lexiww's review against another edition
4.0
What I don't know about baseball, I make up for in deep experience with small Midwestern colleges and abiding friendships.
What a crew of characters, what a story, what a read.
What a crew of characters, what a story, what a read.
yurugu's review against another edition
1.0
This book starts at 4 maybe 5 stars and then proceeds a slow interminable slog towards 1.
abroadwell's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully engaging. I was hesitant about this, since I don't follow baseball, and don't care much about it. But it is really primarily a 'campus novel', and some of the main characters are baseball players. We have some descriptions of key games, but really the focus is on the psychology of trying to decide who you are and what you want to be. (The essence of what being at a college is about, I guess.)
And even the college president is engaged in the task of trying to figure out who he wants to be. I was particularly impressed that the description of his affair with a student isn't about an old man "letching" on a sweet young thing, but about a real romance between adults.
Lots of nice Melville references, too, for fans of Moby Dick...
And even the college president is engaged in the task of trying to figure out who he wants to be. I was particularly impressed that the description of his affair with a student isn't about an old man "letching" on a sweet young thing, but about a real romance between adults.
Lots of nice Melville references, too, for fans of Moby Dick...
hollydunndesign's review against another edition
4.0
Surprisingly good considering that I have no interest in baseball.
bjls's review against another edition
3.0
Well written with interesting and sympathetic characters. The story felt lighter and fluffier than expected, especially considering how seriously the author wanted us to take the male characters and their MAN RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS. Maybe if I were a man or a baseball fan, I would have enjoyed it more.
david_brent's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
pamiverson's review against another edition
5.0
The best novel about baseball since The Brothers K. Set in a small Midwestern college, with fully realized characters and interesting situations -- I like when I can realize afterwards why the author included certain events that I didn't realize in advance would tie together. Makes me want to re-read Moby Dick and study maps of the fly-over states -- I think this place and the people inhabiting it are going to stay with me for awhile...
fluteplayer7's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I really related to Henry, the main character. Henry is a gifted shortstop who suddenly loses his gift on the field. Anyone who has experienced inexplicable failure will relate to his despair. The setting is Westish College, a midwestern college with a mediocre baseball team. The team is inspired by Schwartz, the team's catcher, who is a a parent, coach and motivator for all of the boys on the team, despite the fact that he has been parentless since he was 14. He is the father figure that he never had. The relationship between Henry and Schwartz is the foundation of the story. The two of them propel this team to win a national title, despite Schwartz relentless physical pain and addiction to painkillers, and Henry's inability to field. It is a story of passion for the game, passion for life and compassion for others. This is the story of how we all get through life.
kaitsteak's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0