At Westish College, a small school on the shore of Lake Michigan, baseball star Henry Skrimshander seems destined for big league stardom. But when a routine throw goes disastrously off course, the fates of five people are upended.
Henry's fight against self-doubt threatens to ruin his future. College president Guert Affenlight, a longtime bachelor, has fallen unexpectedly and helplessly in love. Owen Dunne, Henry's gay roommate and teammate, becomes caught up in a dangerous affair. Mike Schwartz, the Harpooners' team captain and Henry's best friend, realizes he has guided Henry's career at the expense of his own. And Pella Affenlight, Guert's daughter, returns to Westish after escaping an ill-fated marriage, determined to start a new life.
As the season counts down to its climactic final game, these five are forced to confront their deepest hopes, anxieties, and secrets. In the process they forge new bonds, and help one another find their true paths. Written with boundless intelligence and filled with the tenderness of youth, The Art of Fielding is an expansive, warmhearted novel about ambition and its limits, about family and friendship and love, and about commitment--to oneself and to others.
Henry's fight against self-doubt threatens to ruin his future. College president Guert Affenlight, a longtime bachelor, has fallen unexpectedly and helplessly in love. Owen Dunne, Henry's gay roommate and teammate, becomes caught up in a dangerous affair. Mike Schwartz, the Harpooners' team captain and Henry's best friend, realizes he has guided Henry's career at the expense of his own. And Pella Affenlight, Guert's daughter, returns to Westish after escaping an ill-fated marriage, determined to start a new life.
As the season counts down to its climactic final game, these five are forced to confront their deepest hopes, anxieties, and secrets. In the process they forge new bonds, and help one another find their true paths. Written with boundless intelligence and filled with the tenderness of youth, The Art of Fielding is an expansive, warmhearted novel about ambition and its limits, about family and friendship and love, and about commitment--to oneself and to others.
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Comments
1
momdigits
(Grade: B+) I was very impressed by this book and the fact that it is the first novel by the author. As much as I was drawn into the story, the characters and the sports aspect of the book I was often depressed and almost anxious while reading it. Needless to say, it is very well written and well thought out. I think it would make an excellent film and look forward to other books by the same author.
(Grade: B+) I was very impressed by this book and the fact that it is the first novel by the author. As much as I was drawn into the story, the characters and the sports aspect of the book I was often depressed and almost anxious while reading it. Needless to say, it is very well written and well thought out. I think it would make an excellent film and look forward to other books by the same author.(Rated on Aug 10, 2013)
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sandrasko2 (Grade: A+) Tragic and harmful relationship after relationship for the characters in The Art of Fielding.
(Rated on Sep 3, 2013)
0
bookappeal (Grade: B) Though baseball serves as an ever-present backdrop, carrying the story along as the Westish College team makes it's way through game after game with shortstop phenom Henry Skrimshander, the value of this novel lies in the self-discoveries and decisions made by the diverse and interesting characters in Henry's circle of friends and acquaintances.
(Rated on Oct 25, 2015)
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poeticlibrarian (Grade: B) Hard to believe this was a first novel... The characters, the place, the game are so fully developed and rich. I've heard a lot of reviewers say that this is definitely not a book about baseball - and I understand that they say that so that people who aren't into baseball won't be turned off, but it's not really accurate. The book is definitely not just about baseball -- but the baseball piece is very important to the story and the characters. This story couldn't be told without the baseball. I
(Rated on May 31, 2016)
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ladyflash (Grade: C) I really wish you could do half stars. this is a 3.5 I really liked it in the beginning and then less so but the last few chapters were good again.
(Rated on Jul 10, 2018)