Review and a Winner - Calico Joe

Author:  John Grisham
Publisher-Format: Doubleday (2012), ARC galley, 208 pages
Subject: Baseball, fathers and sons
Genre: fiction
Source: ARC from publisher


We have winners and so does John Grisham in Calico Joe.  I've always enjoyed Grisham's legal thrillers, and I found myself learning to love football when I read his "Playing for Pizza," so I was not surprised to find another rip roaring tale of manly pursuits.  The surprise however was the story itself.  Yes it's about baseball, but it's so much more.

The story is based on a pitcher/hitter duel - hard charging rookie super-star hitter against aging, has-been, over-the-hill pitcher, and the pitch that made history.  That's the baseball story.  But the father-son story is woven into and around the baseball story, giving us a moving portrayal of a cantakerous, some might say abusive, old man and his hard-headed, determined-not-to-forgive son.  It's high drama, but it's also a quiet, soothing and introspective look at how the relationship between a father and son can be redeemed even after years of neglect--especially if baseball is the glue that can seal the break.

It's a great book for the baseball lovers in your life, and a wonderful book for fathers and sons. I won't spoil a really good story by telling you anymore about it.  I loved it, I know my husband (who played baseball up to age of 65!) will love it, and my children will also love it.   I'd sure take a look at this one for the Father's Day gift list. 

But......now without further ado, here are the lucky winners of the giveaway

Joanne P.

and

Debbie

I've contacted them to have them send their mailing info.  If I don't hear from them by midnight Tuesday nite, April 10th, I'll have to ask Random.org to pick another winner.

Thanks to all who stopped by to enter.  If you didn't win, there's still hope. You can stop by some of my fellow bloggers whose contests are still open: Gaby at Starting Fresh, Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer, Alison at Alison's Book Marks, Drey at Drey's Library, and Seduced by a Book.

Good luck and congratulations again to Joanne and Debbie. 

Many thanks to Doubleday for making these copies available.