Calico Joe

By: John Grisham

Narrated by: Erik Singer

Length: 4 hrs and 35 mins

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)

great baseball story

great baseball story and so much more
well worth a listen....
AAA NARRATOR....
NO ONE WRITES LIKE GRISHAM...
NO ONE

The Magic of Baseball

With this novel, Grisham brings home the magic of baseball, the dreams of a boy, a tyrannical father who is a pitcher for the Mets, but who somehow never had time nor love for his son. Grisham makes it possible for us to hear and feel the jostling of the crowds, the smell of the refreshments, and the diamond spread out before him. From the first crack of the bat to a rising dream and the end of a career, e experience it all. A short book, but a must-read that is exactly as long as it needs to be to tell the entire story.

Baseball is its own world

Enjoyed the story and the narration. Touching and inspiring. The power of forgiveness. Keep writing

Not my kind of book. It was sad and depressing.

But it was well done if you like this genre. Most of the book has me thinking about the terrible tragedy of a young baseball star Joe who was injured with permanent brain damage. This was done on purpose by a malicious pitcher who wanted to hurt Joe. The publisher’s summary mentions forgiveness and redemption, so I confirm that this happens. But it didn’t feel good to me. It felt too-little-too-late. There are many readers who will enjoy this, but it’s not for me. The author has done some great entertainment in the past, but this book is not entertaining. It’s introspective.

I’ve always loved Grisham for his character creation. And I liked seeing the creation of Warren the pitcher. Warren was a self-absorbed, philandering, wife-beating drunk. He was mean. He hurt his children. I liked reading about him because I’ve seen and known men like this. I liked the acknowledgment that they exist. Confirmation provides comfort somehow.

The narrator Erik Singer was excellent. This book is shorter than a typical novel - maybe a third the length.

Genre: tragedy and relationships fiction.

Great story but it is coming a life long Cub fan

Grisham has done it again, a non-legal novel that is really good. I do like John's legal work but have found his other books even more interesting. The ending is outstanding. There is good in all men.

Great Baseball Read

Wonderful blend of factual names, places in a fictional story. A great read for anyone who' played the game or just loves baseball.

Fathers, sons, and baseball

This was a departure for Grisham. It was more like A Painted House than the legal thrillers. I enjoyed it for what it was. But it is for lovers of sports, not for fans of legal thrillers. I would think that somebody who didn't enjoy baseball would find it extremely tedious.

Made me proud, Made me cry, Made me THINK!

What made the experience of listening to Calico Joe the most enjoyable?

I felt I was THERE, in the story!

Who was your favorite character and why?

The narrator, the writer, because I identified with is character.

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

I laughed and cried! It really made me think about my own childhood and how we played baseball in the field at BBQ's or in the park on weekends, how I wanted to play 3rd base JUST LIKE MY DAD... I had a dream...

Any additional comments?

This story really showed me the behind the scenes relationship of pitchers and batters; their "rules".

Amazing story

Would you consider the audio edition of Calico Joe to be better than the print version?

The performer was excellent so it made this easy to listen to

What did you like best about this story?

Teaching all about forgiveness

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

Not sure

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

YES

Any additional comments?

Loved this book and hope my boys who played baseball will get the chance to read this book!

Eric's read is brilliant

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

Life relationships regret

What did you like best about this story?

I listen to a lot of audio books and Eric was masterful at reading the different characters. Baseball is only the framework of this story about a relationship between a father and a son and a life of regret.