Book Review: Calico Joe
Whenever John Grisham announces a new book, you know it's going to be a guaranteed pleasure read. Though there isn't anything earth-shattering with his narrative, it is his incredibly spun stories that draw your attention the most. Having read all his books (including the kidult Theodore Boone series) except for Skipping Christmas, Bleachers and Playing for Pizza - all being baseball themed novellas, the excitement in me was palpable when I learnt Calico Joe was coming out this week. As always, the first thing I did was to rush to the bookstore and grab a copy!
It seems incredulous that I read The Litigators just five months back, exactly two days after the book was published, and it already feels like it's been ages since then. And Grisham has his plate full this year with the month of May seeing the third installment of Boone series (Theodore Boone - The Accused) while the next legal thriller The Racketeer is expected to be released this October. I can't wait to dig into the books!
Warren, a pitcher for the New York Mets, bean balls (a fastball intentionally thrown to hit a batter in the head) Joe Castle, a rising star of the Cubs who hails from Calico Rock in Arkansas, in an epic encounter and both their lives are altered forever. He being a feckless father to Paul, who was then eleven years old, and his sister Jill, the incident leaves Tracy junior distraught, and thirty years later when he gets a call that his dad is on the throes of death, he embarks on a mission of reparation that will possibly put an end to all the grief and silent suffering.
It seems incredulous that I read The Litigators just five months back, exactly two days after the book was published, and it already feels like it's been ages since then. And Grisham has his plate full this year with the month of May seeing the third installment of Boone series (Theodore Boone - The Accused) while the next legal thriller The Racketeer is expected to be released this October. I can't wait to dig into the books!
In a refreshing change, Grisham's latest novel is also based on baseball (Playing for Pizza came out way back in 2007), but the best part is that the reader doesn't have to be acquainted with the game at all. Sure enough, there are a few sporting terminologies that one needs to be aware of, and as if on cue, Grisham has incorporated an interesting Foreword that explains the game in simple layman terms. Regardless of the theme, Calico Joe is a tale of guilt and redemption at heart. Set in mid 2003, it tells the story of Paul Tracy who sets out to undo the misery and pain inflicted by his father Warren Tracy on a rookie after a life-changing match in August 1973.
Warren, a pitcher for the New York Mets, bean balls (a fastball intentionally thrown to hit a batter in the head) Joe Castle, a rising star of the Cubs who hails from Calico Rock in Arkansas, in an epic encounter and both their lives are altered forever. He being a feckless father to Paul, who was then eleven years old, and his sister Jill, the incident leaves Tracy junior distraught, and thirty years later when he gets a call that his dad is on the throes of death, he embarks on a mission of reparation that will possibly put an end to all the grief and silent suffering.
John Grisham is in his element and the writing style is simple and yet delightful as ever. He captures the rise of Joe Castle (nicknamed Calico Joe, hence the title) nicely by projecting the fans euphoria along with a heady mix of game stats, radio commentaries and newspaper articles. The fact that Warren was envious of his success becomes apparent when Grisham projects Joe as Paul's childhood idol and the inevitable bedlam that ensues later on can be trickled down to the simple aspect of him failing to be his own son's hero.
Dysfunctional families are nothing new in American novels, but what is remarkable is that Grisham doesn't attempt to heal the punctured relationship between the father and son, and instead conveys that one mere act of atonement can in no way fudge years of neglect and pain. This is carried throughout the novel, where Paul, Jill and their mother demonstrate an icy detachment towards Warren, their attitude remaining unchanged till the end.
Dysfunctional families are nothing new in American novels, but what is remarkable is that Grisham doesn't attempt to heal the punctured relationship between the father and son, and instead conveys that one mere act of atonement can in no way fudge years of neglect and pain. This is carried throughout the novel, where Paul, Jill and their mother demonstrate an icy detachment towards Warren, their attitude remaining unchanged till the end.
Having given the credit where it is due, there are a few minor irritants as well. Joe's climb to fame is an exaggerated hyperbole and while one understands it's fiction, I felt the author went a bit overboard in trumpeting his achievements. Also, the story raises a few questions. Why, for instance, Paul bothers about redemption if he doesn't care about his father? Is it a way to show his secret admiration for his dad? A true sportsmanship gesture would definitely never go unnoticed and by the way the things climaxed, I assume this was the rationale behind Paul's actions.
However, my biggest gripe is the way the author dealt with the female characters; they hardly register their presence, and particularly Sara as Paul's wife is trademark Grisham - just peeping in when and where necessary and of no consequential use. Paul's mom (unnamed) could have made for a strong character if adequately explored but instead she is relegated to a few scenes. Sincere and heartfelt, Calico Joe proves yet again why John Grisham sells - he knows how to tell a story. Period.
However, my biggest gripe is the way the author dealt with the female characters; they hardly register their presence, and particularly Sara as Paul's wife is trademark Grisham - just peeping in when and where necessary and of no consequential use. Paul's mom (unnamed) could have made for a strong character if adequately explored but instead she is relegated to a few scenes. Sincere and heartfelt, Calico Joe proves yet again why John Grisham sells - he knows how to tell a story. Period.
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