Playing for Pizza by John Grisham Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Playing for Pizza
Book Review: Good product; great deal!
Summary: 4 Stars
Enjoy John Grisham's books ordinarily but Playing for Pizza was pretty lightweight. It was easy enough to read in nearly one sitting. Liked learning about Parma; the food sounds great! (This will probably be a tourist spot for awhile?)Book Review: Great Book by uncommon Grisham
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a wonderful read. If you have ever been to Italy, you know that this captures, briefly and simply, many of the characteristics of that wonderful country.
Grisham gets away from the serious, lawyerly stuff he usually does. Excellent book and even though it centers around a football player, it is very enjoyable for anyone.
Book Review: Great Book to Read While on Vacation
Summary: 4 Stars
My husband and I recently listened to the unabridged audio version of this book while driving cross country. We thought the book was maybe more of a travel log than anything else, since we learned a lot about Italian food and tourist attractions. But of course we also learned a lot about Italian football. Who knew????
I'm adding this to my list of books to buy for friends and family.
Book Review: Great Pre-Football Season Read
Summary: 5 Stars
I am writing in response to other reviewers who have panned this book for not being a crime novel. These criticisms are unfair as this book is not a crime novel. It is story about a down-on-his-luck former NFL Quarterback, Rick Dockery, who winds up playing in the Italian football league for a small salary and who learns a few things about his own life along the way. Dockery and the other characters in the book, such as Dockery's girlfriend Livvy, his coach Sam, his teammates, etc., have a genuine and authentic feel about them. The story is fun, even if the ending is a bit predictable. Grisham uses language well and does not waste words. The novel is compact and well-plotted. The book, and the characters in it, are worth the investment in time and effort to get to know them.Book Review: Great Story For Readers and Football Fans
Summary: 5 Stars
For me to really like a book it has to be so good that I can't put it down, this book didn't do that. Though that is true this book was extremely good for one laking a very important thing, details. John Grisham never takes one paragraph to go into what the character looks like, I like my details but somehow this worked. Not only did he give you the story but did it very well in third person. I am impressed with Grisham writting techniques, considering how much story and entertainment I got from this novel.
Rick Dockery is a third string NFL quarterback (he is not the starter or even the second starter). Somehow Dockery gets into a game as a quarterback while playing for the Cleveland Browns. This is not just any game, it is the playoffs and if they win they go to the Super Bowl. Rick Dockery blows a 17 point lead and wakes up in the hospital the next day with a concussion. He is cut from the Browns and no team in the NFL would dare to sign him. His agent Arnie finds him a starting quarterback job for the Panthers, the Panama Panthers. Soccer is all the rage in Italy so their football is more of a country club sport, but Dockery is their starting quarterback and is being paid to play. Now Dockery has to deal with a new language, country and culture all while playing football.
I applaud John Grisham for his writing in Playing for Pizza. As a fan of football I was instantly drawn into the plot of this book, but I think that readers who don't like football would like this book and football fans who don't read would also enjoy this book. Playing for Pizza has a great football story but also follows Rick Dockery through his adventure in Italy with his friends, travels, experiences and love interest. The novel has such a dynamic plot that it would please a wide range of audiences. Neither the football nor the more romantic parts of the book die out at anytime. Every few chapter has a football game and then the next chapter will show Dockery on date, so the book is entertaining for all. Your learn so much about Dockery through his actions, and you learn to love him and want the best for him. This is a pleasure to read and anyone who likes football or a love story will defiantly enjoy this novel.