'Stephen Florida' is a study in obsession -- and college wrestling
Every week, The Thread checks in with booksellers around the country about their favorite books of the moment. This week, we spoke with Danilo Thomas at Sundance Books in Reno, Nev.
Danilo Thomas grew up with guys who wrestled.
During their season, he remembers, they would fall down the "wrestling hole."
Their whole lives became about the physical and mental transformation necessary to give your whole soul over to the sport.
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Gabe Habash's new novel, "Stephen Florida," nails its depiction of the "wrestling hole," Thomas said.
The book revolves around its title character, a hyper-motivated, almost dangerously focused college wrestler in North Dakota who wants nothing more in life than to take home the Division 4 national title — and he's got one last chance to do it.
"The language is excellent, and the first person perspective on these fringe, marginal sports and what drives people to commit their whole lives to accomplishing these things," Thomas said.