18 Holes

Thank you to NetGalley and Matador for this free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

18 Holes is a collection of 18 short stories that incorporate golf as a key element in surprising ways. The stories are funny, witty, and occasionally have darker notes. We’re introduced to a group of terrorists that take up the game unexpectedly, a particularly lucky par 3 hole, and a wheelchair-bound former gang member turned fundraiser and so many more.

The stories were unexpected and punchy. About half were extremely well done and hilarious, while the other half lacked the luster I know Paxton is capable of writing. (This statistic is not unlike my personal golf game…) All the stories’ golf elements felt real to a golfer (except when a competitor pulls out their cell phone during the Masters, a tournament that does not allow personal electronic devices on its premises for patrons and competitors alike). Non-golfers need not worry as the intricacies of the game are not a focal point to the stories but are well-explained when necessary.

My top 3 favorite stories were:
1. All the President’s Men
2. For Whom the Bell Tolls
3. Mindfulness

This book - with its amazing cover design - is a great gift for those who enjoy golf and want to add a pop of their hobby to a bookshelf or coffee table display.

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18 Holes is a collection of humorous and ironic short stories, all with golf as the backdrop. Each story represents a hole, and the book comprises a round of golf. The stories are interesting, although the British lingo may slow you down a bit, but it doesn’t detract from the lesson of the story. Great gift for any golfer who’ll appreciate the tie-ins to the game, but non-golfers will enjoy it as well. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of 18 Holes, 18 short stories with a golfing theme by Paul Paxton. As someone who played golf for 20 years mainly off an 18 handicap I marvelled at the inventiveness of the stories. The stories explore many angles and provide a short and entertaining read. May be of interest to none golfers as well.

18 Holes is one of the best collections of short stories to be published in a long time. Any golfer would value getting this book as a gift since it captures the uncommon with tales like The Holy Grail, The Hayward Cup, and For The Love Of The Game.
I look forwards to reading more from Paul Paxton in the future because his writing is enjoyable and simple to read.
An independent review for NetGalley / Matador

No matter the topic or whether the stories are fiction or nonfiction, a collection of short stories will always have some that are really good and some that are not so great. This collection of 18 short stories by Paul Paxton has much more of the former than the latter and the result is an interesting and quick read on various golf situations.

Many sound far-fetched, such as an assasination attempt of the President of the United States by planting a bomb in the cup on the 17th hole. There is a story about an ultra-secret service that uses golf as a cover for husbands to step out on their marriage. Another interesting one,and it was the one to me that was the most realistic, was on a Q-school player who is sweating out his chances to earn his professional card.

The characters in most of the stories are developed fine for short stories and all of them even some of the most unrealistic ones, don’t lack in entertainment. Because each of them are fairly short, this book can be read in several short sessions. However, if a reader wants to get through it in one sitting, it won’t take long to achieve that, either. No matter how it is read, a reader who likes their golf will enjoy this collection of stories on the game.

I wish to thank Matador for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.