Friday Night Lights
by H.G. Bissinger
Buy book: $10.05

The bestselling story of life in the football-driven town of Odessa, Texas, explores how the town's passion for the team inspires--and sometimes shatters--the young men who wear the Panther uniform. Soon to be a major motion picture from Universal Pictures, starring Billy Bob Thornton, Tim McGraw, Derek Luke, and Jay Hernandez.

We just SAW this movie this weekend. It was very good. A lot of football, but the story of the kids trying to beat the big team, (and they were big) was inspiring. for some, it could be a ticket out of Odessa to college. The coach was terrific.

I was once that shy person or character in friday night lights, I never saw the movie, it took awhile to over come that and I did do well.

I believe this story takes you into the moment at the very beginning. Its sort of inspiratioinal. Tells you how one athlete thinks in regards to loving his sport.

I LOVED the movie and I enjoy football(to a point) either live or on TV but I think I'll skip this book. It probably didn't help that I'd already seen the movie.....too me it's easier to go from book to movie than movie to book.

I was prepared to not like this book. High school football is big in Odessa, TX. That's the BIG DEAL I thought. Who cares? But I'm hooked. I never played sports and went to a girls school with minimal athletics. I have nothing in my life with which to make an emotional connection, but I'm hooked.

The intensity of emotion and thoughts about their lives of the players profiled in the first few pages is very powerful. I didn't anticipate this type of anxiety at the high school level. This is a definite read for me - before I see the movie.

I have lived in Odessa, TX since 1973 and though not a football fan, I really enjoyed the book when it was first published. Many fans did not like it, feeling it portrayed the area in a bad way. I re-read it just before the movie came out and still enjoyed it. The movie was great also.
Football is important in Texas and we're proud to live here.