liked better than the hustler

I still like Walter Tevis too much! When will someone write his bio?
I like this better than The Hustler, even tho I'd spent far too long waiting for the Tom Cruise character to (not) show up. Watching Minnesota Fats play again, even in my mind's eye, was great and quite interesting how he was woven back into the story (!roseate spoonbills - awesome!) and a 50 year-old Eddie Felsen has matured but not really softened. This story takes us through a much better romance than we witness in the first book and much less alcoholism and dirty pool halls. But as they keep reminding us, the game has changed.
I'd never known how much I didn't know about pool (and billiards) but Tevis describes the rules and games in colourful, perfect detail, bringing those safe shots, the bank shots, and remarkable money shots to life in his simple fashion I've so grown to love.
Arabella is a neat character one can't help but question and yet adore. I still can't quite figure out her role in the story, other than foil perhaps, and certainly love interest keeping Eddie and his development on the edge and constantly growing. Maybe that's it: perhaps she's there to keep him alive and still kicking. Her being English and honestly curious, which I kept thinking was an act, may be just what Eddie needed.
No spoilers, but I'll recommend this one (even with the misspelled Colour in the title) to anyone with some time to kill. It's not going to change the world, but it didn't make me feel miserable either. I take that as a win and hope you might enjoy it too.
Do cry with me when the quilts get... oh, you'll see - it's tragic.

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