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Flatbellies
"Reads like a combination of American Graffiti and Hoosiers put on pages with humor and wit. It's a wonderful story.... I loved it."― Associated Press It's not about golf. It's about life. Set in a small Oklahoma town in the mid-1960s―a simple place in a confusing time― Flatbellies is partly about the seemingly unreachable goal of a high school golf team: to win the state championship. But mostly it's about the way Chipper, Jay, L.K., Buster, the unforgettable Peachy, and their friends learn to deal with love, loss, friendship, fear, triumph, tragedy, growing up, and growing together. Fictionalized from the author's teenage years in the heartland of America, Flatbellies is a memorable and moving coming-of-age story.
- GenresFiction
348 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2001
9 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Alan Berch Hollingsworth
11 books27 followersAlan B. Hollingsworth is also known as John Albedo.
Alan B. Hollingsworth is a breast cancer specialist, focusing on early detection through aggressive screening in high-risk individuals. This includes the epidemiology and pathology behind screening, as well as risk assessment, genetic testing, and multi-modality imaging.
He founded Oklahoma's first multidisciplinary breast cancer program, then spent 20 years as medical director of Mercy Breast Center in OKC. Retired from patient care, he still serves as a consultant to biotech companies that are working on a screening blood test to detect early breast cancer.
His first novel, FLATBELLIES, was unrelated to medicine, intended as coming-of-age mainstream fiction, though often promoted as sports fiction. Read widely among golf enthusiasts, the book was named by a panel of East Coast sportswriters as "One of the Top Ten Golf Books of All Time," published in the Washington Times. However, readership went well beyond golfers, and a USA Today review brought enough attention that the book has been in continuous option for film since its initial release in 2001. UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD was requested by the publisher as a sequel, given the success of Flatbellies. University Boulevard was a finalist in Oklahoma's Centennial Celebration contest for authors, "Oklahoma Reads Oklahoma."
Dr. Alan Berch Hollingsworth then published KILLING ALBERT BERCH, a true crime and historical memoir that deals with the 1923 murder of his maternal grandfather by an angry mob, fueled by Klan outrage that Albert Berch had hired a black porter to work and live in Berch's hotel in an all-white sundown town.
Writing under the pseudonym "John Albedo" Dr. Hollingsworth spent 20 years writing the BRAINBOW CHRONICLES, a trilogy of upmarket commercial fiction (addressing cognitive plasticity of the brain), with all 3 books winning awards in the genre of literary fiction. The first book of the trilogy, NUTSHELL, also won a Distinguished Favorite designation in the General Fiction category in the New York City Big Book Awards 2022.
Next on the docket is the publication of his first novel -- PROGNOSIS: GUARDED -- written in 1977, but never making it to print until 2024. Along with the novel itself, the opening segment of the book is a non-fiction account as to how his blockbuster novel of 1977 was locked and loaded until an identical book became a mega-hit, introducing the genre "medical thriller."
Alan B. Hollingsworth is a breast cancer specialist, focusing on early detection through aggressive screening in high-risk individuals. This includes the epidemiology and pathology behind screening, as well as risk assessment, genetic testing, and multi-modality imaging.
He founded Oklahoma's first multidisciplinary breast cancer program, then spent 20 years as medical director of Mercy Breast Center in OKC. Retired from patient care, he still serves as a consultant to biotech companies that are working on a screening blood test to detect early breast cancer.
His first novel, FLATBELLIES, was unrelated to medicine, intended as coming-of-age mainstream fiction, though often promoted as sports fiction. Read widely among golf enthusiasts, the book was named by a panel of East Coast sportswriters as "One of the Top Ten Golf Books of All Time," published in the Washington Times. However, readership went well beyond golfers, and a USA Today review brought enough attention that the book has been in continuous option for film since its initial release in 2001. UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD was requested by the publisher as a sequel, given the success of Flatbellies. University Boulevard was a finalist in Oklahoma's Centennial Celebration contest for authors, "Oklahoma Reads Oklahoma."
Dr. Alan Berch Hollingsworth then published KILLING ALBERT BERCH, a true crime and historical memoir that deals with the 1923 murder of his maternal grandfather by an angry mob, fueled by Klan outrage that Albert Berch had hired a black porter to work and live in Berch's hotel in an all-white sundown town.
Writing under the pseudonym "John Albedo" Dr. Hollingsworth spent 20 years writing the BRAINBOW CHRONICLES, a trilogy of upmarket commercial fiction (addressing cognitive plasticity of the brain), with all 3 books winning awards in the genre of literary fiction. The first book of the trilogy, NUTSHELL, also won a Distinguished Favorite designation in the General Fiction category in the New York City Big Book Awards 2022.
Next on the docket is the publication of his first novel -- PROGNOSIS: GUARDED -- written in 1977, but never making it to print until 2024. Along with the novel itself, the opening segment of the book is a non-fiction account as to how his blockbuster novel of 1977 was locked and loaded until an identical book became a mega-hit, introducing the genre "medical thriller."
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 24, 2015
I'm really glad I read this. I wasn't sure if it was for me at the start. The subtitle says It's not about golf. It's about life. The first chapters showed that the book was set in the 1960's with some well off boys as the main characters and golf was their game.
By midway, I was reading longer and looking forward to it more. We met Chipper, who has the best intentions and is always around to help out his friends, but isn't quite sure of where he wants to be himself.
His two best buddies, Jay and Peachy are night and day. Jay seems to have it all, great parents, a good future in store and a devoted girlfriend. Peachy is the wild one, with a lack of supervision by his father, Peachy is mouthy and seems to skate by on the tails of the other boys. Two other boys round out their golf team. L.K., a star athlete and Buster, a reserved boxer who doesn't have much to say to any of them, and has little patience with Peachy.
The undercurrent of Chipper's existence is that the reappearance of Gail, a pretty little girl he promised his undying love to as a child threatens his new relationship with Amy who is near to perfection and very good for Chipper.
The long trek to state championship is paved with amazing pranks, fights, heatbreak, death and the knowledge that the guys will not all be together afterward, for life moves on and takes them in different directions. This story just got better and better and had a killer ending. I really enjoyed it.
By midway, I was reading longer and looking forward to it more. We met Chipper, who has the best intentions and is always around to help out his friends, but isn't quite sure of where he wants to be himself.
His two best buddies, Jay and Peachy are night and day. Jay seems to have it all, great parents, a good future in store and a devoted girlfriend. Peachy is the wild one, with a lack of supervision by his father, Peachy is mouthy and seems to skate by on the tails of the other boys. Two other boys round out their golf team. L.K., a star athlete and Buster, a reserved boxer who doesn't have much to say to any of them, and has little patience with Peachy.
The undercurrent of Chipper's existence is that the reappearance of Gail, a pretty little girl he promised his undying love to as a child threatens his new relationship with Amy who is near to perfection and very good for Chipper.
The long trek to state championship is paved with amazing pranks, fights, heatbreak, death and the knowledge that the guys will not all be together afterward, for life moves on and takes them in different directions. This story just got better and better and had a killer ending. I really enjoyed it.
November 12, 2021
Flatbellies is a snapshot of what it was like to be a young man at a time of upheaval in the late 1960s. It centers around the game of golf, which I don’t play, and boys trying to grow into men. The golf course is a metaphor. Hollingsworth could have written about any sport. Although I wasn’t familiar with the lingo, it was a good education for me. I certainly identified with the shenanigans of the young men, their girlfriends, and the parents and adults who both fell short as mentors but grew greater in the eyes of the youngsters. I laughed. I cried. I cared about the characters, which in my eyes were real people. I knew them myself back in my day. Hollingsworth nails it.
September 1, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this story of growing up in a small town in the ‘60’s! The combination of sports and friends with all of the problems, real or imagined, that must be navigated through as a teenager heading to adulthood brought back memories!
May 5, 2020
I grew up in the 60's. I played golf. I knew the characters in this book. Not a classic. But it was thoroughly enjoyable.
May 10, 2021
I read this book 25 years ago and decided to reread this weekend. I enjoyed it just as much now and I did then. Perfect Oklahoma coming of age story.
January 30, 2023
I love this book so much that I just finished reading it for the second time. Great story about growing up and applies to any/all generations.
May 6, 2023
Lots of interesting events and testing of friendships as boys journey through high school. Delightful book.
June 21, 2013
This story is about 5 high school members of a golf team in El Viento, Oklahoma during the mid 1960's. Chipper, L.K., Jacob, Buster, and Peachy are friends who chose golf as their sport to letter in. I don't know much about golf, but you don't have to - it's not a sports book. It's more of a coming-of-age story about friends who must pull together to win the state championship. That becomes hard as they deal with love, loss, friendship, fear, triumph, tragedy, and growing up - accurate depictions of teen situations and feelings. I was their age during the mid 1960's so I could relate to most of it. Sometimes funny and sometimes moving. A great read. Beware - there's a fair amount of profanity.
May 5, 2008
A much-needed breath of fresh air after the horrors of Haunted.
It's not quite Stand By Me or any of the other classic coming-of-age novels it's compared to. And it's not a COA, exactly, anyway. Nor is it entirely a sports story. But it is a quiet look at a small town in the '60s (that happens to be in Oklahoma, so gotta love the Bud Wilkinson references) and boys discovering their dreams.
It's worth the time, but nothing groundbreaking (and a pedantic).
It's not quite Stand By Me or any of the other classic coming-of-age novels it's compared to. And it's not a COA, exactly, anyway. Nor is it entirely a sports story. But it is a quiet look at a small town in the '60s (that happens to be in Oklahoma, so gotta love the Bud Wilkinson references) and boys discovering their dreams.
It's worth the time, but nothing groundbreaking (and a pedantic).
December 10, 2008
Chipper, the main character, is one of those kids others are naturally drawn to...he knows others' secrets, which he honors. He strives to be the best, and helps others do the same.
Set in Oklahoma in the 60's and 70's, centered around five friends who play golf at the local country club, and for their high school, this is a wonderful coming of age story. My athletes have loved this, and I, the ultimate NON athlete do, too!
Set in Oklahoma in the 60's and 70's, centered around five friends who play golf at the local country club, and for their high school, this is a wonderful coming of age story. My athletes have loved this, and I, the ultimate NON athlete do, too!
April 2, 2015
3.5 to 4 stars. I found this in a box back when I worked at a used bookstore and grabbed it on the chance that I might like it (which I did a lot in those carefree days of easy access to books galore). I'm glad that I did. While it's not my "usual fare," there's always a certain amount of time in my reading schedule for sports stories, old-timeyness, coming-of-age tales, love and loss and innocence and dreams. And golf. :D
February 24, 2009
The subtitle "It's not about Golf, It's about life" was true. It was kindof like a "Hoosiers" for golf. I thought the characters were accurate and engaging. It was more like a 3.5 for me. I could have done without so many F bombs but other than that, I enjoyed it. Obviously a page turner, I read it in 5 days (that's fast for me!)
March 13, 2023
One of the best books I've ever read. A coming of age book, with a golf story expertly woven in. Masterfully written. A book you'll think of often and read more than once. If you grew up in small town America, you will definitely relate to the story. Hard to believe no one has snatched up the rights and made this book into a movie.
March 22, 2009
A coming of age tale set in Oklahoma in the sixties. Five young men have one goal for their senior year, to win the state golf championship, and must overcome various obstacles to get themselves in position to have a chance.
October 22, 2008
A fun read about more than high school golf in Oklahoma.
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December 30, 2008Curt got me this for Christmas, so I'm just getting started. So far so good!
January 15, 2009
A fun story about a fun time in our nation's history.
September 6, 2011
Too bad. I was really enjoying the writing style and characters, but realized that the amount of swearing I was wading through wasn't worth it. Boo.
July 9, 2009
This novel was a little too dramatic, but the golf related writing was great.
June 18, 2013
Phenomenal story....absolutely loved it.
August 21, 2014
This was a quick and easy read. It was definitely entertaining and even though I don't enjoy golf, I found myself rooting for the team at El Viento.
June 12, 2022
2.5-3 in parts. The book has potential. It is about teens growing up and playing on a high school golf team in the later 1960's.
March 24, 2012
I just couldn't get in to this book - didn't even finish it. Boring!
April 14, 2015
The cover states, "It's not about golf, it's about life." A fun read during Masters Week.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews