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The Day It Matters

By Troy Patoine

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Overview

Tom Atherton never won a cross-country race. He was never even the top runner on his high school team. One day a friend of the family will give Tom a piece of advice that will be his mantra for the rest of his life…especially on the day it matters.
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Description

For any potential high school athlete who thought he or she wasn't good enough, athletic enough, or big enough, "The Day It Matters" will inspire him or her to realize that with hard work, and the determination to give it their best--every day, especially on the day it matters, even the impossible can become possible. The story, "The Day It Matters," is based on a true story about a young boy who dreams about being a baseball player for his local high school team. As time goes by for "tiny" Tom Atherton, and after a lesson that he learns about the politics of sports, he quickly realizes that fate may have other things in store for him. With the helpful advice of several family friends, a lot of great coaching from a mentor who will be a constant presence and influence in Tom's life, he will pave the road of his own personal destiny that will shape him and others who follow him...especially on the day it matters.
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About The Author

Troy Patoine was raised and resides in New Hampshire and is a graduate of Keene State College. He is the author of Red Moon, a finalist for science fiction book of the year for both ForWord Magazine and USA Book News, and Nalapazoo. In this, his third novel, Troy tells the story of Tom Atherton: A boy who dreamed of becoming a baseball player but instead ended up on a journey that not only defined his future, but would define and inspire future generations. The author is always working on a new novel.
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Book details

  • Genre:biography & autobiography
  • Sub-genre:Sports
  • Language:English
  • Pages:356
  • Hardcover ISBN:9798317802486

Book Reviews

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Troy
Readers' Favorite-Jamie Michele Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers’ Favorite The Day It Matters by Troy Patoine follows Thomas Atherton, a retired runner, on a fateful morning when he finds himself in an unexpected rupture in time. As the miles accumulate in a sustained run, moments from Tom’s life surface through motion and dialogue, shaped by running as a lifelong constant. Running becomes the structure through which his experiences continue, carrying him through relationships formed over decades, plus the marks left by mentorship, then marriage. The book traces a man proceeding step by step through a single day that reframes his life in a series of visuals, but he is unaware of where the route he is running truly leads. “Was it really possible that for Tom, running had become more than a sport—an extension of his developing persona, even a primary interface with the world?” Troy Patoine’s The Day It Matters is literary fiction that I initially picked up as a former D1 track and cross country runner, but fell in love with a story that would have touched me the same way had the protagonist, Tom, been rowing a boat. Patoine has created Tom as a person who feels completely real and whose decency comes across as authentic. His kindness shines through his habits, some relatable and others less so, his gentle jokes, and his devotion to the community. His modesty limits any self-recognition, but he finds renewal when he accepts how others have carried him forward. It's an arc that Patoine develops well, alongside settings that have tactile detail. Pleasant Lake glows through deck conversations, steam, and dusk light, while the misted roadside and Memorial Field scene are hauntingly atmospheric. Overall, this is a tenderly written, literary story that is well worth the read. Very highly recommended. Read more