Playing for Pizza by John Grisham Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Playing for Pizza
Book Review: A Good Inspirational Disappointing Story with a Funny Title
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my first book by Grisham. I remember seeing it on the bookshelves and passed it up, looking for something more sensational. I listen to audiobooks at work and got this in audio form; and the story kept me entertained and alert all ten hours (no mean feat!).
If you get past the slow start, you are in for sublime romantic promise; the eating scenes were sumptuous, though in itself a romantic depiction of Italy and the food, nothing like my trips there, where the spaghetti and pizza were nothing like the American variety, but rather had strange fish parts and little tentacles in them, being a poorer country, I had assumed.
He is a weak love-romance writer- but the first romantic web he attempted in this book was sublime, with infinite relational promise and complexity, at that point I was thinking that the funny title did not do justice to such a deep and touching story; but it must have been more than he could handle, and the story, with our hearts, slowly died after that... but buoyed by that sublime attempt, the book took me pleasantly through to the end, he is after all a good storyteller, so I resigned myself to comparing the book to real life- with heartbreak, disappointment, and unpredictable changing courses during which we grab our fleeting happiness wherever and among whomever we can... yet I found myself improving many scenes in my head, enhancing what he began but skimmed through or treated lightly... maybe I'll do a fan fiction piece to finish that sublime romantic effort he attempted...
It earns five stars for the first 1/3, which includes the effort above, but most importantly (and ironically during the slow start) for the inspiration it provided me- next time I'm so down-and-out I want to end it all right there this book will save me, with the message that wonderful things in life are still possible (as long as you're good looking, it turns out, a slight failing of human depth there, limiting the strength of the book psychologically)... I'm passable, so the book's inspirational example works for me...
Book Review: A Great Read!
Summary: 5 Stars
I enjoyed this book. I really enjoyed it. I read it twice and listened to it once (CD from the library). The book follows a down-and-out NFL quarterback from the lowest point of his life and career through reinventing himself in Italy. The writing, imagery and substance prove that John Grisham is a master story teller.Book Review: A Harmless Munchie
Summary: 4 Stars
Since I've been around enough lawyers in my life to feel that imbuing them with positive qualities is something of a waste of those qualities, I'm not a Grisham reader. But this book came at the recommendation of a colleague, and since the premise was interesting enough, I picked up a copy for a recent flight to Europe.
It's a charming book; perfect plane reading, and a surprising topic. It makes almost no demands on the reader, it's quirky and funny, and the football scenes are very well done. The ending is not a surprise - virtually none of the book is - but overall the book is a perfectly good piece of entertainment.
Book Review: A Marvelous Piece of Fluff
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm sure that many hardcore Grisham fans will not see this as one of Grisham's best books -- and they will be right, but I really liked this book. Yes -- it is true that the characters aren't as well crafted as many of his others are, but then these are really likeable people. Rick Dockery is just like the jocks you know -- a big goofy guy who isn't too deep but then he has a sense of honor and openness that makes it hard not to like him. He likes to play football and that is really all he knows so he is willing to play for peanuts -- not really Pizza but not much more. It is a wonderful trip watching him develop from the aging frat boy into a real man who finally sees himself and others as they truly are. I particularly liked his discovery of Opera, because it was similar to my own. I even sympathized with his view of all of those historical churches and cobblestones -- like him I loved Italy but there are more churches and cobblestones than I care to see. His girl friend is a little enigmatic but then she really drives him to a more mature view of himself and others. Grisham also captures the feel of Italy and the Italian attitudes better than any book I have ever read. The Italians have a view of life that is hard to beat and Grisham really captures that feel in this book and it is that Italian view of life that eventually captures Rick as well.
There is really only one bad guy in the book and he isn't all that bad -- he is more like pain in the neck and Rick deals with him very effectively and precisely like you would expect someone like Rick to deal with a pain in the neck -- as I said Rick is not deep or devious. I liked this book and highly recommend it even though it is a little fluffy compared to other Grisham works. If you want to read a feel good book -- buy this one. I would love to see the movie.
Book Review: A Nice Diversion
Summary: 4 Stars
John Grisham knows how to tell a story and occasionally it is nice to hear him tell a story not centered in a courtroom. Don't get me wrong, I've loved his many courtroom thrillers but novels such as Playing for Pizza and A Painted House offer us a different side of the author. I'm glad he decided to give us a nice diversion from the courtroom and I hope he provides more such glimpses in the future.
BTW - After reading his book I had to go out and get some really good Italian food.