Saved: A Novel
by Jack Falla
Much has already been said about the late Jack Falla and his contributions to the canon of hockey literature. And though he’s better known for his two essay collections (Home Ice and Open Ice), the merits of this novel have not gone unnoticed. It’s authentic, it does a good job of describing how hockey players think in the middle of play, and it’s downright entertaining to boot.
There are two things I particularly loved about Saved. First, Falla manages to turn the NHL’s 82-game season into an engaging storyline. And this is no small feat: even fans can get tired of today’s NHL seasons, opting to reserve their excitement for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But our hero, goalie Jean Pierre Savard, is a charmer who easily keeps the reader’s attention. Sure, it’s gruff charm, but then, this is a hockey novel—what else would you expect?
Second, this book is about real people. I imagine that it’s difficult to make readers look at NHL players as real people. After all, fans tend to think of them as stars and celebrities, insanely talented players whose lives are (to us) the stuff of dreams. But Falla invites us to take a different approach. He writes out of love for the game. The same love that inspired him to build a backyard rink is evident throughout Saved, and that alone makes it a worthwhile read.
If nothing else, it’s good to know that, after years of watching and writing, Falla could still see the magic that first attracted him to hockey and pass it on to his readers.
Tags: Boston Bruins, hockey fiction, Home Ice, Jack Falla, Open Ice, Saved
