Bleachers

Rating:
Summary: Not your usual John Grisham
Review: This is not your usual John Grisham novel. There is a lawyer and a judge, but they are totally insignificant characters that have no effect on the story. Girsham left his law books at home on this one and picked up a football.

BLEACHERS is a trip down memory lane. It's onoe of those "you can't go home again" melodramas that is full of lost loves, shattered dreams and thought of what could have been.

The plot centers on Coach Eddie Rake and the relationship he has with his players. Football is a way of life in this small town and Rake is at its center. The saying that there is a fine line between love and hate permeates this story.

This is an extremely quick read, more akin to a short story or novella than a novel. It has its moments, particularly for those who grew up in such a football atmoshpere, but the larger than life coach of the novel really didn't seem so great to me.

Rating:
Summary: Considering Reading
Review: The book is set in a small Southern town whose residents are religiously devoted to their high school football team. As the team's coach Eddie Rake nears death, several of his players throughout his coaching career gather at the field's bleachers to drink and reminisce about the grueling ways of Eddie Rake. Yet a preternaturally gifted old man who never says never, his old players wander down memory lane with their stories during and after their departure from hich school football. Grisham's little tale of bygone glories starts to resemble a half-time locker-room pep talk.
Coach Eddie Rake's old players still dont know if they love the man or hate him but one thing for sure, he was the players coach , in which they reached many achievements as a high school football team. It is a quick and good read, quick readers will finish in a few hours and if you enjoy some gridiron football then this book should be considered.

Rating:
Summary: Cokerthekid reviews
Review: Bleachers is a book about football and for this alone I thought that it would be at least entertaining. I was not in the least disappointed in the plot of the story or the eventual turn out of events that lead to a closing that is less than Chaucer like in composure.
The whole idea of a town, Methesdia,(please forgive the towns spelling) having an over zealous love for football seems like an ingredient in many other stories that have discussed the negativity of placing such inportance on one activity alone. Although this is true and is usually a good message Mr. Grisham does more than that he tackles the issue of the psychological effects it has on a adolesent to be revered as a super star. The effects of this are less than admirable. In fact in the middle of the week Neely does much short of rave about havig to live a life in the shadow of his teenage self.
What exactly was the town thinking when they started raising young men for a football team run by a man that tormented most if not all of his players for the rest of their natural born lives??? I myself was indeed not supprised a Rake's brazen lack of disreguard for his players. Bad things happen when all you want is that next streak for the town to get happy.
I thnk that part of the thrill of reading this and other Grisham novels is the ending when you can sit back and take a couple of minutes and complete the ending in your head and make it nice and neat. As a matter of fact I found it quite enjoyable to see all the changes of Neely the star quarterback... even if some of those, awe who am I kidding, most of which came from me.
I would in most every case recommend that you and others you know should read this novel. It is a short read and it is something that is a real conversation piece ... trust me anyone who has read this novel definitely has something to share!!

This review written by: A Timber Creek H.S. Student

Rating:
Summary: Reminded of the old glory days
Review: If you ever played football (or any sport for that matter) for a coach that was larger than life, you will understand this book. It was a good, short read. You are reminded of the Glory days of High School sports, we all want to relive them sometime. Not the normal John Grisham but good.

Rating:
Summary: Best Sellers Review
Review: Bleachers, by John Grisham is a story of the Messina Spartans High-School, whos football team created a dynasty behind the head coach of Eddie Rake. This book is about Neely Crenshaw, an All-American quarterback for the Spartans and his story of lost love and lost fame. With Eddie Rake about to die from sickness, Neely returns to his hometown, as do all of the other Spartan players. He has a strong internal struggle on whether or not he loved or hated Eddie Rake. As you read, you hear details from his past life and learn stories about many of the other players, as they sit in the bleachers and remember the good times of playing football for Eddie Rake.

-By Jonathan Ahlers

Rating:
Summary: He does it again!
Review: John Grisham never ceases to amaze me. I read that someone compared this book to Terri Bailey's, "Cries of the Orchids." I agree that it's definitely a contender! Both are gripping, well written, and filled with emotion and suspense. Yet, they are very different. Kudos to both authors!

Rating:
Summary: Simple, quick and easy
Review: If you need something to fill 2-3 days between bigger and better works, Bleachers is for you. And if you want something you won't have to think about very much, once again, this book is for you. Bleachers is entertaining, but nothing in its 170 pages will stay with you long after you've finished it. And the story of small-town high school football has been done so often in books and on the big screen, that most readers probably could have written the outline for this book themselves. Let's just say you won't be re-reading a page or a paragraph to pick up on something you may have missed the first time. It's simple, straight-forward and easy to digest.

I'm not a Grisham reader, but it's not hard to see that this is merely something a big-time author puts out in his spare time between his usual writings. But with the way this half-hearted book was promoted and gobbled up, who can blame him?

It's a book you'll enjoy -- and probably pass on to others looking for a quick and easy read -- but chances are you've seen or read the story and met the same sterotypical characters before.

Rating:
Summary: Good Quick Read
Review: Very good short read (1 or 2 days max). Its kinda depressing, but still its a quick sports read (football). I enjoyed it.