Rating: 
Summary: Touching
Review: This is a nice story where you can see the mistakes of your life, because each character has his own problems, some of them are important and some of them not and one of them could be yours, while you read this book you will remember your high school days.
If you read this book expecting a best seller novel you will be disappointed, this book is a story and if you don't look in the message of the story you won't like this book, I think that this book is for air planes, just read it while you flight and relax, there is a part that you will only read about football and if you don't like that game you won't understand that part, but is worth it to read this book.
Rating: 
Summary: good theme, shaky storyline
Review: A realistic fiction novel by John Grisham, Bleachers is a touching story of All American high school football quaterback Neely Crenshaw. Neely's professional career was ruined by a cheap shot to the knees.
Now, 15 years later, He has come back to his home town, Messina, to mourn the death of his old coach, Eddie Rake. He sits on the bleachers of Rake Field with old teammates to relive old games, talk about old memories and secrets, waiting for the field lights to dim.
This story has a good theme, with many lessons of life, love and regret, although the storyline falls misreably short of Grisham's potential. It is not a page turner, and the scenes seem to drag on longer than needed. Reading this novel did not enspire me to read any other storys of this nature.
Rating: 
Summary: Get a life!
Review: I wanted to tell each and every character in this book to grow up, quit dwelling on high school memories and to get a life!
Rating:
Summary: Waiting For Coach
Review: John Grisham'sBleachers is an enticing and suspenseful story of All American Neely Crenshaw's return to his hometown of Messina where he spent his highschool years playing for the legendary Eddie Rake. Rake is a coach who was so tough on his football team that many of the players grew to hate him deeply. Everywhere they went after they graduatedthey found themselves hearing his voice in their heads, they couldn't escape him. This novel has all of the right moves to keep you reading until the end. I myself am not all that into football but I found the plot made up for that and more some. All through the book it keeps you guessing as to what this huge incident at the '87 championship game was. This one incident surrounds a major controversy and no one seems to know what really happened. Although hints are dropped, you do not find out the truth until near the end. Throughout the book, Neely, along with every other person who ever played for the coach, questions whether he loved Coach Rake, ar whether he hated him. This was a major feat on Grisham's part. The characters were well developed and relatable. I found myself idenifying with each player in a certain way. The coaches methods are questioned and explained, making me think of the head coach in the movie Remember the Titans. The novel flowed well and was tastefully suspensful. A great read!
Rating: 
Summary: Glory Days Gone By
Review: Bleachers is a nice memoir of the glory days of High School Football. All the elements are there. The stern taskmaster coach, the young buck football heroes who feel the world is their oyster, and all the characters who support and or even endure their many actions.In 163 pages, Grishma gives a fairly nice portrait of a small town where the football coach had more power than the mayor. In addition, the football players were all put on a pedestal above anyone lese. However, when the players graduated to their future, things did not materialize as planned. Different towns and different times produce very different results as our hero Neely soon realizes when a cheap shot ends his pro football career. He later realizes that he cannot even win back the heart of his old flame. However, he is able to put things in perspective and realize lessons learned and bridges burned. There are moments all the talk among the football players gets to be one big blur. And certainly this is not a compelling book for those who did not relate to high school sports. However, Grisham makes some good points that Bruce Springsteen will echo: Glory Days Will Pass You By.
Rating:
Summary: Good read!
Review: I enjoyed this book immensely! It is so true to life in Southern small towns where football is KING and the epitome'
of the social life. Everyone talks about the team, the cheerleaders, the coaches, the coaching, the staff, and the teams chances. I highly recommend this book, although it is not like the usual mystery John Grisham writes, it is a rousing good story.
Rating:
Summary: Different
Review: No, this isn't your typical Grisham thriller, but then I don't suppose you can say anything is "typical" with him any longer. He's now tried his hand (quite successfully) at several different genres and carved quite a niche for himself among America's great writers. But aside from that, this book must be taken on its own merits. That said, it's a good read with wondreful characters and great settings. And the writing is different from his other books, yet at the same time it maintains Grisham's high standards. Also recommended: McCrae's Bark of the Dogwood, Junction Boys, Fried Green Tomatoes
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Well written, but poor story-line. We've heard it before -- young kids who hate their too-driven coach, until they realize upon his death that the coach wanted the best for them. This story-line shows no imagination on Grisham's part. To the thought that this book is about a teacher/adult who inspires kids, if that's what's it's intended to be, it falls miserably short.
Rating:
Summary: A Model of Transformational Coaching
Review: Although ostensibly a story focused on high school all-American, Neely Crenshaw, Bleachers is really about a man who remains off-stage . . . but who dominates the action, retired high school football coach Eddie Rake. The time of the story is the last few days before Mr. Rake's death through his memorial service. As his former players return for the death vigil, they hold a high school reunion of sorts in which they explore the impact of coach Rake on their lives. Through the dialogue, we learn a powerful story of how setting high standards can help people deal with adversity later in their lives. Ultimately, though, the book looks at how to right wrongs that one has done in one's own life. That last element is what makes the book move above the average. Have you ever had an inspiring coach or teacher who gave you life lessons that you happily bear with you today? If so, you will find this story will also add the joy of remembering those experiences. I hope that coaches and teachers will read this story, and learn from it how their strengths and mistakes can affect the young people they work with. Ultimately, we are all coaches and teachers at some point in our lives. As you finish the story, imagine that you are listening to those you coached and taught tell about the impact of you on their lives. What would you like them to say? What could you do today to create those positive influences? Bleachers is written from a male perspective. I suspect that many women will not enjoy it as much as men (unless they happen to be devoted football fans). Despite being called "A Novel" on the cover, Bleachers is really a novella. Many people do not like novellas because they are limited in their character development and action. Bleachers has those limitations too. Its nature is almost like that of someone telling a long story on a cold winter night in a small town. But it worked for me. Is it great fiction? No. Is it competent fiction? Yes. Was I glad I read it? Yes. Does it have helpful lessons in it? Yes.
Rating:
Summary: Grisham not at his best...
Review: Well, i have read all of Grisham's books and this is definitely not his best. Try reading The Firm or The Pelican Brief. They are much better. But, if you still want to read this book, don't buy it. Just borrow it from the library. Not worth the price of a hard cover book...
| 
