Shoeless Joe

Rating:
Summary: Good Movie! Great Book!
Review: Do not dismiss this book if you have seen the movie, Field of Dreams with Kevin Costner. The book provides a much richer, poetical experience. Open this book and read a sentence, a paragraph, a page . . . the lyrical writing just strikes a chord inside. If you are looking for high adventure go back to Michael Crichton, page-turning see Grisham but if you want to read a fine writer who creates a world of its own on every page read Shoeless Joe. Baseball and farming and fathers and sons are addressed in such a way that makes you believe that your dreams can come true. This is one book where you will enjoy every word

Rating:
Summary: Glove oil and leather, and Freshly cut grass
Review: W.P Kinsella. Shoeless Joe. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1982. 265 pp. $22.95.

When was the last time you tumbled onto cool, moist grass, looked up at the robin's-egg blue sky, and imagined that the clouds were forming shapes of various animals? Or the last time you felt total freedom while lifting yourself skyward on an old tree swing, back when summer never seemed to end?

These and many more childhood memories will come alive while reading Shoeless Joe. W.P. Kinsella's fictional accounting centers on baseball legend Joe Jackson, one of the Chicago "Black" Sox 8, who was permanently banned from baseball. Joe's magical appearance in an Iowa cornfield initiates a journey for main character Ray Kinsella, to not only fulfill his dreams, but those of many extraordinary characters, too.

At first glance, the book is about baseball and Ray's journey to fulfill the request of the voice, "If you build it, he will come." But as Ray ventures across the country the reader begins to sense that, as in The Wizard of Oz, anything is possible, simply by believing. As the plot develops, Ray's acceptance of the mystical, almost religious aspects of baseball, allows the reader to revisit dreams from his own past, too. Ray says, "Your secret dreams grow over the years like apple seeds sown in your belly...sprout through your skin, gentle and soft and wondrous, and they breathe and have a life on their own...."

Though most of the characters are as refreshing as a Popsicle or as rich as a Fudgsicle on a summer's day, Ray's wife, Annie is far too loving and weak. Female readers, in particular, may have difficulty connecting to Annie's life, with her lack of protest when her husband plans to plow under their crops to construct a ball-field. But, many readers can relate to Ray's efforts directed toward repairing his relationship with his dad, and may realize how profoundly this book mirrors their own relationships, too.

Upon deeper reflection, a reader realizes the importance of Moonlight Graham's statement that "hardly anybody recognizes the most significant moments of their life at the time they happen." While reading this book, a reader may experience a deep desire to turn back the hands of time for a chance to relive his childhood, or to take back words spoken in anger, or to reawaken in the arms of a love from long ago.

The story rides on dialogue, rhythmically slow like baseball, as Ray tiptoes beyond the realm of this world. Threading the timelessness of baseball throughout the book suggests immortality to the reader, as Ray tries to answer the question "Is this Heaven." The reader is drawn in and realizes that looking at this world is not the same as seeing it. Miracles happen everyday and can be taken for granted when viewed only with the eyes, and not appreciated with the heart, as well. Sacred events of planting and harvesting fertile farmland, the changing seasons, and the glorious birth of children are connected to the repeating cycle of baseball.

Author W.P. Kinsella's strength is mastery of the metaphor, with similes stunning our senses with vivid descriptions, conjuring up precise, almost tangible images. He writes, " Moonlight butters the whole Iowa night. Clover and corn smells are thick as syrup." A reader can almost taste a big stack of pancakes. W.P. Kinsella draws in the reader with the familiarity of baseball, while challenging him to rekindle his dream. Each time a batter is up in Shoeless Joe, the renewal of hope hangs as crisp and fresh as sheets on the line to dry. When Ray's twin brother, Richard, returns to the family, and J.D Salinger is reunited with his first love, the reader comes away believing that it is truly possible to start over again.

Like meeting an old friend at a favorite ballpark, the reader can escape the routine of schedules and deadlines, while enjoying this book based on a summer ritual. W.P. Kinsella satisfies the reader with a significant amount of baseball facts, sifted through the Chicago scandal. He successfully concludes when the reader's nostrils are filled with nostalgia of glove oil and leather, freshly cut grass, and home-baked apple pie. Kathie Mueller

Rating:
Summary: how the world wishes it were true
Review: what more can i say what an awesome story. easy read. you could really start to beleive its true

Rating:
Summary: Crazy about Baseball in Iowa
Review: Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella is an inspiring story of Ray Kinsella, a not-so-typical farmer from Iowa who just loves baseball. One day while he's out in his cornfield, he hears the voice of a baseball announcer say, "If you build it, he will come." Like a vision from a crystal ball, he realises and sees that "he" is Shoeless Joe Jackson, and "it" is a baseball field. Although he's called crazy by the rest of the town, his daughter and wife stand beside him. The voice, and Shoeless Joe keep him motivated as they lead him on a journey all across USA to fufill his dreams.
Shoeless Joe is a beautifully written story about going for your dreams, the American way, and remembering true values of life. It's a great book, and it's truly inspiring. I recommend you to BUY BUY BUY!

Rating:
Summary: ORDER IT--IT WILL COME
Review: As an author with my debut novel in its initial release, I sincerely admire SHOELESS JOE by W.P. Kinsella. This novel was made into the famous film FIELD OF DREAMS, perhaps the greatest film about baseball (or was it about America?)ever made. I prefer SHOELESS JOE to FIELD OF DREAMS. I saw the film first, and when I read the book, I was impressed by the increased depth to SHOELESS JOE. The novel blends fantasy and reality in a story that is simple yet complex. It tells the tale of Ray Kinsella who plows down his crops because he hears a voice that tells him to. Shoeless Joe Jackson, his Black Sox teammates, Ray's father, and other athletes mystically arrive on this makeshift playing field. The reclusive (and we assume dreamer) J.D. Salinger also becomes involved in the plot. In SHOELESS JOE, W.P. Kinsella takes an inventive story line and uses it in support of the strongest of all possible themes. This novel is great. Order it--it will come.

Rating:
Summary: Shoeless Joe
Review: America's past time is baseball. This wonderful game has influenced millions of people in the U.S. and around the world. The novel, Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella, is a memorable story about America's pastime. This novel is inspired by the famous 1919 "Black Sox" scandal. The "Black Sox" scandal occurred when the 1919 American League champions the Chicago White Sox threw the series because they had made wagers on the game. America was shocked, and the entire team was banned from baseball for life. One of these eight was the "Black Sox" left fielder, Shoeless Joe Jackson. Ray Kinsella, the protagonist, thinks Shoeless Joe was innocent and hopes because he was his childhood hero can keep the innocence in baseball. Ray builds a baseball field because he his is told by his idol growing up, Shoeless Joe, "If you build it he will come". Another person who wishes to keep baseball innocent is Moonlight Graham; a former New York giant who became a doctor but played only one inning in the big leagues. He decides to play with the other "Black Sox" in the baseball field. Ray also thinks Moonlight Graham is innocent. Archie (Doc) Graham is called by Shoeless Joe to play baseball with the Black Sox. J.D. Salinger who published Catcher in the Rye a book that also heavily emphasizes innocence, is a character in Shoeless Joe. Salinger discusses the days growing up when he and his father used to watch baseball games at the Polo Grounds. . Salinger eventually leaves to another world to go play baseball at the Polo Grounds. The Polo Grounds are symbol for innocence for Salinger because he was a child then. "I don't have to tell you that the one constant thought through all the years has been baseball. America has been erased like a blackboard, only to be rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked time with America has rolled by like a procession of steamrollers. It is the same game the Moonlight Graham played in 1905. It is a living part of history, like calico dresses, stone crockery, and threshing crews eating at outdoor tables. It continually reminds us of what once was, like an Indian-head penny in a handful of new coins." (pg. 213) Innocence is the main theme in this metaphorical novel.
Shoeless Joe, a historical fiction novel, is written with many alternate meanings to baseball. This novel discusses that you lose your innocence when you grow up. It also shows what crazy things people will do to follow there dream; in this case to watch his child hood hero play his favorite game. No one or anything can destroy Ray's dream of watching the "Black Sox" play America's pastime not the people that think he is crazy not that he is on the verge of losing his farm. You do not have to be a baseball fan to enjoy Shoeless Joe because of its many alternate meanings. This riveting novel of following your dream is suitable for all ages but I think it will have more meaning to adults because they will know what it is like to lose their innocence as a result of growing up. This informative and moving novel I highly recommend reading Shoeless Joe.

Rating:
Summary: Shoelss Joe
Review: If anyone grew up watching baseball with their dad, they know all about Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Shoeless Joe and the other great ball player of the last century. This book captures growing up with the great American past time and being completely in love with it, even if you can't play so well. You are kept interested the whole way through with stories about J.D. Salinger and the old time baseball players. Even if the book is almost completely fiction it is any baseball or liturature fans dream come true. You get a chance to feel like you have met your heroes and know more about them. W. P. kinsella ties in life lessons with his story and this book should definately be read by all high school students, because it is the apitome of the American dream.

Rating:
Summary: Baseball and Family Ties
Review: Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella; Mariner Books, 1982:

If one is patient, persistent, and has faith, even the wildest dreams can come true. This is captured in the magical novel, Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella, about baseball where anything goes. The first publication was in 1982 and was adapted in 1989 into the famous movie, Field of Dreams. "If you build it, he will come." These are the mysterious words Ray Kinsella, a farmer from Iowa, hears from a baseball park announcer that leads him to make a baseball field in his cornfield. Ray, a White Sox fan, hopes his hero, Shoeless Joe, will give him the honor of playing on his field. Unbeknownst to Ray, the mysterious words also refer to his father and brother. Ray's following missions lead him to meet a host of characters which include J.D. Salinger, Archibald "Moonlight" Graham, and the oldest living Chicago Cub, "Kid" Scissons. I find the story to be farfetched, but if you let go of reality, you will find an interesting, compelling novel of a dreamer.
Ray inherited a love for baseball from his father, a person he wishes to have known better. He grew up with baseball and of course, the White Sox. "Instead of nursery rhymes, I was raised on the story of the Black Sox Scandal, and instead of Tom Thumb or Rumpelstiltskin, I grew up hearing of the eight disgraced ballplayers." There are two other loves in Ray's life. One is his family, which includes his wife Annie and daughter Karin. The other is Iowa. This is how Ray describes his beloved Iowa: "Moonlight butters the whole Iowa...Clover and corn smells are thick as syrup. I experience a tingling like the tiniest of electric wires touching the back of my neck, sending warm sensation through me." In W.P. Kinsella's intricate writing many memorable characters are woven in.
The second time the ballpark announcer speaks to Ray, he says, "Ease his pain." Immediately, Ray knows that the announcer is speaking of J.D. Salinger. Ray travels across the country to find the reluctant writer. This then leads to helping "Moonlight" Graham, a player who only played one inning in the major leagues and wishes for one more game. Eventually, Ray takes Kid Scissons under his wing and helps this passionate baseball lover. Ray is able to fulfill a life long dream of Kid Scission's. Kinsella's writing is fluid, imaginative and depictive.
W.P. Kinsella is a master story teller whose stories are deceptively simple. He takes a simple farmer with a love for baseball and makes an interesting plot of magic and family ties. This book is about family relationship just as much as baseball. Ray is able to learn the truth and resolve his own problems through baseball. The story is not one easily forgotten but it was hard for me buy in to the magic of the book.
The author knows the ins and outs of America's favorite pastime. He relates compelling facts and a give the reader a genuine feel for the game. A person with no preconception of baseball could understand and become interested in the sport. This book could make anyone want to cheer on the home team. Here is one of many passages that gives an aurora to baseball. "Take in everything!.. Look! Look at the yellow neon running up the foul poles. You won't see that anywhere else in the majors. Watch the players, white against green like froth on waves of ocean, Look around at the fans, count their warts just as they count ours; look at them waddle and stuff their faces and cheer with their mouths full. We're not just ordinary people, we're a congregation. Baseball is a ceremony... a ritual." The magic of this novel and of baseball is something that will stick with the reader long after finishing the book.
-C. Wilson

Rating:
Summary: A beautiful poetic fable. Ten stars if you love baseball.
Review: For those of us who love baseball, who love the history of baseball, this book explains ourselves to ourselves. You will have complete and total empathy with the majority of the characters populating this tale.
If you don't "get" baseball, this book may provide some insight.

Mr. Kinsella has written a highly original story, written so well some passages seem to sing, that addresses such human conditions as parental loss, unreserved trust, unquestioning love.
And baseball.
The line between reality and fiction is playfully drawn. The author and the protagonist have the same last name. J.D. Salinger and Shoeless Joe are real people.

The action such that it is centers around a magical ballfield created in the midst of a small Iowa farm.
The book is filled with so many wonderful moments that listing them would be insulting to the book.

If you're familiar with the film, "Field of Dreams", then you know the story...but the book is so much fuller. Richer. They actually complement each other well.

This is a perfect book to read during this time of year...

Rating:
Summary: Uggghhhh
Review: I liked the movie "Field of Dreams", and I think there's a lot of good stuff here. But the writing is just horrible most of the time. Way too overblown. The main character is much more of a fanatic that he was in the movie. Also, every time this guy talks about his wife, it's like fingernails slowly running down a chalk board. It's the prose equivalent of having to sit there while a couple makes out in front of you and make kissy faces at each other. Yes, we understand that you think she's the sexiest thing in a pair of jeans. We get it already.