At the start of last week The Celtic Star published a first review of Matt Corr’s latest Celtic book, Majic Stan and the King of Japan. The review was written by Peter Marshall, who has been a collector and avid reader of Celtic books for many decades. he is one of only two Celtic supporters we know to have a Celtic book collection totally over 400 different published Celtic books published over six decades.
Both were given advance copies of Majic, Stan and the King of Japan and asked to review the book with a freedom to tell it like it is and rate accordingly. Peter was first to read and write up his review and the second review will follow over the next few weeks and will be published on The Celtic Star as submitted.
We would be surprised if anyone else were to come forward and state that they had a collection of Celtic books to rival these two Celtic supporters.
Getting Peter Marshall to review Majic Stan and the King of Japan has had a significant impact on the author himself who was working at Celtic Park this afternoon on Tour Guide duties, where he met some very special fellow Celtic supporters.
“Special moment on the Celtic Park tour today as we’re joined by the family of Jimmy Gribben, the man who suggested we sign Jock Stein and therefore one of the most important men in our history, Jimmy’s grandsons and great grandsons are photographed below,” Matt posted on his social media account.
READ THIS…This is the man who brought Jock Stein to Celtic
This is the man who brought Jock Stein to Celtic…https://t.co/AuWDOL6pOm pic.twitter.com/fUdQeLnj32
— The Celtic Star News Feed (@CelticStarMag) October 29, 2023
Before heading of to Celtic Park today we thought we’d have a chat with Matt to outline get his reaction having now read Peter Marshall’s review of his new book. Before reading what Matt had to say, if you missed Peter’s book review, here it is…
READ THIS…Book Review – ‘Majic, Stan and The King of Japan is Magnificent,’ Peter Marshall
Like most authors Matt was always going to be apprehensive about the reaction to his book when it becomes publicly available and when the first review appears sitting down to read what’s been said can be nerve-wracking to say the least. This time around Matt Corr didn’t have too much to worry about.
“For me the most daunting aspect of writing a book by some distance is the fear that folk won’t enjoy it, and there is that period just after the text, photos, design artwork and the thousand other things that go into making a book a reality have been completed where you await your initial feedback with some dread. I’ve been there this past fortnight,” Matt Corr told The Celtic Star.
“If a job is worth doing then it’s worth doing well, so book reviews should be carried out by those who know their stuff. For Majic, Stan and The King of Japan, Celtic Star Books reached out to two individuals who have every Celtic book ever written, some 400 or so from memory.
“I’ll protect the identity of the second gentleman in question meantime until his work is done, but first to return his verdict was Peter Marshall, a lovely man whom I have had the pleasure of meeting just once, on a stadium tour a few years ago.
“Well, Peter, I have to say that your comments, which I read late last night, absolutely blew me away. Difficult to put into words, if you pardon the bad pun. If I can get Celtic supporters to feel the way Peter did when he read the books, then I have succeeded and all of the hard work, long hours and sacrifices will feel worthwhile. That’s what it’s all about,” Matt said.
“And, curiously perhaps, Peter also found himself in agreement with my lovely wife, as she has also been saying for some time now that I should stop writing, although I don’t recall the specific review which prompted that comment!!
“Anyway, kidding and joking aside, I am absolutely thrilled that Peter has enjoyed reading my third Celtic book and I hope that his review encourages others to enjoy the story of Gordon Strachan’s remarkable first season as the manager of Celtic.”
Matt Corr’s new book Majic, Stan and the King of Japan is out now and you can get a signed copy of the hardback version direct from Celtic Star Books by clicking on the image below. It’s also available an an e-book via Amazon Kindle and please note that all colour photographs that appear in the beautifully presented printed hardback book are also available in the Kindle version of Majic, Stan and the King of Japan…
