Leinster books

[wixfjord]

Leo has a new book coming out, launching tomorrow seemingly
http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/olsc/8931.php

While Rhapsody in Blue is out now.

Anyone got either and any thoughts?

I've been distinctly non plussed with books written by current players and recent retirees in recent years (Jackman, ROG,Quinlan, BOD), but I reckon Rhapsody in Blue looks ace.

[BlueBlue]

I quite liked Jackmans book, very honest. So honest in fact that you could understand him regretting some of the things in the book being public knowledge. All of these books are very light reading. Read Bod's year in the centre also, interesting snippets in it thats all, sometimes you have got to read between the lines. Like Bods comment on Kidneys time as head/ backs coach at Leinster. Wow that's hard to say......backs coach

[sheepshagger]

7.30pm tonight at the D4 Berekley Hotel.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Official- ... 6189359637

[BarryP]

Bob Casey & Joe Schmidt amongst the speakers for tonights launch

[sheepshagger]

Was a good night...well attended with some of the squad also present

Bob Casey was very funny, would say he has some stories to tell from over the years.

[brummie-leinster-man]

It's not strictly Leinster but I got "In BOD We Trust" last Christmas. I'd finished it by Boxing day. Its a biography but mainly goes into the 2005 Lions tour and BOD's captaincy.

[elfan]

It's not strictly Leinster but I got "In BOD We Trust" last Christmas. I'd finished it by Boxing day. Its a biography but mainly goes into the 2005 Lions tour and BOD's captaincy.

Mine lasted until st stephens day . Uk edition must have been shorter!

[Hornet]

It's not strictly Leinster but I got "In BOD We Trust" last Christmas. I'd finished it by Boxing day. Its a biography but mainly goes into the 2005 Lions tour and BOD's captaincy.

Mine lasted until st stephens day . Uk edition must have been shorter!

[suisse]

No disrespect to Leo Cullen, who I admire greatly and consider a hero of mankind, but I will not be buying his book. There simply can't be anything to attract me to it. You know David Healy wrote a book - I don't read it, but sure it went along the lines of "I was a Man Utd starlet then I broke the goal scoring record and got a medal from Michel Platini in The Camp Windsor before arseing about with a lot of sh!t teams" - so, too, Peter Crouch - "My career highlights are going for lots of money to a range of clubs and dancing like an idiot in the world cup. Oh, and I'm a poor man's Rodney Trotter, if you know what I mean?" - I, personally, feel these people have nothing interesting to say. Cullen spent time with Leicester were he cut his teeth, earned respect as a leader and helped turn Leinster into the best team in Europe. Then I got married. With all due respect to the man, is there much else he can say?

Every book should be measured to Di Canio's. Come close, match or better it. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother.

Good luck with the book Leo. I wish you well. Great servant to Leinster.

[BarryP]

Fair point Suisse, and I agree with you in the main; only thing is this is (as far as I am aware) NOT an autobiography, but more his account of last season.

[TerenureJim]

Also Suisse you never know what's goign on in the player's head, take Quinlan's book last year it was very revelaing about his serious mental health issues and how he deals with them on a daily basis. Also Jackman wasn't exactly Keith Wood so you'd think ah sure what would be in that but it gave a really interesting account of how he pushed and punished himself to make it as a professional rugby player. There's also the odd piss up story usually thrown into the rugby biogs about the lads on tour or whatever and while I'm sure most stories stay on tour some can be hillarious e.g. Trev Brennan on the Leinster squad in the South of France and disco Den getting battered by bouncers at a night club followed by the forwards going back to sort it out and Alain Rolland having to broker the peace with the gendearmé

[Scott]

No disrespect to Leo Cullen, who I admire greatly and consider a hero of mankind, but I will not be buying his book. There simply can't be anything to attract me to it. You know David Healy wrote a book - I don't read it, but sure it went along the lines of "I was a Man Utd starlet then I broke the goal scoring record and got a medal from Michel Platini in The Camp Windsor before arseing about with a lot of sh!t teams" - so, too, Peter Crouch - "My career highlights are going for lots of money to a range of clubs and dancing like an idiot in the world cup. Oh, and I'm a poor man's Rodney Trotter, if you know what I mean?" - I, personally, feel these people have nothing interesting to say. Cullen spent time with Leicester were he cut his teeth, earned respect as a leader and helped turn Leinster into the best team in Europe. Then I got married. With all due respect to the man, is there much else he can say?

Every book should be measured to Di Canio's. Come close, match or better it. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother.

Good luck with the book Leo. I wish you well. Great servant to Leinster.

I would be interested in his book (if it came out after he stopped playing) if only for his take on the diff between the Leinster he left & the one he came back to & what he saw as the main diff between Leinster at the time of his return & leicester. Histake on his different coaches would also be interesting. As he is still playing i wont be wasting my money

Suisse - What's so good about the Di Canio book? Does he go into the whole fascist thing?

[cormac]

Also Suisse you never know what's goign on in the player's head, take Quinlan's book last year it was very revelaing about his serious mental health issues and how he deals with them on a daily basis. Also Jackman wasn't exactly Keith Wood so you'd think ah sure what would be in that but it gave a really interesting account of how he pushed and punished himself to make it as a professional rugby player. There's also the odd piss up story usually thrown into the rugby biogs about the lads on tour or whatever and while I'm sure most stories stay on tour some can be hillarious e.g. Trev Brennan on the Leinster squad in the South of France and disco Den getting battered by bouncers at a night club followed by the forwards going back to sort it out and Alain Rolland having to broker the peace with the gendearmé

The only interesting thing about the Jackman book was the complete lack of editing.

[suisse]

Suisse - What's so good about the Di Canio book? Does he go into the whole fascist thing?

It's been a while since I read it Scott, but I remember thinking it was insanely eye-opening. He talks in detail about fascism, his admiration for Mussolini and how he nearly f%~ked himself by drinking too much Coca-Cola as a kid. Also that hilarious episode as a West Ham player when he tried to substitute himself because he was convinced the referees would never give him a penalty. His upbringing is a little different to Leo's Leinster via Wicklow and Blackrock

[Logorrhea]

I, personally, feel these people have nothing interesting to say. Cullen spent time with Leicester were he cut his teeth, earned respect as a leader and helped turn Leinster into the best team in Europe. Then I got married. With all due respect to the man, is there much else he can say?

Are their any other types of rugby books? Are you looking for some kind of Zombie twist? A tragic ending? Something with a more global outlook like Playing the Enemy?

This book is targeted at Leinster fans, its got a clear scope and could well be a decent read. Dismissing it in the way you have seems a simplistic.

Having said all that, its probably shite

[Slipper1]

I'm looking forward to getting it, in fact I added it to my Santa list this morning.

Two time winning HEC captain, part of the "golden" team in recent Leinster times, multi medal winning time in the UK & he's been through a number of top coaches. There has to be some really good insights into how his mind and the team works.

Leo is not one to blow his own trumpet, I'd say if you asked 100 people on Grafton St to name the Leinster Captain at least 50% would say BOD; so given he doesn't say much on a normal basis, if he decides he has something to say now I'd guess its pretty decent.

[fourthirtythree]

Hang on, are there any Leinster/rugby books with Zombie twists? Surely that's a meme gone too far?

[Sauvignon Blank]

Christ on a bike does there have to be debate about everything.

Simple...buy Leo's book or don't.

I will.

[rathgarblue]

Hang on, are there any Leinster/rugby books with Zombie twists? Surely that's a meme gone too far?

Ed O'Donoghue: "My zombie life at Leinster".

I'll get my coat....

[baaba maal]

Anyone read Rhapsody in Blue and if so, is it any good?