Rating: 
Summary: A Different Patterson!
Review: "Miracle On The 17th Green" by James Patterson and Peter De Jonge. Audio Tape Version.Initially, I borrowed this tape for the long commute on 495, the ring road around Boston. I am not a golfer, but the back cover spoke about a miracle on Christmas Day so I decided to listen to the tape. After a few minutes of driving and listening, I had to pick up the plastic package to see if I had read the names of the authors correctly. Don't do that while you are driving in 495 traffic near the Mass Pike. Yes, it was James Patterson, the Manhattan College graduate (1969) and the writer of novels about terrible situations with not one, but two serial killers. The "Miracle On The 17th Green" is, however, not about a new form of serial killer, nor is it even a murder mystery. Instead, "Miracle" is an upbeat novel dealing with an advertising executive who has gone sour on his job, his marriage and, perhaps, even on life itself. On a Christmas morning, Travis McKinley is out on a nearby golf course and he discovers that, on that day, he is really hitting them like a pro. One thing builds on another and pretty soon Mr. McKinley is at Pebble Beach competing with some big-name golf pros. On the overall level, this is really a very good golf story. I wish some TV announcers could bring a wee bit of the drama to televised golf that Patterson brings to this story. I suggest, that, if need be, prepare by looking up some golf terms (such as birdie, bogie, eagle, etc.) so that the story flows and you do not have to stop for research. On another level, this is really a love story, where a man and woman, despite two disparate careers, stay together for almost three decades. The novel also deals with the human condition, as, for example, after a long career, each of us will have to look back and see if what we had done was worth it all. There may be a some autobiographical background here as James Patterson recently retired from a career as an advertising executive. The novel, however, is situated in Chicago, and Mr. Patterson is really from the New York City area. Hal Linden, who you will remember as Barney Miller in the police precinct television comedy, read the tape. It is interesting to see that a familiar voice makes listening even easier as you drive along. I would recommend this book to anyone who has a few hours of driving to do. The book is well written, a good golf story and well read to boot.
Rating:
Summary: Read it in an hour!
Review: A break from James Paterson's mysteries turned out wonderful. This book was the most enjoyable reading experiance of my life! Once I started reading it I was literaly totally oblivious to the outside world. After I finished I had three messages and I swear I didn't even hear the phone ring. I am a big fan of sports writing, and an avid golfer. As both this is one of the greatest books I have ever read.
Rating: 
Summary: Walter Mitty makes hole in one at Bedford Falls course
Review: A feel-good book, a reader can finish it in about an hour. It epitomizes the 'me-first' attitude of the world. The protagonist, when the going gets tough, decides to bag his family, and seek his own happiness. Having said that, it hits the top of the fantasy scale in each of us who has yearned for big time athletic success. Somehow the two touchdowns that we scored in one game, begin to grow in our mind, until we dream of how the Heisman trophy would look on our mantel :-) Or how the green jacket of the Masters would forever be worn at the club, even in our nineties
Rating:
Summary: 'Swonderful. 'Smarvelous
Review: A funny thing happened on my way to pick up one of johnPatterson/s best-selling mysteries. I stumbled on a golf story hewrote. Oh happy day! Far outside his normal output of mystery and terror, Miracle is tender, moving, touching, yes, maybe even a little sad. ("I cried for everything that had gone right and wrong for 30 years.") And even in a story bout golf, Patterson is able to evoke a feeling of excitement in his readers. This is a short novel with short chapters. Each dealing with a single thought. Faulkner has probably written sentences that are longer than some of the chapters in this lcaptivating story. >
It's not just the avid golfer who can relate to this story. Even the casual weekend hacker will understand when Travis McKinley says, after two consecutive great shots, "Suddenly I was feeling better. To hell with my problems. Golf can have that effect on you." And his game comes and goes , even as yours and mine. ("I couldn't drive. I couldn't putt. I couldn't hit my irons. And I couldn't chip. If I left anything out, I couldn't do that either.")
The miracle on the 17th green? You thought you were going to hear about that in this review? Get serious. Suddenly Patterson has become one of my favorite authors. END
Rating:
Summary: Always hope
Review: As an unaccomplished (and incorrigible) golfer, "Miracle" has reassured me that there is always hope. But, more importantly, golf is only a game... But WHAT a game! Full of lessons for life. This was a well written, endearing story that will gladen the hearts of golfers and inspire golfing widows. It will definitely help both to "see the line".
Rating:
Summary: Spent More Time Reading It Than Working!
Review: Bought this book this morning for a friend of mine for xmas (actually got it somewhere other than Amazon-- sorry guys) and HAD to read it. And read it I did! Snuck in chapter upon chapter in between phone calls, emails, and work. Finished it a few minutes ago and am still smiling. A wonderfully written story, a quick read, and uplifting in many, many ways. I am already creating a mental checklist of all the friends I want to buy a copy for (will get them from Amazon next time, I promise). If you are a golfer (and I am still a novice golfer), you will enjoy this book. If you are a golfer who happens to be a believer... you will LOVE this book and will find strength in it too. Enjoy.
Rating: 
Summary: Trite, Lame and Predictable
Review: Even an avid golfer will find this a tedious read. The plot is contrived and predictable. The humor is sophomoric at best. It is blessedly short but I'd rather play the worst muni in the world than re-read this book. The only reason I finished it the first time was because I couldn't believe it could grow steadily worse from page to page. If your golfer has any education at all, buy him or her a P.G. Wodehouse book instead: The Heart of a Goof or The Clicking of Cuthbert.
Rating:
Summary: As cheesy as it sounds, it's a feel-good book.
Review: Having just finished Cradle and All, I decided to go for something a little more light hearted. I found this one, and the story sounded a little corny, but I was still interested in giving it a try. Knowing that 150 pages would merely cleanse my palette from the depth and darkness of the last couple of books I read, I was able to get through it in one sitting. It was a happy story that wasn't too long or too short. It seemed to end at just the right time. I really enjoyed the personalities of the true golfing legends like Lee Trevino and Jack Nicklaus. Even though this is a fictitious story, Travis gets to know them, and Patterson did a great job of making their actions and comments exactly like you'd expect them to truly act. I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a light-hearted, happy story without alot of meat, and certainly no filler.
Rating:
Summary: As cheesy as it sounds, it's a feel-good book.
Review: Having just finished Cradle and All, I decided to go for something a little more light hearted. I found this one, and the story sounded a little corny, but I was still interested in giving it a try. Knowing that 150 pages would merely cleanse my palette from the depth and darkness of the last couple of books I read, I was able to get through it in one sitting. It was a happy story that wasn't too long or too short. It seemed to end at just the right time. I really enjoyed the personalities of the true golfing legends like Lee Trevino and Jack Nicklaus. Even though this is a fictitious story, Travis gets to know them, and Patterson did a great job of making their actions and comments exactly like you'd expect them to truly act. I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a light-hearted, happy story without alot of meat, and certainly no filler.
Rating:
Summary: Thanks to this book, I now play golf year around.
Review: Having listened to Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider on audio cassette, I had no idea what to expect from this book. What a pleasant surprise! I got so pumped up, for the first time in my life, I have played golf in December, January, February, and March. I even use some of the lines from the book, such as "no mulligans, no gimmes, no b___ s___" and "shots have to be shaped." I've talked friends, who hardly ever read, into reading this one. Hal Linden does a nice job narrating it. I think I'll go listen to it again.
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