Now that OFFSIDE: A Mystery is out, my book blog is up and running.
It is my intention to use this space in several ways. They include (1) engaging folks who have a view about the book and (2) commenting on themes and topics therein.
Concerning the former, visitors to this site can post comments below a blog post or send feedback via the Contact link at the top of the page.
Concerning the latter, even though the plot of OFFSIDE is fiction, there should be no shortage of material for this blog. The novel centers around the murder of an adult referee of youth soccer in a ritzy Los Angeles suburb at the peak of the real estate bubble in 2006. But there is a fair amount of social commentary about all kinds of topics.
Here is a partial list:
- Soccer parents, coaches, referees and league officials.
- Soccer laws (including, of course, offside).
- Blowout rules.
- History of world soccer.
- William Shakespeare.
- History of United States soccer.
- Abraham Lincoln.
- Jack Kemp.
- Richard Nixon.
- Princeton University.
- Rutgers University.
- Harvard University.
- Pelé.
- California’s conspicuous consumption.
- Origins of California’s name.
- Early Los Angeles smog.
- California weather.
- California land development.
- California terrain.
- Charles Nordhoff
- Charles Richter.
- Bertolt Brecht
- Southern California culture.
- Haley Joel Osment.
- Pornography in the San Fernando Valley.
- Los Angeles gangs.
- Law enforcement techniques.
- Spanish takeover of California in 1769.
- Mexican takeover of California in 1821.
- Yankee takeover of California in 1846.
- San Fernando Mission.
- Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
- Disappearance of California Indians.
- Abel Stearns.
- John C. Frémont.
- Joseph Pomeroy Widney.
- Racism.
- City of Arcadia, Calif.
- City of Burbank, Calif.
- City of Lakewood, Calif.
- City of Norwalk, Calif.
- City of Pasadena, Calif.
- Funeral directors.
- Bankers.
- Lawyers.
- Stockbrokers.
- P.R. spin specialists.
- Wall Street.
- Financial regulators.
- Subprime mortgages.
- Boom bubble and bust.
- Angelo Mozilo.
- Alan Greenspan.
I hope you’ll spend some time with the book. Trust me, it won’t be boring.