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Liked It2 of 2 members found this review helpful “A must read for its nostalgic flavour about the small town high school games and coach.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“If you like football you will really like this book. I found it a little sad”
Shirley Gallagher wrote this review 10 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I recommend this book to any athlete wether it be hockey, lacrosse, all the way down to cricket. One of my favorite teachers recommended this book to me and it really change my view on sports and life.”
Shaquille Jones wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Good story.”
Eileen wrote this review Friday, May 4, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This novel was only good because I am a sucker for football. It was hard to believe a coach would let his team take charge and instruct him to stay in the locker room. Some neat scenes.”
Bud Karas wrote this review Thursday, May 3, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Liked the sports angle, since I'm a football fan. Good character development. Hey, it's Grisham, need I say more?”
Jeffrey Fulmer wrote this review Thursday, May 3, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This book is an amazing book the author makes you feel like you’re there at the game. John Grisham is a wonderful author he writes like he is there talking to you. I loved this book because it was related to football, it’s not your ordinary book because its mostly a bunch of high school buddies that come back to Messina where there old Coach Rake is about to die. They talk about memories and how they hated Rake but yet loved him! It’s a great book and a great true story.”
brandon osteen wrote this review Friday, May 4, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“The Review:
Sophie Dusting wrote this review Tuesday, May 1, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Plot and Pace - Yet again, as with Zoe Heller's novel, Notes on a Scandal, the editor and publisher made the choice of detailing the whole plot in the synopsis provided on the books back cover. However, unlike the latter, the book adds nothing more to the context, adds no depth and really you could just make do with the synopsis and not bother wasting your time on what was ultimately a downright boring novel.
Neely is a man really faced with the reality of life; even if you're the popular kid in high school, once you leave and graduate you're a nobody. Coming back to Messina, the hometown that once worshipped him, he spends his time struggling to come to terms with his current predicament. He meets the other 'boys' to share the memories and wallow in self-pity until the funeral of their former coach Rake. That is quite simply the pretext of the book. The only moment I felt really compelled to read was at the funeral, where bits of monologue and speeches were read by former players, was very poignant and heartfelt. Other than that... yeah next!
Characters - This 'explosive relationship' between Neely and Coach Rake is anything but; it's a minor tiff at the half-time break during a match. Coach Rake was not an abusive or manipulative character; just a passionate coach who wanted his pupils to reach their full potential. Creenshaw came across as someone in a mid-life crisis wishing he could go back to his 'glory days' at high school [think Matthew Perry in the movie 17 Again and you'll get my point].
Other characters came into the novel here and there with a few bits of dialogue then it was onto the next - I lost track, this was such and such player, who played during these dates, this is what he's done with his life. There were so many in the end I had no attachment and did not care at all. It seemed all these different characters that Neely recalled were just to fill the time, the discussions - of course they all come together at the funeral but to detail the life of 30 odd different characters in 181 pages and remembered what purpose they had was hard.
Settings & narrative -
The majority of the novel is based near 'the field' where the Messina team played their matches.
"Another year, another team, another season."
It was a very apt setting as it represented the significance of the football team; the central heart-beat of their community who live and breathe for their team. Every now and again there was a different scene but really bringing it back to the bleachers, the stadium, added to the atmosphere.
Dialogue and language used - The book flowed very easily. It was pumped with a decent amount of dialogue and good discussions. My favourite was the radio commentary of a previous match; Grisham perfectly captured the essence and feel of the match through the words and it the only section of the novel which was captivating and gripping.
Themes and ideas - It was a high school reunion crossed with an almost nerdy commentary of previous games and bios of players. Original, maybe.
The Verdict - It's a nice novel and I think if you really like or play American football or have been in a similar situation as the main character, you will identify with the book and probably find it more interesting than I did. If not, only on the worst of days, when there is nothing, and I mean nothing else to read then pick this book. 1.5 Stars.
To read more reviews, please visit my blog: http://verdictbookreviews.blogspot.co.uk/”
“One of Grisham's few non-legal books. An interesting story of a high-school athlete's relationship with a hard nosed, old school football coach. Offers a little insight into that extreme love/hate relationship.”
Joe B wrote this review Wednesday, April 18, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Lexile: 830”
Mrs. Hunt wrote this review Thursday, March 22, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I have never been disappointed in a John Grisham book. I was a bit leery of this one because I am used to the lawyer type books that Grisham normally writes. Bleachers is nothing like those.
Julie G wrote this review Thursday, March 15, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Neely Crenshaw returns to his hometown along with the majority of other Spartan football players to await the death of their former coach. They gather on the bleachers reminiscing about their former football triumphs. Each player has a story about Coach Rake. There is a love/hate relationship that all of Rake's players had with him. Each of his "boys" remembers what a taskmaster Rake was on the practice field and how they hated him for his seeming coldness to them, but each of their lives has been defined by Coach Rake.
Bleachers is a quick and satisfying read. It had a lot of football lingo that I didn't understand, but there was no misunderstanding the need for closure and forgiveness that Neely finally receives at the end of Coach Rake's life.
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