A review by literally_adele
Blockade Billy by Stephen King

hopeful medium-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

3.0

 

Blockade Billy by Stephen King is a novella, written in first-person, that blends elements of horror and baseball. The story is narrated by George "Granny" Grantham, the manager of the New Jersey Titans baseball team, and relates the tale of Blockade Billy Blakely, a talented but mysterious young catcher who joins the team in 1957. There are illustrations scattered throughout the book, which I liked. They were simple sketches, but they added a certain charm to the narrative and provided visual cues for some of the baseball scenes. 

One aspect I loved about this book was the framing of the story as if it were being told to King by an old man. It created a sense of intimacy, as though the old man were sharing a personal memory, and added a layer of authenticity to the storytelling, making the characters and events feel more real. However, as someone who doesn't know much about baseball, many of the descriptions and references went over my head, which left me wishing for a bit more context or explanation. Admittedly, the target audience at the time would have been American and at least passingly familiar with the game. 

One of the novella's strengths is King's ability to create a sense of suspense and tension. However, being acquainted with King's distinctive style, I found myself anticipating certain twists and turns. It didn't detract entirely from the experience, but it did temper some of the suspense. 

Overall, I didn't enjoy this book as much as it probably deserves. I loved the writing, as I always do with Stephen King. He's a phenomenal writer with an ability to draw the reader deep into the minds of the characters. Unfortunately, I have little knowledge, and no interest, in baseball, so I didn't often understand a lot of what was going on. I reckon baseball fans would probably enjoy this more than I did.