Rating: 
Summary: Walk Down Memory Lane
Review: I was really surprised to read all of the negative reviews and felt I needed to throw in my two cents.
This book was essentially a group of guys getting together to rehash some of the best and worst memories of their lives. What High School graduate, football player or not, can't relate to that?
It also has dwells on the idea of what if you have already been the greatest you will ever be? Do you spend your life thinking about those times and staying in the past or do you pick yourself back up and figure out how to make your life great again?
It was sentimental and makes no apologies for being so. I thoroughly enjoyed the read, however short and sentimental and would suggest it to anyone who can remember what those past GLORY DAYS were like.
Rating: 
Summary: A real disappoinment
Review: Don't waste your money buying this book. The Grisham name conjures up suspense & court rooms battles. Instead we get a boring read of former high school football stars back in town to mourn the loss of their head coach. While there is some insight into the mentality of "football stars", it was not worth the price - borrow it from a friend or library.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the worst novels by a name writer I've read...
Review: Absolutely awful. Trite, boring, plotless, predictable, and sloppy-sentimental.
Rating: 
Summary: Not really worth it........
Review: As much as I love the work of John Grisham, I was not impressed with this novel. Yes, it is different from his other works but it just didn't devlop that well. Stick to the legal thrillers Mr. Grisham.........
Rating:
Summary: Varsity Blues Copy Cat
Review: I thought this book was very similar to the movie Varsity Blues. Grisham is a talented writer and should be able to come up with original material.
Rating:
Summary: Short, but good
Review: I was glad to see that Grisham had strayed from legal thrillers once again for his next book, especially when I found out tha the subject was football, which I love. I really enjoyed both Skipping Christmas and A Painted House much more than The Bretheren or The Summons. I think Grisham does agood job of painting a picture of a small town obsessed with High School Football. And the characters have just enough depth to be interesting, even if they are a bit one-dimensional. It was intersting to see how the small town life dedictated to football had different effects on characters from different eras, but how they all shared a bond because of their similar experiences playing football. I only had to minor issues while reading the book. First there was some dialogue at the beginning that I thought sounded a little forced, with the characters seeming to talk more to the reader than actually discussing something among themselves. And second, was the convesation between Neely and his old-girlfriend. Most of that I thought didn't make much sense, at least from her perspective. I enjoyed the book and hope Grisham will continue to stray from the legal thrillers in the future, as I think he has a talent for storytelling that transcends that small niche.
Rating:
Summary: Possibly even worse than The Brethren
Review: Just got finished reading Bleachers - it took a little while to get through, even though it's a short book - unlike some of Grisham's other books, like A Time to Kill, The Partner, The Runaway Jury, A Painted House, The Firm, etc. that you just can't put down, this one affected me conversely - - - just couldn't seem to pick it up (but since I paid full price at the bookstore, by God, I was going to get through it!) This book starts off well and is interesting enough to delve into, until about chapter 4 when you realize that there is no story plot. Everyone in the book is just waiting for Coach Rake to die, and the entire book revolves around old football tales and what became of Coach Rake's beloved Spartans who played for him throughout the years. You wait the entire book in (not-so-eager) anticipation to find out what happened to the book's main character, Neely Crenshaw, when he played for Coach Rake in high school. However, once you are let in on the "secret," the reader is left thinking, "THAT'S IT??? THAT'S WHAT I PLODDED THROUGH THIS BOOK TO FIND OUT??" (Too)long story short - everyone finds out that ol' Coach Rake had his shortcomings like everyone else, but ultimately, he was a good old good ol' boy and information that is shared at his funeral allows everyone to forgive what an S.O.B. he had been. Save your money, kids - this one is a disappointment!
Rating:
Summary: if only Grisham had told this in first person narrative
Review: I've read more than a couple of negative reviews of this novel, and I am somewhat surprised. For me, the synopsis on the cover set the tone for what was to follow in this novel: A poignant trip down memory lane. No dramatic build-up with a heady climax...just a bunch of guys sharing a decades-old bond ( this group could almost as easily have been members of a high school marching band, reminiscing about an ultra-strict band director ).
Grisham has actually dared to tread on turf usually reserved for the likes of Pat Conroy and Stephen King ( one can only imagine Tom Clancy attempting something this far off his area of expertise! ). Just a group of guys attempting to recapture some of their high school glory days! It was inevitable that the loved/hated coach was going to die around the end of the novel. Perhaps the "nugget" to be gleaned here ( for any teenagers willing to sit and digest this admittedly brief foray ) is that the brief period of commomality known as our high school years should be savored to the fullest extent, before we all go our inevitably separate ways.
Rating:
Summary: P.U.!!!!
Review: PU! This is one of the worst books I've ever read! What a waste, and I got a free copy! I can't believe this is the same author that wrote Painted House! Don't waste you time or Money!
Rating:
Summary: a sportsfan must read
Review: I too have read the other reviews of this book and I was shocked. First of all, how could anything John Grisham composes be boring? Anyone who has ever played sports, or been part of a team will find this book opens a gateway to the past. The book is a short easy read, but provokes memories that are unique to each person. It made me reflect how much coaches and sports teach us.
| 
