Book Name: Playing for Pizza
Author: John Grisham
So I lied. This is not the post about Horny werewolves and the dashing Amnesiac Prince, instead I give you -the very random-Playing for Pizza. I was in a very sad airport bookshop (which stacked itself high with books on management and guides to the quickest way to the fastest buck) and I had over four hours in all to waste. So I picked up the book for the purely superficial reason that I liked the title (pat yourself on your back, moniker makers!) and well it was John Grisham and we’ve all read or heard of some of his legal fiction at least and this seemed different. ah well…it was as random a read as ever.
First off, I don’t get football americano…every time I see American sport movies with the particular game, there’s always a vague voice at the back of my head shouting, “THAT’S not FOOTBALL!!!” “STOP calling it FOOTBALL!!!”. I don’t know much about it… Perhaps, if I did understand the game, parts of the book that describe the game would have appealed to me more.
I guess the reason I bought it, was its interesting premise -the idea of a jaded quarterback whose been shipped off to Italy. The fact that the game actually EXISTS in the mecca of real football was even more interesting.
Anyways, the book doesn’t really do anything with the interesting premise, than build a run of a mill sports movie around it…underdogs, love for the game v. fat pay check, angry fans, finding your strength, team spirit etc. Still it has some nice touches to it, like the Cleveland reporter who can only find the worst in every one of the quarterback’s games, the very fine description of Italian cuisine (that might just be the foodie in me taking interest), and the slightly open ended finish.
I was Okay with the book. Served its purpose rather well as it helped me pass the time, waiting for my plane to land as it circled the airport for over an hour.
Hardcore John Grisham fans may, however, find it disappointing for its very non John Grisham air, or perhaps it’s nice having something different from the author you like? I am just guessing.
