Late to the Ball

March 7, 2016
Marzorati, a New York Times Magazine editor and author (A Painter of Darkness) chronicles his six years trying to master the sport of tennis after picking it up in his mid-50s. Determined to be more than a recreational player, Marzorati not only works with the pro at his local club but also befriends a tennis-blogging Jungian psychotherapist, goes to tennis camp, visits a tennis academy to have his biomechanics analyzed, and enters tournaments to play the best U.S. players in his age group. Marzorati’s prose is crisp and clean and his storytelling is focused. He also demonstrates an editor’s knack for capturing the intricacies of other people’s lives, such as his coach’s immigration story or his playing partner’s battle with sepsis (which ends with the partial amputation of his arm). Sometimes this pushes the author’s own journey to the back burner, making him seem more of a spectator and less of a player. But observing, he finds, is a great way to educate oneself, and at its heart, this enjoyable work is a study of the physicality, psychology, and biology of learning. Agent: David McCormick, McCormick Literary.

March 15, 2016

This engaging memoir is written by former New York Times Magazine editor Marzorati, who chose to up his tennis game in his 50s. Marzorati spoke to tennis coaches across the United States about their approaches to teaching and understanding the game. The book is not simply a reflection of the author's love and passion for tennis; it also serves as an exemplar of how seeking out challenges at any age can be a fundamentally sound physical and mental endeavor. Similar to William Finnegan's Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life in that Marzorati pursues a sport that decidedly does not come easier with the passing of time, and one that he will never truly master, this work ultimately speaks of empowerment even if only in small increments. As with Finnegan's book, this volume looks at how aging allows the older athlete to come to a deeper understanding of the lives they have led and continue to lead. VERDICT This solid entry in the sports canon is comparable to John Updike's introspective musings on his golf game. Marzorati's reflections on his love for tennis and the process of mastering its subtleties makes for a delightful read sure to satisfy any tennis player.--Brian Renvall, Mesalands Community Coll., Tucumcari, NM

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