It's not often a book comes around about soccer or any athletic endeavor that isn't riddled with
clichés, contrived scenes, or predictable plot lines. In the novel, "St. John of the Midfield," Garasamo Maccagnone clears the literary landscape of any such devices to tell a simple but powerful story through the eyes of Mario Santini, the teams assistant coach and the father of Bobo's protege. Mario feels trapped by two worlds: he is caught between the dark worlds of his father and the sinister Sonny Christopher, while also seeing daily the goodness of Bobo. As a consequence of Bobo's success and eccentric ways of teaching, enemies are created, and the plot line twists and turns until the final chapter.
At NSR, we highly recommend "St. John of the Midfield," to all soccer fanatics. For all of us involved in youth soccer, this is a sure fire-page turner, the kind of book you savor for a long, long time.
"Garasamo Maccagnone is a writer of great literary range." -Page One Literary newsletter
"St. John of the Midfield," by Garasamo Maccagnone, is the kind of book you can't put down. The reader is kept on the edge of their seat from the beginning, with a daring jump from a train. Look for this book to win an award." -Mark F. Traupman - Author, Jesus - The Lost Message
Garasamo Maccagnone weaves an almost mystical story about Georgi "Bobo" Stoikov, a Bulgarian refugee who, after reaching America, finds work as a coach for a youth travel soccer team. It's powerful emotional impact will keep you turning pages to the very end... The character "Bobo" Stoikov will stay in your heart for a long, long time. -Maggie Cooper - critic
