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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
I wanted to give it four stars when he had Duke beat Louisville (my alma mater), and again near the end because I was so dang upset, but I couldn't give it less than five. Grisham has done it again, this time in another court - a timeless story of perseverance, and the bittersweet nature of life.
It’s been very very long time since I’ve read a John Grisham book. This was not a legal thriller but Grisham’s knack for storytelling still shined. I’m not a basketball fan, so at times some of the game details got thick but they never lasted too long. Sometimes, it felt like I was almost reading a memoir. It felt real, and well researched. I certainly did not predict the way the story would turn out (probably the authors intention) and it left me kind of unsettled and aching for something different (probably the authors intention). But I guess that’s a commentary on life and how it doesn’t always go how we think it will or want it to.
Anyway, I thought it was a good story.
Anyway, I thought it was a good story.
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
For the most part, this was a typically good book from Grisham that was a switch from his legal fiction. My only argument was that the book seems to go very slow as we see every aspect of the characters' lives, and then once the climax happens the rest of the story gets slammed through in a hurry. I think the pacing could have been better.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Murder, War
Minor: Rape
I'm not an avid sports fan so I was reluctant with Sooley, a story about a young basketball talent from South Sudan.
GR friend Tim, referred this book as his "favorite Grisham ever" so obviously I have to give it a chance. I love Grisham legal thrillers in general and this is my first sport story by him.
I'm glad I decided to read it, although I haven't a single clue what's going on during basketball games, but Sooley is character driven and I enjoyed the story, a human story.
GR friend Tim, referred this book as his "favorite Grisham ever" so obviously I have to give it a chance. I love Grisham legal thrillers in general and this is my first sport story by him.
I'm glad I decided to read it, although I haven't a single clue what's going on during basketball games, but Sooley is character driven and I enjoyed the story, a human story.
The book was fine until the plot twist. Why he says at the beginning of the book that he will never see his father when in reality he will never see his family again. And the sister?? She is kidnapped, and she is no longer mentioned.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
emotional
inspiring
sad
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:
Complicated
I loved the first 300 pages of this book, then he makes a HUGE sudden, unexpected, and unpleasant plot twist that just lost me. I would've given it 4-5 stars before (in spite of the ridiculously quick rise-to-fame, beating-the-big-names basketball tournament), but the plot change ruined it for me. I guess it ended rather happily in the end, but I could barely get through the last 60+ pages, I was so upset.