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I usually set out a rule that if I don't like a book within 30 pages, I give up reading it. Other than that I did not find anything else that was interesting or that compelled me to keep reading. That's it. For some reason, I broke that rule with this book and continued reading on. The story then drags on about life in Italy, food, women. I honestly did not find this book entertaining or captivating.
It turns out he was injured during a football match. I read about three-quarters of the book, and just had to abandon it. The story started out quite nicely, and I thought I was in for a thriller. There was an interesting anecdote about tortellini having been designed to resemble the belly button of a woman. It must be the other books I have read of the author that gave me higher expectations. A man wakes up in a hospital bed, not knowing why he was there and what had happened to him.
That was as much thrill as there was.
You can learn about the NFL behind the scenes, and football games are described. Evidently Grisham stumbled across American football in Italy and decided to write a book about it. But why would an NFL quarterback go play in Italy.
Grisham writes so skillfully that the book moves along, but it's a lightweight. He can, and should, do better. Livvy hasn't merged deeply into Italian ways either; after almost a year there, she is still eager to practice her Italian. Rick doesn't even seem to have much trouble with jet lag.
This is obviously how Grisham composed the book and that is the problem: obvious. There is some guidebook ogling of cathedrals and monuments, but since the main character never really has much to do with Italian culture, there is not much to read here about foreign culture, adjusting to living in a new land, struggling with a foreign language, or any of the other joys of culture shock. Let's say, an American player, okay, an NFL quarterback, just for fun. Food is described in such detail that vegetarians will want to skip parts of the meal scenes.
Football fans may love the book, others not so much. He must have screwed up really bad and gone to Italy as a last hope. You can pretty well figure out the story for yourself.
Usually you see more of a legal side in Grisham, now he is showing a sporty side of himself by writing this great book.In my opinion, anyone ten and older can read this very high paced book.And if you like sport books you will for sure like this amazing book. For young quarterback Rick Dockery football was life. AlexDes Plaines, IL So go to your local bookstore and buy this amazing book. But then during one of the most important games of the year two very unfortunate things happened to him and turned his life upside down. If you want to find out how The NFL star ends up in a little town in Italy playing football in Europe, you have to pick up this book right now and start reading it.John Grisham is a world, renowned author so you are guaranteed a good book.
Not his typical book so if you are looking for lawyers and intrique you will be disappointed. Fantastic descriptions of food, people and football. But if you want a little humor and you like traveling, this could be for you. I love John Grisham in all forms and I love seeing another side to his writing. Great lighthearted summer read-started my summer off perfectly.
If not it will be kind of difficult to be fully involved in the story.I would not recommend this one, certainly many other from Grisham.I hope this helps. I think if you have read Grisham before you will be a bit disappointed.I found the book a bit flat, except during certain parts where a football game is described.It's a different story that may require to know the basic of American Football which I did, but only very basic.
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