Bleachers

Rating:
Summary: Bleachers - A Great Book
Review: In his fictional novel Bleachers, John Grisham tells the story of a small town that lives for high school football. Every Friday night for the past forty years, the entire town of Messina has gathered to cheer their revered Spartans to victory. The novel ends on a Friday, but sadly the townspeople gather for a much less joyous reason. The town assembles to mourn the death of the Spartans beloved coach, Eddie Rake. Messina residents worshiped Rake for putting the town on the map by creating one of the strongest football programs in the country. On the other hand, some former Spartan players detested Rake because he was an extremely demanding and aggressive coach. Upon hearing of Rake's death, Neely Crenshaw, the greatest Spartan quarterback, returns to Messina after 15 years. Eddie Rake had very high expectations for Neely, but in college when Crenshaw was hit in the knees, his NFL dreams were shattered. Though Rake respected Neely as a talented football player, he did not get along with him. Rake's dislike for Crenshaw resulted in a couple serious altercations between the two men. Neely comes to Messina seeking closure to these arguments. Bleachers traces Crenshaw's journey to forgiving Rake, and ultimately himself.
The style of writing seen in Bleachers is very different than that of Grisham's usual bestsellers. John Grisham is known for his enticing legal dramas, such as the Street Lawyer. Bleachers can be described as a fictitious novel about a former football player's regret and path to reconciliation. Although I have read only one other Grisham book, I found that he is a talented writer in both genres.
One of the most appealing aspects of Bleachers is the author. Even before opening the book, the reader knows that it is probably a good book because John Grisham's name graces the cover. Many people have read and enjoyed other novels written by John Grisham, and are interested in reading another one of his works. The description of the characters is another likable facet of Bleachers. The fact that the reader can almost feel the emotions of the main characters is utterly incredible. For example, readers could relate Neely Crenshaw's sense of regret and disappointment to a particular time in their own life. The differences in personality that varied from each character to another were remarkable. My favorite part of Bleachers was its brevity. Although it was a quick read, Grisham includes plenty of details that allow the reader to fully appreciate the characters and their surroundings.
The weakest part of Bleachers was the lack of interesting dialogue. The reader could not get much information about a character from the tone of their dialogue. The characters either spoke for entire pages or just one word. While the length of dialogue should vary throughout the book, Grisham could not seem to find a happy medium between short and long dialogue. The fact that Bleachers was a bit depressing is another unpleasant quality. Although every book cannot be happy, uplifting books are more enjoyable to read. It is very upsetting that Neely does not realize the opportunities that he had until he missed them. This is especially depressing because everyone who reads the book can think of a time when they missed out on a great chance. Another heart-wrenching scene in the book is when Coach Rake dies. My eyes filled with tears when a few former players delivered eulogies at Eddie Rake's funeral. One former player said, "Let's all bury the hatchet, lay down our arms, and make peace over Eddie Rake. We are all one in Christ. And in this wonderful little town, we are on in Eddie Rake" (Grisham 154). This quote symbolizes the need for the people of Messina and the former players to forgive Eddie Rake for his flaws, and forgive themselves for their own flaws.
Bleachers is a great book that is full of lessons to be learned. Like Neely, the reader must learn to forget the past and not dwell on one's failures or regrets. The reader also learns that they should never pass up an opportunity because they do not know if it will be their last chance. No one likes to think back on missed chances, shattered dreams, or petty arguments, so it is important live for the present and take advantage of every chance one gets.

Rating:
Summary: Pushing the box and outside the envelope
Review: Obviously readers who thought they were getting the usual Grisham legal thriller were disappointed in the high school vignette they were treated to. However readers should realize that sometimes even bestselling authors want to try something different. I applaud Grisham in that effort. Too many times, I've read a new release by a tried and true mega author and it seems it's the same story hashed over with slightly different characters.

Some of the negative reaction is just because Grisham is writing out of his genre. Think what the reaction would be if Stephen King wrote a romance, or Nora Roberts a horror novel. Even if the book was terrific, there would be a roaring backlash from their fans.

Dee Power, Co-author Overtime
Lost love, found glory and a football game for the ages.

Rating:
Summary: Bleachers
Review: What a disappointment. I wish I'd read the reviews before before purchasing the book. The book didn't really start to develop until 2/3rds of the way through. It was "forced" reading.

Rating:
Summary: MITCH ALBOM SHOULDN'T WRITE ABOUT THE LAW
Review: This was a poor attempt to recreate the magic of THE JUNCTION BOYS, which it failed terribly to do. In fact the best book out about a high school football team out right now is AROUND ELVIS by Thorne Peters, about the kids over at Elvis High School in Memphis winning big for the King. Grisham's cover of a high school football squad's melancholy reunion where they flashback, recriminate, and lament, is convoluted and dull. The old, "We hated the coach but we loved to play for him," tale is corny and cliché and was worn out by the Green Bay Packers.

Rating:
Summary: A Book of Memories
Review: I have an insatiable appetite for reading. My mother read to me almost every night before I started school. Thankfully, those were the days before we had a television. VCRs and DVDs had not been thought of at that point. Instead of watching the tube, I was listening to chapter after chapter of exciting stories and using my imagination. Then, I learned to read and could be transported, via the printed word, to any place, any time in or out of the world.

I also played organized football. Most every boy in America plays football in one form or another. For many there's the Sunday afternoon game where plays are drawn in the dirt ("Billy, you go out here, Frank, ten steps and turn left right here, A.J., you go long and the rest of you guys block."). When we lived in Honea Path,SC, I played on what is now called the Junior Varsity. These were the days when jocks were something you wore. We were called the "B Team" and I played on the line. Honea Path was a true football town. It is located seven miles from Belton and the annual Belton-Honea Path game brought out four thousand fans. Since there were only five thousand people living in the two towns, you can rest assured this was Carolina-Clemson, Georgia-Florida or Michigan-Notre Dame on the high school level. There was a parade through the downtown area and all the players wore their game jerseys to school. When my dad was transferred, I went to another school - much larger, but one where football was not as revered. There I learned that playing in the Band was almost as much fun. You got to go to every game, you got to ride the bus with girls - at night! -, and you didn't hurt the morning after a game. Although I was not a football player all the way through high school, I am a member of the brotherhood.

For my birthday this year, my daughter gave me a copy of John Grisham's new book, Bleachers. Usually it takes a chapter or two to get into a book, but this one had me after the first paragraph. It's not the usual Grisham legal thriller, but it's one of his best, if you're the right person. All members of the football brotherhood should read this book. Memories, precious memories will overwhelm you. If you never played high school football or lived in a football crazy small town in the South, you might not understand, but if you did, you don't want to miss this one.

Neely Crenshaw, high school All American quarterback, returns to the small town of Messina after fifteen years. He is back to wait on his coach to die. Eddie Rack was the Bear Bryant of this small town. In forty-four years his teams had earned thirteen state championships and, once, had an eighty-four game win streak. Rake was near death. As Neely sits alone in the bleachers, looking at a field of memories, one of his old teammates shows up, then another and another. Soon, most of the old team is in the bleachers saying how much they loved and hated Eddie Rake. The field lights shine from one of the poles. They will stay on until the Coach dies. Members of other teams from the past arrive and begin mind journeys of their glory days. The next day, Neely relives more of the good and bad times of playing for Eddie Rake. During the second night, the lights go out.

Except for the names, I knew every character, every store and even the diner. I've been there, played there, laughed there and cried there. Bagels and football, a burning boat and football, unrequited love and football, small town radio and football, the Marathon (ours was the Burma Road) and football and much more - it's all in Bleachers by John Grisham. It's a short read but a truly powerful story.

God Bless America.

Rating:
Summary: if you don't like football, don't bother
Review: This book was so boring I only read the first couple of chapters and then skipped to the end. This story had no real plot and there was just too much about football - however if you like football then maybe you'll find it interesting. Overall, I was disappointed with this book. If you really want to read it, just borrow it from the library. I think John Grisham should stick with the legal thriller genre.

Rating:
Summary: Little more than an overdrawn short story
Review: I liked John Grishman's latest thriller, THE KING OF TORTS . . . but
his most recent release, BLEACHERS, resorts back to his disastrous
SKIPPING CHRISTMAS in that it is little more than an overdrawn
short story.

BLEACHERS was at least readable . . . it is the story of a onetime
football star who returns to his hometown for the funeral of his
high school coach . . . with his former teammates, he somewhat
relives his greatest game (in a plot technique that took up
too many of the book's 163 pages).

I did not enjoy the ending . . . however, there were at least these
few memorable passages:

The final play of the miracle drive was perhaps the most famous in all
of the glorious history of Spartan football. With no time-outs, twenty
yards to go, eighteen seconds left, Neely sent two receivers wide, and
took the snap in the shotgun. He quickly handed off to Marcus Mabry on
a draw. Marcus took three steps, then abruptly stopped and pitched the
ball back to Neely, who sprinted to his right, pumping the ball as if he
would finally throw it. When he turned upfield, the offensive line released
and sprinted forward, looking for someone to level. At the ten, Neely,
running like a mad man, lowered his head and crashed into a linebacker
and a safety, a collision that would have knocked out a mere mortal. He
spun away, free but dizzy, legs still churning, got hit again at the five, and
again at the three where most of the East Pike defense managed to

coral him. the play was almost over, as was the game, when Silo Mooney
and Barry Vatrano slammed into the mass of humanity hanging on
Neely, and the entire pile fell into the end zone. Neely sprang to his feet,
still clutching the ball, and looked directly at Eddie Rake, twenty feet away,
motionless and non-committal.

"It was silly. Grown men crying after a loss. The entire town living and
dying with each game. prayer breakfasts every Friday morning, as if God
cares who wins a high school football game. More money spent on the
football team that on all other student groups combined. Worshiping
seventeen-year-old boys who quickly become convinced they are truly
worthy of being worshiped. The double standard-a football player cheats
on a test, everybody scrambles to cover it up. A nonathlete cheats, and
he gets suspended. The stupid little girls who can't wait to give it up to
a Spartan. All for the good of the team. Messina needs its young virgins
to sacrifice everything. Oh, and I almost forgot. The Pep Girls! Each player
gets his own little slave who bakes him cookies on Wednesday and puts
a spirit sign in his front yard on Thursday and polishes his helmet on Friday
and what do you get on Saturday, Neely, a quickie?"

Rare is the Coach who can motivate players to spend their lives seeking
his approval. From the time Neely first put on a uniform in the sixth grade,
he wanted Rake's attention. And in the next six years, with every pass he

threw, every drill he ran, every play he memorized, every weight he
lifted, every hour he spent sweating, every pregame speech he gave,
every touchdown he scored, every game he won, every temptation
he resisted, every honor roll he made, he coveted Eddie Rake's
approval. He wanted to see Rake's face when he won the national
title.

Rating:
Summary: Not bad, but not great either
Review: I have enjoyed all of John Grisham's books. This one was a quick read telling a nice story with virtually no ending. John Grisham only went "so far" in exploring the charaters emotions and helping to resolve them. I was not as intrigued or captivated as I have been with some of his other books. I would recommend it as a quick read, but don't expect too much.

Rating:
Summary: A+++++++++!
Review: I LOVED THIS STORY!!! I bought the unabridged CD version and laughed throughout most of the book. I played high school sports, and though I was NEVER an all-American, I enjoyed my time in high school more due to sports. A lot of what Neely went through, his feelings, etc., I was able to relate to. I seldomly ever "go back" to see old friends, but when I do, I wonder why I don't do it more often. I laughed continuously over Silo and the sheriff----their comments were SOOOOOOO male and Paul & Nat seemed like such a GREAT friends. I'm always sorry when the guy doesn't get the girl in the end, but I thought the book ended well.

For those of you who didn't like this book, my advise is to stop looking for the lawyer books. I think you'll enjoy ALL of his books a lot more if you only look for a good story.

Rating:
Summary: Great Quick Read
Review: Don't believe the bad reviews. This was a great little book. I read the book because I like the author's style of writing. If you like a good character study, a little suspense and want a quick read, you won't be disappointed. Read the jacket description. If you like the concept, don't be scared off. Grisham is a great writer and this little novel is a good addition to any Grisham collection.