everything is defined by the sport --- relationships, meals, and the challenge of what to do when you have scant free time. There are years working towards a singular goal and then a lifetime ahead for which many have built no skills, beyond acting as a spokesperson, another artificial role.

There is so much to talk about with this book. It would be a terrific book group read to do either with a formal group, or serve up (pun intended) to a group of friends who you pull together.