0621lauren's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
susanlbussey's review
3.0
I've heard for many years what a wonderful book this is. A sports story of an underdog high school basketball team. I love this sort of plot in a movie or a book.
However:
At 547 pages it is at least 150 pages too long. Although at its core it is a very good plot, I really don't need a play by play of every...single...point...through...every...single...game of the season.
This could have been the script for the director's cut of the movie!
5 stars for the basic plot, -2 stars for making it unbelievably long-winded.
However:
At 547 pages it is at least 150 pages too long. Although at its core it is a very good plot, I really don't need a play by play of every...single...point...through...every...single...game of the season.
This could have been the script for the director's cut of the movie!
5 stars for the basic plot, -2 stars for making it unbelievably long-winded.
attytheresa's review
5.0
Dusty Montana town 'where the blacktop goes to die', a high school basketball team with a 93 game losing streak...you know where this is going. While the plot is pure Hoosiers, Breaking Away, Miracle on Ice, the writing sucks you in and puts you there, in the town, at all the games, in the hearts of the quirky townspeople and the kids. A little on the long side - it's a first novel I think -- but really enjoyable. Title comes from an Crow Indian legend that's explained near the very beginning; don't be put off by it as it is just a metaphor for throwing your heart over the brink. The towns and locations mentioned all actually exist, as did the high school basketball team. I absolutely loved this!
I stumbled on this one from a list of best contemporary fiction set in Montana as I wanted to read a couple before my trip there in September. Definitely a winner and an author I'll read again. Also was able to slot this into 2018 Pop Sugar Reading Challenge as my book involving sports! SWISH!
I stumbled on this one from a list of best contemporary fiction set in Montana as I wanted to read a couple before my trip there in September. Definitely a winner and an author I'll read again. Also was able to slot this into 2018 Pop Sugar Reading Challenge as my book involving sports! SWISH!
aring's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
k5tog's review
3.0
A sports story with a down home feel. Gordon West's language gets a little flowery and over the top at times, and there were too many story lines that had their loose ends all tied up nice and neat by the end of the book. It's o.k. to not have everything turn out right (although I suppose the Grandma story line was left hanging). The story was captivating, though, in the way underdog sports stories often are.
I will probably read another book by Gordon West - which means there was enough about it to like that it overshadowed any negative feelings I have.
I will probably read another book by Gordon West - which means there was enough about it to like that it overshadowed any negative feelings I have.
lindacbugg's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this novel. My only quibble would be that in the last 1/4 there was a little too much play by play of the basketball games but by then I was so invested in the characters and the novel I just let it flow. The story of this small town basketball team and how they overcame adversity and drew together to become a family in the truest sense was just a truly heartwarming and lovely book. I enjoyed spending time with these people and cheered when things were going their way and felt sorrow when they weren't. I found myself sighing alot as I read this one. A good old fashioned story!
ssloeffler's review
5.0
This is one of those beautifully written books that you don't want to finish. I was so invested in the characters by the end that I could have sworn they were real. As a bonus, written by a Mac alum!
thomcat's review against another edition
5.0
Saw a friend's review of this book and decided to give it a try. It fits the categories of historical sports fiction, so I might have found it anyways. Either way, I'm glad I read it.
The author gives complete and evolving descriptions of a town and the inhabitants - every few chapters, a new wrinkle appears in a by now familiar face. A lot of these people started the book downtrodden, branded as "losers" by life or circumstances, or more directly by other basketball teams. This book about casting off those shackles, told through a narrative that I found hard to put down. Definitely recommended.
The author gives complete and evolving descriptions of a town and the inhabitants - every few chapters, a new wrinkle appears in a by now familiar face. A lot of these people started the book downtrodden, branded as "losers" by life or circumstances, or more directly by other basketball teams. This book about casting off those shackles, told through a narrative that I found hard to put down. Definitely recommended.
colls's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this slice-of-life tale about a small town in Montana. Not only were the characters engaging and the story uplifting, I really liked the familiar towns and places outlined in the book. LAND OF MAGIC is a family staple when we visit back home.
This book is really many stories in one, yet all with the same story. It's about fathers and sons, family, loss, hope, miracles and life. Heavy on the metaphors, it still avoids being cliche.
This book is really many stories in one, yet all with the same story. It's about fathers and sons, family, loss, hope, miracles and life. Heavy on the metaphors, it still avoids being cliche.