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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
So for the book that Field of Dreams is based on I was expecting to like it more. Not that I didn’t enjoy it, honestly it was fun to read, but it’s the perfect example of my 3-3.5⭐️ rating criteria of “I liked it, but…”; in this case the “but” is all the stuff that was stripped from the story for the movie. It’s interesting but it also made the book feel a lot more meander-y, like taking the scenic route on a road trip. It’s nice, but sometimes you just want to get there faster. I honestly don’t think I would have had this same issue had I not seen the movie, but also my love of the movie is the only reason I picked this up (and book club, but I picked this for book club for the aforementioned reason). Still solid? I’ll be a little generous and round to 3.5⭐️
Kinsella's novel probably isn't as good as the film classic, but his creation is a thoroughly original and magical must read for baseball fans.
This was a whimsical, charming story suffused with love: love of baseball, family, friendship, dreams. It’s gentle and kind.
Kinsella also writes beautifully eg The lights dim, making cooling sounds like icicles breaking. The rest of the mirage retreats slowly, like a boat sailing into a fogbank. The voices of the ballplayers merge with a silky rustling of the cornstalks.
Kinsella also writes beautifully eg The lights dim, making cooling sounds like icicles breaking. The rest of the mirage retreats slowly, like a boat sailing into a fogbank. The voices of the ballplayers merge with a silky rustling of the cornstalks.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
How Field of Dreams can be so emotionally present when its source material was this book is a mystery to me. Even without the classless inclusion of the very real and notoriously reclusive J.D. Salinger, the heavy-handed racism, and the sexist portrayal of women, Shoeless Joe just isn't a well-written book. Interesting concept, incredibly poor execution.
I really enjoyed this book. An easy read with a lovely story - maybe even a little magical. It's been several years since I've watched FOD, so I think that will be in the queue soon. Recommended.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Shoeless Joe by WP Kensella
Is ghostly
One of my attempts this year with my reading is to reread books that I read for school. To see if these classics and novels that I had to consume and ruminate on for conversations and essays really stood up to my memory. Or if simply have a dynamic teacher that showered me in praise biased my experience the novels.
Shoeless Joe was a book we read after Catcher and the Rye but I can’t remember if it was the same year when I was 15 or the next when I was 16. I’m thinking the later, which means I read it over 21 years ago. The most I remember from it was the general plot, Salinger, the scandal, shoeless Joe and the part where the twins get hard to measure themselves finding no difference between them.
I remembered the big parts, not all. And I found it interesting but slightly less catchy as I remember it. Much of it sounds like a man wholey in love with his wife, and completely clueless about what the true messages are. I remember the father aspect being a surprise but it’s right there from the start. Same with his brother, his landlord, everything. It is clear as day! But he get thrown on these random tangents.
The book is largely boring, more so if like me you care not for baseball, but it’s also engrossing. You feel so many emotions. I still cried at Moonlight coming off the field.
This book is for anyone that likes magical realism, ghost stories, Salinger or baseball.
I was always going to love a book that believes baseball and Iowa are mystical
There wasn't anything wrong with this book, per se... I just didn't think it was that great. I feel somewhat indifferent. It was fine. I'm also not a huge baseball fan? So maybe that's why I wasn't loving it. I liked the relationship between Ray and Annie, and I remember enjoying that in the movie, too. Kinsella likes to use similes and metaphors, too. So there's that. Yeah. The end!