Recent Reads: Calico Joe by John Grisham

Calico Joe by John Grisham
Publisher: Doubleday
Publication Date:  April 10, 2012

 

Format: Paperback
Source: From the Library :)

Rating:
 


 


Goodreads Synopsis: 

A surprising and moving novel of fathers and sons, forgiveness and redemption, set in the world of Major League Baseball…


Whatever happened to Calico Joe?

     It began quietly enough with a pulled hamstring. The first baseman for the Cubs AAA affiliate in Wichita went down as he rounded third and headed for home. The next day, Jim Hickman, the first baseman for the Cubs, injured his back. The team suddenly needed someone to play first, so they reached down to their AA club in Midland, Texas, and called up a twenty-one-year-old named Joe Castle. He was the hottest player in AA and creating a buzz.

In the summer of 1973 Joe Castle was the boy wonder of baseball, the greatest rookie anyone had ever seen.  The kid from Calico Rock, Arkansas dazzled Cub fans as he hit home run after home run, politely tipping his hat to the crowd as he shattered all rookie records.

Calico Joe quickly became the idol of every baseball fan in America, including Paul Tracey, the young son of a hard-partying and hard-throwing Mets pitcher. On the day that Warren Tracey finally faced Calico Joe, Paul was in the stands, rooting for his idol but also for his Dad. Then Warren threw a fastball that would change their lives forever…

In John Grisham’s new novel the baseball is thrilling, but it’s what happens off the field that makes CALICO JOE a classic. 

 Review: 
I loved this book so much! This was a blind-date with a book pick from my library for the summer reading program and I am SO happy I got this one. I am a baseball fan and have been forever and this book was wonderful at capturing the emotions that come along with being a sports fan that it was spectacular. 

The book is about a pitcher's son who is recapping some of his childhood but also in modern day trying to get his father to atone for some of his character flaws from those times. Along with that it is the story of baseball, a young boys life, and so much more. I began reading this book not knowing what to expect and within the first few pages found tears in my eyes. 

If you have ever loved a sport you know about the highs and lows that come with it and for me that really brings me back to sports in my life and the emotions with them - this book makes you reminisce.

The main character tells the tale of his father and baseball effortlessly and at times in the style of an announcer and while he isn't and most of the facts and stats are fiction, as a reader you feel like you are there at a game. It was brilliant.