Review: Bleachers by John Grisham

Genre: Sports Fiction 
Publisher: Dell 
Released: 2003
229 pages

About the Book:

High school all-American Neely Crenshaw was probably the best quarterback ever to play for the legendary Messina Spartans. Fifteen years have gone by since those glory days, and Neely has come home to Messina to bury Coach Eddie Rake, the man who molded the Spartans into an unbeatable football dynasty.

Now, as Coach Rake’s “boys” sit in the bleachers waiting for the dimming field lights to signal his passing, they replay the old games, relive the old glories, and try to decide once and for all whether they love Eddie Rake – or hate him. For Neely Crenshaw, a man who must finally forgive his coach –-- and himself – before he can get on with his life, the stakes are especially high.

My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐

Former high school football players have gathered back in town upon the news that their football coach is dying. They sit in the bleachers at the field and reminisce about their playing days and some of the regrets they have. It is told mainly from the point of view of Neely Crenshaw who was the All-American quarterback 15 years prior. At one point a group of guys are on the bleachers listening to a replay of one of their famous state championship games and as I don’t know football at all I was so confused and bored. It was a quick read though and I was interested to see where the story went. You begin to realize that the coach was both loved and hated by the players. This coach coached for like 30 years or so and you learn that he made a huge impact on the players lives, some positive and some negative. I didn’t really understand the point of the book, maybe it was to see that we have a different perspective when looking back at events that happened. 

(I purchased my copy of this book; opinions expressed 

in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

Other books from this author that I have reviewed:  

   

The Litigators

The Innocent Man

The Whistler