A surprising and moving novel of fathers and sons, forgiveness and redemption, set in the world of major league baseball whatever happened to calico joe. The book s style mixes fact and fiction introducing fictional players into wellknown actual teams such as the new york mets and the chicago cubs and lets them interact with actual people such as yogi berra, and letting dramatic fictional baseball matches take place in actual stadiums. The narrator relates the tale of each man and their eventual meeting as batter and pitcher on a baseball diamond. Paul tracey gets a call from his fathers current wife. The kid from calico rock, arkansas, dazzles chicago cubs fans as he hits home run after home run, politely tipping his hat to the crowd as h. Told by the latters son, who is an active participant in the story, calico joe is mostly a love letter to the sport of baseball. About calico joe grisham knocks it out of the park.
Books for boys, divorce, ethics, family life, good book club. John grisham calico joe is not like any other john grisham book i have ever read. Calico joe is short and straightforward, exploring relationships and. The washington post its the summer of 1973, and joe castle is the boy wonder of baseball, the greatest rookie anyone has ever seen. As a result, a minor leaguer is called up to join the club.
This story is nothing like john grishams legal thrillers. Calico joe is the story of a budding baseball superstar and a journeyman pitcher, and of the circumstances that tied the two men together. As a ballplayer and as a person, joe castle is too good to be true. Apr 25, 2012 the book is a baseball fairytale with good triumphing over evil, but with no moral at the end. Jul 25, 2012 book two of the hampton roads show summer book club is calico joe by john grisham.
The first baseman for the cubs aaa affiliate in wichita went down as he rounded third and headed for home. His latest novel, calico joe, is not like that at all. Apr 25, 2018 welcome to the online book club for calico joe by john grisham. A wouldbe legend rediscovered joe castle, from calico rock, ark. The book is a baseball fairytale with good triumphing over evil, but with no moral at the end. Calico joe, written by john grisham, is a fictional baseball story about a man named joe castle. Yes, calico joe is a sports story, but its much more than that. Grisham departs from the law to weave a story about rookie baseball player joe castle of calico rock, arkansas, whos called up to the cubs in 1973 and thrills fans with an astonishing rookie season that breaks all the recordsuntil it comes to a sudden end. Calico joe quickly becomes the idol of every baseball fan in america, including paul tracey, the young son of a hardpartying and hardthrowing new york mets. Book two of the hampton roads show summer book club is calico joe by john grisham. This summary of calico joe includes a complete plot overview spoilers included. Calico joe, the new book by john grisham, is not a great baseball novel.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Aug 06, 2012 on the day that warren tracey finally faced calico joe, paul was in the stands, rooting for his idol but also for his dad. It is a story about fathers and sons and forgiveness and letting go of events in the past. Members of the club including chris reckling discuss the finer points of this baseball story. Calico joe quotes by john grisham goodreads share book. Calico joe book whatcom county library system bibliocommons. Find books like calico joe from the worlds largest community of readers.
When a young phenom named joe from calico rock, arkansas is called up to play for the cubs, he takes the country and young paul by storm. My husband is a life long cubs fan and i pulled him right in with the story of calico joe. On the day that warren tracey finally faces calico joe, paul is in the stands, rooting for his idol but also for his dad. Joe castle is by far the best rookie to ever play in the history of baseball.
Paul tracey is a young fan of joe castle and the son of warren tracey, a pitcher for the new york mets. Calico joe quickly became the idol of every baseball fan in america, including paul tracey, the young son of a hardpartying and hardthrowing mets pitcher. Here, grisham returns to a topicbaseballthat he explored previously in 2001s a painted house, the first of his novels not categorized as a legal thriller. As the son of a major league baseball pitcher, paul tracey not only longs to follow in his fathers footsteps, but loves everything about baseball. On the day that warren tracey finally faced calico joe, paul was in the stands, rooting for his idol but also for his dad. The sports element in calico joe may draw readers in, but the story itself will leave them with much more than baseball on their minds. Calico joe book port moody public library bibliocommons.
Calico joe switches back and forth between two different. John grishams latest novel, calico joe, is something of a departure from the arkansasborn authors many bestsellers. Discussion questions use our litlovers book club resources. Then warren threw a fastball that would change their lives forever. Calico joe quickly becomes the idol of every baseball fan in america, including paul tracey, the young son of a hardpartying and hardthrowing new york mets pitcher. Calico joe is a bit of a departure for john grisham. The father was a major league pitcher for the new york mets.
Calico joe by john grisham penguin random house audio. Apr 10, 2012 now the cubs must add a minor leaguer to the roster. In his latest book, calico joe, grisham takes his first crack at a novel about baseball. How to discuss a book helpful discussion tips generic discussion questionsfiction and nonfiction readthinktalk a guided reading chart also, consider these talking points to help start a discussion for calico joe. The books style mixes fact and fiction introducing fictional players into wellknown actual teams such as the new york mets and the chicago cubs and lets them interact with actual people such as yogi berra, and letting dramatic fictional baseball matches take place in actual stadiums. Calico joe john grisham calico joe is not like any other john grisham book i have ever read. Calico joe begins innocently enough with an ordinary event in a typical major league season. Calico joe by john grisham reading guidebook club discussion. Watching from new york is paul tracey, a baseball fan as avid as only an 11yearold boy can be. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading calico joe. Calico joe book bellingham public library bibliocommons. Calico joe immediately begins to set rookie records, leading the cubs to the top of the standings.
It is 1973, and chicago cub first baseman jim hickman is injured. Calico joe quotes showing 16 of 6 after a leisurely slide into second, joe bounced to his feet, looked at marichal, shrugged, smiled, and spread his arms as if to say, you throw at me, ill make you pay. Readers will find stats, records, play by plays, and phrases like high and tight and worked the count throughout the book. Calico joe may be considered a book for adults, but it is a great selection for young. Calico joe by john grisham, 9780553841275, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
Calico joe book hillsborough county public library. The uniqueness of this situation comes from the background of the father and the titular character, calico joe. Because their first baseman at aaa wichita is also hurt, the cubs must reach down to their aa midland texas team for 21yearold joe castle to join the major league roster. A surprising and moving novel of fathers and sons, forgiveness and redemption, set in the world of major league baseball. The kid from calico rock, arkansas dazzled cub fans as he hit home run after home run, politely tipping his hat to the crowd as he shattered all rookie records.