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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
I enjoyed this book-different than most of his books but still very readable. I liked the twists and turns.
I was at first excited to read this and as a sports fan, especially college basketball, thought it would be great. However, I found the ending somewhat stereotypical and left me disappointed in the 10 page wrap up of loose ends. Best synopsis I could give without spoilers.
I never pass up a Grisham. I’m an avid sports fan, especially College sports, so this was a win-win for me. I found this piece of fiction to be
I'm a Grisham fan of his legal and court procedurals, and, so, I naturally assumed that his newest novel would be one, despite the book's description.
I kept wondering if the Cinderella-type story would have a downside (was nothing bad going to happen to the protag?), and in would walk Grisham's legal eagles who would save the protag from himself and the American justice system. That doesn't happen.
Grisham does give us a picture of the horrible atrocities that the South Sudanese people have suffered during the civil war strife their country endures, and lets us in on illegal ways that some refugees are extradited from refugee camps. Is helping the South Sudanese refugees Grisham's cause? Is that why his book's secondary plot evolves around the refugees' plight?
Sadly, what this book proves to me is that if you are a prodigious best-selling author, you can get anything published.
I kept wondering if the Cinderella-type story would have a downside (was nothing bad going to happen to the protag?), and in would walk Grisham's legal eagles who would save the protag from himself and the American justice system. That doesn't happen.
Grisham does give us a picture of the horrible atrocities that the South Sudanese people have suffered during the civil war strife their country endures, and lets us in on illegal ways that some refugees are extradited from refugee camps. Is helping the South Sudanese refugees Grisham's cause? Is that why his book's secondary plot evolves around the refugees' plight?
Sadly, what this book proves to me is that if you are a prodigious best-selling author, you can get anything published.
The whole time I was reading it, I didn’t feel connected to the characters. The only people I felt anything for was the sister and the mother over in Sudan. It read more like a news article than a story. The ending wasn't surprising. No lessons were learned. The cycle continues. (I also probably didn't like this because I don't agree with the sports industry, but I found this book on a best-coming-of-age-novels list. Go figure, considering the ending.)
⭐️4 for me! Sometimes the play by play of basketball was a little slow for me, but I can see for a bigger sports fan how it would be great.
I loved the characters so much. I loved Sooley - his grit, fierce love and care for family and friends, modest personality, and his drive for the game.
I loved the characters so much. I loved Sooley - his grit, fierce love and care for family and friends, modest personality, and his drive for the game.
This is an endearing story, a story of compassion, survival, dedication, friendship, family, love, with an added dose of history (of South Sudan). I was deeply moved.
This is not about basketball. Basketball is a diversion, and in that sense, it is a pity that it covers so much of the book. If you enjoy basketball, specially competitive college basketball with all that it entails, you’ll enjoy even more this novel. However, most of the time I got lost in the esoteric, detailed, description of each play, in each game. I got lost in the jargon. Just too much detail that didn’t add to the story. A diversion. But clearly one written by someone passionate about the sport.
Having said that, you should read the novel, whether or not you enjoy basketball.
This is not about basketball. Basketball is a diversion, and in that sense, it is a pity that it covers so much of the book. If you enjoy basketball, specially competitive college basketball with all that it entails, you’ll enjoy even more this novel. However, most of the time I got lost in the esoteric, detailed, description of each play, in each game. I got lost in the jargon. Just too much detail that didn’t add to the story. A diversion. But clearly one written by someone passionate about the sport.
Having said that, you should read the novel, whether or not you enjoy basketball.
Far be it from me to tell John Grisham about synecdoche, alliteration, metaphor, a turn of phrase that soars, or a few words strung together that break your heart. He’s written 6783 books and I have written none. Right? Evidently, what the world needs to know about Sudanese civil war and basketball greatness can be told, in a completely linear fashion, with nothing but narrative —oops!—I meant nothing but net. Listen (and we did, on LibroFM)….he spins a good yarn. We were entertained. And no animals were hurt , etc.etc.