The Color of Money

I have to admit I'm a fan of Scorcese's film sharing the same title, but these are two completely different stories. I was shocked at how little the two have in common, which is almost nothing.

Tevis's book paints a very different picture of Fast Eddie in the 80's. Tevis shows us a dejected man who let years of his life just pass by idly while he ran a small pool hall, as opposed to Scorcese's Fast Eddie who had become a successful liquor salesman (ironically, Tevis's Felson failed as a salesman). Not only that, the Vince character (and his t-shirt) does not really exist in Tevis's book - Felson does not take on a prodigy at all. Even Fats is back in the book.

All this drivel I've written here is to encourage you to read the book. A completely different story than what the movie offers, but one more plausibly in line with The Hustler (the book). As usual, Tevis is deft at writing the intricacies of pool and the psyche that surrounds it.

The message of the novel and film adaptation are essentially the same:
if you deny your true self, you will be left feeling empty and unfulfilled in life. You cannot give in to fear or society's definitions of who and what you should be at any point in your life. Scorsese and writer Richard Price took a lot of liberties with the story for the film adaptation. I like what they did, but I found the novel The Color of Money compelling for somewhat different reasons.

Tevis does a wonderful job of updating his Fast Eddie Felson character from the original novel, The Hustler, and the opening scenes in this book where Minnesota Fats "coaches" a middle-aged and tired Felson are outstanding. I have even more appreciation for Fats than I did in The Hustler, and it's unfortunate that Scorsese and Price chose not to include him in the movie.

Tevis has a great understanding of what drives certain people to excel at something as opposed to just getting by in life. The winner's mentality is at the heart of this novel -- as it was in The Hustler -- but now the idea is centered more around not giving up, despite what society tells each of us about what we can or cannot do (based on factors such as age, etc.).

Felson's midlife crisis is the bane of his existence, and it is only the acceptance of who he is and what he loves to do that can deliver him from his ennui. Relationships and suburban comforts are merely distractions for Felson. He needs to get back into the game that made him touch greatness when he was in his 20s.

For fans of The Hustler, this is a great compliment. If you've seen the movie a bunch of times, you will still discover a fresh story here. The angle is a bit different, and Tevis' perceptions about what it takes to rise above mediocrity are priceless.

Classic novel by a classic writer.

I'd like to give this novel three and a half stars. It is entertaining and well-written, but lacks that spark I would call "literature." Maybe I'm expecting too much.

I found the characters, Fast Eddie and Arabella, to be mundane and the plot as it developed to be predictable.

I like the premise: The late-middle-age sort of has-been pool shark who is making a come back--both in life and in his chosen "profession." Most of us late-middle-agers have been there. Not so much the come-back--that is a fantasy we hold on to--but watching the youngsters by-passing us and wanting to keep our fingernail grip on whatever talents and life we still possess. So in this sense The Color of Money is right on the money in terms of wish-fulfilment for elderly has-beens. Nevertheless, as I said, it is all a bit too pat and predictable to really satisfy the yearning for some glimmer of hope.

Frankly I liked the eponymous movie better even though it has very little of substance in common with the novel. I feel that the movie better gave a sense of desperation and doubt, and the outcome seemed less of a certainty than it did in the novel.

Also I do not play pool or have any interest in the game. I have never played nine ball and do not intend to. When I have watched pool occasionally on TV it did not strike me as a very worthwhile activity to devote one's life to, so I found it hard to identify with Eddie Felson.

This novel has interesting descriptions of academic life in the lower rungs of academia which are not too unrealistic (this is something I know about), and an excursion into art marketing. That is something I know nothing about but found interesting.

This novel is profoundly disappointing and vastly inferior to its predecessor.
In the Hustler, the characters were sharply defined, their struggles were real. This novel is slack and self-indulgent, and full of cliché. Sure: Eddie re-unites with Fats who imparts great wisdom then conveniently dies. Eddie falls in love with a modern edgy chick. Eddie becomes an art dealer. Eddie's art gallery is ransacked for no apparent reason other than to turn him loose for the rest of the plot. Eddie makes a comeback. Despite learning a new game and not having played competitively for 25 years- Eddie wins a major professional tournament!! . zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
It is almost impossible to believe that the same author wrote these books................

This is one of the best novels I've ever read. It's much and different than the movie based upon it though I recommend that film as well. Very character driven. Thoughtful and introspective. I identified with Eddie Felson. His fears, strengths and wins and like 'The Hustler' what it means to be a true winner and a man of real character is what the book is really about. Highly recommended.

20 some years after Eddie Felson beat Minnesota Fats, he is struggling to make a living. He pursuades former arch-rival Fats for the TV show of the rematches against two legendary pool players just for money. He realizes how much he lost touches of pool ability and he cannot beat the former rival. Fats gives advice that you can make money in nine-ball and straight pool is the thing of the past. Then he decided to join Nine ball tournament. That's how the story goes and it develops differently from the film version. There is no Vincent in this book and the book is more like Rocky 3 and 4. Fats sounds like Apollo Creed giving hands to Rocky Balboa. The last part is a fine showdown. It may not be for every Hustler fan but if you must face midlife crisis, this book may give you some boot.

Verdict: Eddie Felson facing his midlife crisis
Rating: 75 out of 100
Recommended for: Eddie Felson fans.

Great book -- maybe better than the Hustler. Ignore the movie. This is a handbook for living. It didn't change my life but it would have if i read it when i was 15. Will make an excellent bar mitzvah gift.

Putting Vincent the kid On the front of this book is simply false advertising. The book is nothing like the movie. The first two chapters are spent fishing. The main premise is Minnesota fats and fast Eddie Felson team up to do an ESPN tour of themselves playing pool. Nothing like the movie, I skimmed through the book looking for Vincent or Carmen’s name anywhere and couldn’t find it.

Tough to write a sequel 25 years after the original. Classic case of the sequel being disappointing, compared to the original.

Really great book! Well-written, entertaining, and a very easy read.