• Calico Joe

  • By: John Grisham
  • Narrated by: Erik Singer
  • Length: 4 hrs and 35 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,935 ratings)

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Calico Joe  By  cover art

Calico Joe

By: John Grisham
Narrated by: Erik Singer
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Publisher's summary

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A surprising and moving novel of fathers and sons, forgiveness and redemption, set in the world of Major League Baseball…

“Grisham knocks it out of the park.”—
The Washington Post

It’s the summer of 1973, and Joe Castle is the boy wonder of baseball, the greatest rookie anyone has ever seen. The kid from Calico Rock, Arkansas, dazzles Chicago Cubs fans as he hits home run after home run, politely tipping his hat to the crowd as he shatters all rookie records. Calico Joe quickly becomes the idol of every baseball fan in America, including Paul Tracey, the young son of a hard-partying and hard-throwing New York Mets pitcher. On the day that Warren Tracey finally faces Calico Joe, Paul is in the stands, rooting for his idol but also for his dad. Then Warren throws a fastball that will change their lives forever.

Don’t miss John Grisham’s new book, THE EXCHANGE: AFTER THE FIRM!

©2012 Belfry Holdings, Inc (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Grisham knocks it out of the park.” (The Washington Post)

“An enjoyable, heartwarming read that’s not just for baseball fans.” (USA Today)

“Grisham has hit a home run.... Calico Joe is a great read, a lyrical ode to baseball, small-town America, youthful innocence and a young boy’s search for heroes.” (The Buffalo News)

What listeners say about Calico Joe

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    1,156
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Grisham is a master storyteller

Fabulous!!! This book touches the heart and captivates from the first minute and on through the last word!!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

pretty good read

loved it really good.
perrty good story line.
Good for baseball fans and non baseball fans.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Slow start - but worth a listen

It seemed like I spent too much time wondering how the different pieces of the story fit together, but once I was 30 minutes into it - things came together and this was a decent book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

It's true this is not the typical John Grisham legal novel, but he is just an excellent writer and storyteller, and that applies to this novel. Well worth the listen.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Baseball Fans Please Listen

If you could sum up Calico Joe in three words, what would they be?

Lovers of Baseball

Who was your favorite character and why?

Joe Castle (known as "Calico Joe"), He is a character of extreme virtue, who donates his signing bonus to a variety of charities. The character just knows how to humbly approach any difficult situation and outcome

What three words best describe Erik Singer’s voice?

smooth, steady and sophisticated

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I would say their were instances where I felt more powerful chills and emotions base on Erik Singer's performance. His voice is very smooth and sophisticated so in my opinion he doesn't speak in a manner that will make you laugh. But he will speak in a manner that will give you powerful emotions. A story I felt this emotion was when Joe Calico started his career off and hit 3 back to back to back home runs. His other stats to start the season off includee getting a hit in his first 15 at bats (that is just unheard of in baseball, and it vividly is displayed to us through Erik Singer's powerful manner)

Any additional comments?

If you are a long time fan of John Grisham and you enjoy baseball, then this book is the perfect match for you!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Story drawn out but necessary!

The author allows the reader to understand the relationships between the characters. I realize that the length of the story was necessary, but still felt it was drawn out a bit too much. Still a great story.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Very interesting, great basball history lesson!

What did you love best about Calico Joe?

What could have been,for everybody,if the father wasn't a jerk!

Who was your favorite character and why?

The son, no matter what, he still loved hos father.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

It was good enought

Who was the most memorable character of Calico Joe and why?

Calico Joe, becuse what might have been, and how he handled the apology.and his comment as " just part of the game" just like he bunted after hitting four consecitive home runs in his first big league start.

Any additional comments?

I wish alot of pitchers would read this book, maybe they would have a different take on " Baseballs infamous unwritten rules"

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Being a baseball fan I really loved the story, the ending brought tears to my eyes!

Being a baseball fan. I really enjoyed the story, the ending was vertand brought tears to my eyes.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book --very entertaining

Where does Calico Joe rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is a short listen and well worth it. Very entertaining, especially if you are a baseball fan

Who was your favorite character and why?

None in particular. All of the characters were entertaining

Have you listened to any of Erik Singer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Not sure

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A fast read - good for baseball fans.

What did you love best about Calico Joe?

Even though this is more about relationships than baseball, it is baseball that forms the setting for the story. If you like baseball literature, you have to give this one a listen.

Who was your favorite character and why?

n/a

Have you listened to any of Erik Singer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

n/a

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

n/a

Any additional comments?

The story is quite a sentamental one - but when finished, I couldn't help but like it. Worth a read!

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