Scan barcode
dentaldiva's review against another edition
2.0
**audio book** The reader of the book was great, the storyline was not. This was a book that was probably a great outline; however did not translate well into a story. Oh well. It was only 4.5 hours, so that's a win!
papamoose23's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
orygunn's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to this book instead of reading it. My recording missed a bit of chapter 3 and 4, but it didn't detract from the story. I loved all the baseball history, stats and information. If someone wasn't into sports, they might find that part overwhelming.
pjkerrison's review against another edition
4.0
If I am being honest, the book took me by surprise. I didn't realize how much I would like it. To me baseball books are all the same. Don't get me wrong, I like them and the fact that they're all the same doesn't really bother me too much. When you love the game, it's perfectly acceptable. But what threw me for a shock was how this book made me feel like I felt when I was 11 years old.
It put me back on my old little league field, the old benches in the dugout with fresh paint, the dirt and gum wrappers on the floor. When I would stand on the mound, my weakling little arm feeling like rubber, six innings in with pitch counts not to be considered for another 25 years or so. Letting up hit after hit and that rare feeling of amazement when I struck someone out. I may not have been all that good at the game, but the game was always faithful, true and honest with me. She was the love of my young life.
I think if I could rate books in terms of baseballs and not stars I would give it five baseballs ... this way those who are like me - men and women who still daydream about playing every spring and summer day of their life - would know this is a baseball book worth reading. Because it is.
But to the rest of the world, I'm not so sure. You can call it a Father-Son book if you want. You wouldn't be wrong to do so. But we all take different things from books, don't we?
It allowed me to have flashbacks of a wonderful childhood when baseball meant everything. It was all that mattered. Batting averages and RBIs, extra base hits and ground balls with eyes; dying quails and drives in the gap. The perfume mixture of a leather baseball glove, Red Man chewing tobacco and pine tar. Oh dear God, I swear to you, if they could bottle that mixture and make it a perfume it would save marriages.
Just the feel of the ball hitting the sweet spot of the bat. When you know you've hit safely in the gap, your confidence as you round first, just like the big leaguer's on television and that slight chance you can stretch it into a double. My God it's so romantic. I just don't know anything else like it.
All of this, and so much more, were the images I conjured up when reading this little story.
Do you love the game? Are you a nerd and daydream about breaking up double plays and unsuspectingly drag bunting a ball down the line when the corners are playing you deep? If you are and if you do, read Calico Joe. It won't take you long to get through, but the memory of it will last for a long time.
It put me back on my old little league field, the old benches in the dugout with fresh paint, the dirt and gum wrappers on the floor. When I would stand on the mound, my weakling little arm feeling like rubber, six innings in with pitch counts not to be considered for another 25 years or so. Letting up hit after hit and that rare feeling of amazement when I struck someone out. I may not have been all that good at the game, but the game was always faithful, true and honest with me. She was the love of my young life.
I think if I could rate books in terms of baseballs and not stars I would give it five baseballs ... this way those who are like me - men and women who still daydream about playing every spring and summer day of their life - would know this is a baseball book worth reading. Because it is.
But to the rest of the world, I'm not so sure. You can call it a Father-Son book if you want. You wouldn't be wrong to do so. But we all take different things from books, don't we?
It allowed me to have flashbacks of a wonderful childhood when baseball meant everything. It was all that mattered. Batting averages and RBIs, extra base hits and ground balls with eyes; dying quails and drives in the gap. The perfume mixture of a leather baseball glove, Red Man chewing tobacco and pine tar. Oh dear God, I swear to you, if they could bottle that mixture and make it a perfume it would save marriages.
Just the feel of the ball hitting the sweet spot of the bat. When you know you've hit safely in the gap, your confidence as you round first, just like the big leaguer's on television and that slight chance you can stretch it into a double. My God it's so romantic. I just don't know anything else like it.
All of this, and so much more, were the images I conjured up when reading this little story.
Do you love the game? Are you a nerd and daydream about breaking up double plays and unsuspectingly drag bunting a ball down the line when the corners are playing you deep? If you are and if you do, read Calico Joe. It won't take you long to get through, but the memory of it will last for a long time.
loonyhiker's review against another edition
3.0
I think that John Grisham should stick to his book involving law. This book was better than his other non-law focused books though.
jeandie_leone's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
cath518's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
4.0
While this is a fiction story and therefore outside my theme for this year of reading true stories, this is about the 1973 season between the Cubs and the Mets. The author has taken liberties with game schedules, rosters, baseball stats and even put in fictional players with real players.
That said, this is the story of a rising rookie baseball player, Joe Castle. He is nicknamed Calico Joe because he is from Calico Rock, Arkansas. He plays for the Cubs and is having a stellar rookie year with adoring fans far and wide, young and old.
One of his young fans is Paul Tracey. Paul's dad, Warren, pitches for the Mets. Paul is in the stands when his dad is pitching to his idol when everything goes horribly wrong.
The story continues with Paul as an adult and has been estranged from his father for years. He learns of his dad's cancer and decides he wants to try to get his dad and Joe together to reconcile.
This is a story about forgiveness, families and baseball. Even if you don't like baseball, it's a quick read and you'll be able to follow along.
That said, this is the story of a rising rookie baseball player, Joe Castle. He is nicknamed Calico Joe because he is from Calico Rock, Arkansas. He plays for the Cubs and is having a stellar rookie year with adoring fans far and wide, young and old.
One of his young fans is Paul Tracey. Paul's dad, Warren, pitches for the Mets. Paul is in the stands when his dad is pitching to his idol when everything goes horribly wrong.
The story continues with Paul as an adult and has been estranged from his father for years. He learns of his dad's cancer and decides he wants to try to get his dad and Joe together to reconcile.
This is a story about forgiveness, families and baseball. Even if you don't like baseball, it's a quick read and you'll be able to follow along.
jodiboe's review against another edition
4.0
Quick, heartwarming read on the face-off between a rising star batter and a mean-spirited pitcher, told from the point of view of the boy caught between the fight, the pitcher's son.
sharkn8do's review against another edition
4.0
7/10, a little self-insertive of the author, feels like he really wishes he could tell off his dad once or twice. Could honestly stand to be about 50-100 pages longer, the ending felt rushed for no reason. Everything wrapped up in too neat of a bow with a little hand waving, given how much buildup there was. I do like the chapters where the author just pretended to be a baseball announcer though.
andrearbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Well, this was a book that hit me in the feels so hard. I wasn't really sure going into a baseball book by John Grisham, and y'all this was fantastic. Yes, it's baseball, but at it's core, it's really about the relationship between a father and a son. It was a quick read, but there was so much emotion packed into this one. And some baseball, too. It had me so captivated.