Playing for Pizza - John Grisham > Reviews

Advantages: Great read and interesting storyline
Disadvantages: American Football

Background: Having recently read 'Bleachers' by John Grisham, I was keen to try another by this author, as I believe you cannot judge an author on just book. About this author: John Grisham has written 18 best selling novels. He lives in both Virginia and Mississippi with his family. 'Playing for Pizza' was written and published in 2007. Storyline of the book: Rick Dockery is in hospital having suffered concussion from the American ... Read review

Advantages: A pleasant easy reading book.
Disadvantages: Not Grishams strength, ie it's not a legal thriller with courtroom brawling.

It's been a while but I've finally found the mojo to rustle up a review, so here goes. Rick Dockery, third choice quarterback for the Cleveland Browns American football team, wakes up in a hospital bed and he doesn't know how he got there, or more importantly why he's there. It's only when Arnie, his agent and one and only visitor, begins to fill in the blanks that the seriousness of his situation hits home. In the space of eleven minutes Rick ... Read review

Advantages: Lighthearted, Easy to read
Disadvantages: None

...and seeks refuge in Italy playing for Parma Panthers. The novel is written in an excellent style. The description of Rick settling in to his new lifestyle in Parma, the new environment, the food and wine, the people are all brilliantly described. You will probably want to visit Parma after reading this book. As the Italian NFL season progressess all of the elements of a good novel come in to play, love, hatred, redemption, success and failure. ... Read review

This is one of Grisham's better novels, another of those ones you find difficult to put down, not because it's a tense story where you have to know what's going to happen but simply because it's easy to read, it's lighthearted and enjoyable. The scene is set mostly in Parma, Italy where an American football loser of a quarterback hides from the shame of a bad game in the American league but continues to play in an un-heard of Italian league. Many of the Italian players play for free (or Pizza) and love of the game. The scene setting is very good, you will want to go to Parma after reading this - Grisham obviously ran with what worked in 'The Broker'.