MacMillan

[Icntoan]

OK -at the risk of being shot down in flames I wonder if anyone would be kind enough to comment on the following. I am really stuck on number 7. Which book has the opening line "I stood in the centre-circle of the almost empty stadium at Stuttgart, fearful and very tearful".
Please note I do NOT require an answer thanks but I would like to know if anyone has managed to get a definite answer by using the internet alone. I have spent hours googling, have been in numerous bookshops but to no avail and quite frankly it is sending me mad!. At least if I know someone has found the answer on the internet I know I am potentially not wasting my time. Any thoughts gratefully received even if it is just to say that I am not alone! Thanks.

[Postdog]

I found it in one second - ever heard of google?

[Icntoan]

Can't you read!

[spitza]

i found it on google with no problem

[Postdog]

Can't you?. I had no idea, just using your question, a bit of cut and paste, and google, I got it in one second - literally the first hit.

[Icntoan]

Thanks Spitza. I do get a hit with Google but only questions on fun trivia and answerbank which I don't believe are correct. Are you managing to get anything else?

[galasalmon]

is it book thief by Markus Suzak

[ladyalex]

I've been googling it too and all I can get are the same questions on fun and trivia and the answerbank as Inctoan has. One of the answerers on the answerbank is very, very sure that the answers given are wrong.

[ladyalex]

The Book Thief has been given as an answer before and someone is sure that that answer is wrong.

[Icntoan]

Thanks Lady Alex- so I haven't completely lost the plot just yet. I don't think it is the Book Thief as I have seen an extract of that and it doesn't appear to be correct but thank you for the suggestion. I'll keep perserving for a bit longer!

[dundurn]

I'm not doing this or any other quiz, so I'm unbiased as far as it goes. I've employed my usual range of tricks to dig something out of my favourite search engines but I found no conclusive answer for you. All the answers other people have given have been knocked back, I'm presuming for good reason.

As to clues, my best lead to follow up would be a football autobiography which came out in the second half of last year; neither a player nor a manager (hint). The author definitely had a difficult match in Stuttgart and might well have been feeling a bit emotional in the centre-circle at the end of the game. Haven't checked it out, yet, but I will tomorrow.

[Icntoan]

Thank you Dundurn. I have been going down the football autobiography route but unfortunately none of the ones on display hit the spot. I have also been trying to think outside the box- could the cnetre-circle be misleading!. A friend suggested athletics as their is an athletics track there. If it is a novel I really haven't got a clue!

[Icntoan]

Dundurn- I think you could be right! Thanks for the tip.

[Ivorbiggun]

The answer to this question could be crucial to the quiz. I suggest that, if you do find it, you keep it to yourself.

[doogied]

Icntoan,aren't you brave!! When I posted the question on the macmillan quiz, I had more than 50 replies, mostly from people who don't want anyone else to solve the clues.
I have googled questions 47 and 49 for HOURS without any success but I wonder if anyone will want to give CLUES now after all the sad complaints about the site.

[Icntoan]

Hi Doogied. I just had to ask if anyone had found this answer because like you I have spent hours looking and I just kept hitting my head against a brick wall. You'll note that I didn't even ask for a clue (not brave enough to do that!) I just wan't some reassurance really that I wasn't alone. If and when I find an answer I shall be keeping it to myself as I do agree that it is not fair to give answers away freely here. Clues are one thing but answers are another. I feel another trip to the bookshop coming on! Good luck

[smouse]

Of you think you know who it is just google that with the phrase and it does come up
It'll save you going to the book shop

[spitza]

it is a well known footballer he is still playing
just go into google type in i stood in the centre circle etc it will come up

[edward d]

How many of you who keep posting answers for this quiz has ever won a cash prize, if you have not i wonder why but i am sure if you post the question someone will tell you.

[Icntoan]

Thanks for the supportive comments. I'll try your suggestion Smouse. I'm starting to get strange looks in the bookshop!

[Icntoan]

By the way Edward D- I definitely DO NOT want to be told the answer and therefore I shall not be posting a request for one.