Book Review: "Calico Joe"

Book Description:

Whatever happened to Calico Joe? — It began quietly enough with a pulled hamstring. The first baseman for the Cubs AAA affiliate in Wichita went down as he rounded third and headed for home. The next day, Jim Hickman, the first baseman for the Cubs, injured his back. The team suddenly needed someone to play first, so they reached down to their AA... more » club in Midland, Texas, and called up a twenty-one-year-old named Joe Castle. He was the hottest player in AA and creating a buzz.

In the summer of 1973 Joe Castle was the boy wonder of baseball, the greatest rookie anyone had ever seen. The kid from Calico Rock, Arkansas dazzled Cub fans as he hit home run after home run, politely tipping his hat to the crowd as he shattered all rookie records.

Calico Joe quickly became the idol of every baseball fan in America, including Paul Tracey, the young son of a hard-partying and hard-throwing Mets pitcher. On the day that Warren Tracey finally faced Calico Joe, Paul was in the stands, rooting for his idol but also for his Dad. Then Warren threw a fastball that would change their lives forever…

In John Grisham’s new novel the baseball is thrilling, but it’s what happens off the field that makes CALICO JOE a classic.

My thoughts:

It has been a LONG time since I have read a John Grisham book.  I was a little burned out on law books, and lost touch of what he was writing.  I noticed a blurp on facebook from a friend that he really enjoyed it so I thought I would give it a try.

While reading it it brought back some memories of when I was a little girl.  My dad and I loved to watch baseball and I started collecting baseball cards.  I lost interest in baseball when he passed away when I was 11.  So right away I was enjoying it as it brought me back to my childhood - happy times.

I enjoyed the book.  I certainly did not have the relationship like the one Paul had with his father, and it was amazing at his feelings for his father.  But those feelings played out so much in the story.  I liked the back story then the current story.  Usually I get confused, but Mr. Grisham has a way of doing that so you as a reader do not get lost in the story.

If you are looking for a book that is not your normal genre of book (IE I love romance, cozies and mysteries) that give this one a try.  Or if you are a Grisham fan, you will surely love this one as well.

Happy Reading!