Friday, February 25, 2011

REVIEW: "Remembering Fenway"

This is not just another 'coffee table' book. Harvey Frommer's "Remembering Fenway Park" does have the stunning photography that every good coffee table book needs—but this book has so much more. All of us in the Nation know that the edifice that is Fenway Park is a lot more than the bricks and mortar that keep it planted on Yawkey Way. It is the cherished moments that we've all experienced inside it's near-century old walls that truly give it meaning. It's an understanding of this totality that makes "Remembering Fenway" so good.

To start, it carries first-hand accounts of key moments in Red Sox history by people like Johnny Pesky—a man who has witnessed many of the team's storied eras. Frommer also interviewed 135 other players and employees. And, perhaps most importantly, it gives you remembrances from ordinary fans, who filled the old ballpark even when horrific teams gave us no reason to do so.

You can also watch Fenway Park grow from its modest beginnings, through several renovations, to the shrine it is today. But this book does not ignore the blemishes. From obstructed views, to fires, to cramped seating, you get the full picture of the Grande Dame of baseball. You will relive great games, pivotal franchise moments and voluminous trivia in this extremely entertaining work. We recommend it highly.