city books

[Walkbustaxi]

Was on the City site earlier to grab a picture of Once in a Blue Moon for another thread and noticed some books that should be there but aren't like Colin Bells, Paul Lakes, Tony Books book etc and some that are a bit iffy to be in the club shop.

Wonder how many copies of Eric Nixons book shop.mcfc.co.uk has sold?

Has anyone read Manchester City Us and Them? Is it worth a punt?


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[Gary James]

That 'Blue Moon: Down Among the Dead Men With Manchester City' book is possibly the best book I have ever read about our club. Mark Hodkinson wrote it. Worth a read.

For beautiful, evocative writing, and to gain an insight into one of the most iconic seasons in city's history, then buy this. In fact I'd say it's the best book ever written about city. For detail, history, facts and comprehensiveness, anything by Gary James, particularly his new one. Garys books are always faultlessly designed and packaged and he has a great eye for a photo or artifact.

Most of the aurobiographies are decent without being earth-shattering and I'd recommend lake's, summerbee's and book's.

If I'm honest the books written by fans are usually rubbish. 'cups for cockups' was quite insightful, written by a united fan. The one written by Andy Buckley and Richard burgess 'blue moon rising' is ok and has a little insider stuff. But it suffers from a rushed end- a diary of the 99-00 season.

If I had to choose a top 3 it would be:

1)Mark hodkinson's 'blue moon'
2)Gary James's 'Manchester the greatest city' which has just been updated and released with a new title
3)Gary James 'Farewell to Maine
Road'

Thanks for all those comments. Very much appreciated. The updated and revised history book you mention is "Manchester The City Years" due out soon and covering the Club's entire history (starting in the 1850s with the earliest actions that led to the formation of the Club and ending about two days ago - only just finished the text). It will of course be illustrated throughout and, of course, includes exclusive material from interviews with Khaldoon and others: <a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Manchester-Years-Tracing-Story-Modern/dp/0955812771/ref=zg_bs_1040524_30" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Manchester-Year ... 1040524_30</a>

I will add that of all the books I've written, the one I personally enjoyed writing and researching most was "Joe Mercer, OBE: Football With A Smile" -now back in print and the only authorised biography of City's greatest manager (though hopefully he'll be eclipsed soon!). Amazon seem to have it available at about £15 now: <a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Joe-Mercer-OBE-Authorised-Successful/dp/0955812747/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340556245&sr=1-1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Joe-Mercer-OBE- ... 245&sr=1-1</a>

 

[Cobwebcat]

"Manchester City Richer Than God" supposed to be good.

 

[petrusha]

'cups for cockups' was quite insightful, written by a united fan.

You're right to recommend Hodkinson's, which is excellent, and any of Gary James's but especially Manchester - The Greatest City: the new edition out this September will be a must for any City fan. However, to my mind, to refer to 'Cups for Cock Ups' as 'insightful' really couldn't be further from the mark. I did a long review of it for MCIVTA back in February 1999. which is here: http://www.mcivta.com/mcivta/4/78.html. I don't particularly suggest reading the review, but in summary, if you want any understanding of City's decline in the 1990s, steer clear of this book, because as a piece of analysis, it's really poor.

 

[Nijinsky 88]

I've not had time to read Lakey's book yet but i might download it for a holiday read.

Good read, so make sure you do.

 

[bluekeith]

You could also try joe fagans new autobiography

 

[Didsbury Dave]

'cups for cockups' was quite insightful, written by a united fan.

You're right to recommend Hodkinson's, which is excellent, and any of Gary James's but especially Manchester - The Greatest City: the new edition out this September will be a must for any City fan. However, to my mind, to refer to 'Cups for Cock Ups' as 'insightful' really couldn't be further from the mark. I did a long review of it for MCIVTA back in February 1999. which is here: http://www.mcivta.com/mcivta/4/78.html. I don't particularly suggest reading the review, but in summary, if you want any understanding of City's decline in the 1990s, steer clear of this book, because as a piece of analysis, it's really poor.

I'll happily bow to your judgement, as it's been 15 years since I read it and I gave it away ages ago. I might buy it and reevaluate it. I did enjoy it at the time, though.

Your own book was enjoyable too.
Still got it in my bookshelf: 'stop making sense'.

'

 

[petrusha]

'cups for cockups' was quite insightful, written by a united fan.

You're right to recommend Hodkinson's, which is excellent, and any of Gary James's but especially Manchester - The Greatest City: the new edition out this September will be a must for any City fan. However, to my mind, to refer to 'Cups for Cock Ups' as 'insightful' really couldn't be further from the mark. I did a long review of it for MCIVTA back in February 1999. which is here: http://www.mcivta.com/mcivta/4/78.html. I don't particularly suggest reading the review, but in summary, if you want any understanding of City's decline in the 1990s, steer clear of this book, because as a piece of analysis, it's really poor.

I'll happily bow to your judgement, as it's been 15 years since I read it and I gave it away ages ago. I might buy it and reevaluate it. I did enjoy it at the time, though.

Your own book was enjoyable too.
Still got it in my bookshelf: 'stop making sense'.

'

Mine was effectively an amalgam of two different books I wanted to write, and it ended up falling between the two stools, unfortunately. Wasn't happy with it, and I'd pretty well disown it, but it's long gone now. It may still work as a platform to help me get other stuff out, however, and I have one more than half written (though it isn't to do with MCFC).

Apart from the recent Paul Lake book, which is very good if heartbreaking, the other City biographies I'd recommend are the Gary James one on Joe Mercer and the one on Malcolm Allison by a guy called David Tossell, who's done biographies of various sportsmen. Big Mal is a fascinating figure, and his story reads like a Greek tragedy. I've not read the Andy Morrison book but a couple of people have told me good things about it, so I'll get hold of it at some point, I guess.

I also read Dennis Tueart's autobiography after getting it as a present last Christmas. In literary terms, it's nothing remarkable, but I thought it had interesting behind-the-scenes stuff about the failure of Tony Book's late seventies team to live up to its potential, and about boardroom developments from the fag end of the Lee era until Thaksin's takeover.

 

[citizen tony]

once in a bluemmon has started really really well, but tbh i could read about city all day from an average writer and i would still be glued. so all in all the current read pips the others at the moment. lakeys and morrisons i found sad at certain times.

just finished it a couple of weeks ago , enjoyed it . made me laugh at times, talked about local football ,cricket and following england as well . would recomend it

 

[Didsbury Dave]

You're right to recommend Hodkinson's, which is excellent, and any of Gary James's but especially Manchester - The Greatest City: the new edition out this September will be a must for any City fan. However, to my mind, to refer to 'Cups for Cock Ups' as 'insightful' really couldn't be further from the mark. I did a long review of it for MCIVTA back in February 1999. which is here: http://www.mcivta.com/mcivta/4/78.html. I don't particularly suggest reading the review, but in summary, if you want any understanding of City's decline in the 1990s, steer clear of this book, because as a piece of analysis, it's really poor.

I'll happily bow to your judgement, as it's been 15 years since I read it and I gave it away ages ago. I might buy it and reevaluate it. I did enjoy it at the time, though.

Your own book was enjoyable too.
Still got it in my bookshelf: 'stop making sense'.

'

Mine was effectively an amalgam of two different books I wanted to write, and it ended up falling between the two stools, unfortunately. Wasn't happy with it, and I'd pretty well disown it, but it's long gone now. It may still work as a platform to help me get other stuff out, however, and I have one more than half written (though it isn't to do with MCFC).

Apart from the recent Paul Lake book, which is very good if heartbreaking, the other City biographies I'd recommend are the Gary James one on Joe Mercer and the one on Malcolm Allison by a guy called David Tossell, who's done biographies of various sportsmen. Big Mal is a fascinating figure, and his story reads like a Greek tragedy. I've not read the Andy Morrison book but a couple of people have told me good things about it, so I'll get hold of it at some point, I guess.

I also read Dennis Tueart's autobiography after getting it as a present last Christmas. In literary terms, it's nothing remarkable, but I thought it had interesting behind-the-scenes stuff about the failure of Tony Book's late seventies team to live up to its potential, and about boardroom developments from the fag end of the Lee era until Thaksin's takeover.

I enjoyed your book. You sell yourself short.

I haven't read the mercer biography but people speak highly of it. I agree re the allison book- I forgot that one. I'm keen to read tueurt's. I forgot to mention Eric alexanders book, 'can i have my ball back' or something? Promised so much and delivered so little.