Playing for Pizza

A Novel

By: John Grisham

Narrated by: Christopher Evan Welch

Length: 6 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Rick Dockery was the third-string quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. In the AFC Championship game against Denver, to the surprise and dismay of virtually everyone, Rick actually got into the game. With a 17-point lead and just minutes to go, Rick provided what was arguably the worst single performance in the history of the NFL. Overnight, he became a national laughingstock and, of course, was immediately cut by the Browns and shunned by all other teams.

But all Rick knows is football, and he insists that his agent, Arnie, find a team that needs him. Against enormous odds, Arnie finally locates just such a team and informs Rick that, miraculously, he can in fact now be a starting quarterback: for the mighty Panthers of Parma, Italy.

Yes, Italians do play American football, to one degree or another, and the Parma Panthers desperately want a former NFL player, any former NFL player, at their helm. So Rick reluctantly agrees to play for the Panthers, at least until a better offer comes along, and he heads off to Italy. He knows nothing about Parma, not even where it is, has never been to Europe, and doesn't speak or understand a word of Italian. To say that Italy holds a few surprises for Rick Dockery would be something of an understatement.

©2007 Belfrey Holdings Inc (P)2007 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

a great summer read.

I really like the fact it is about second chances and picking yourself up when you get knocked down and making the best of a bad situation because you never know when a new door is going to open on a new day

Need more pizza !

As much fun to listen to as it was to read... Leaves you longing for for a sequel

Great Detail Oriented Story

Reminded me of my time in Italy. I wish there was a sequel. It has all of the elements of a classic.

Playing for Pizza: A Novel

What made the experience of listening to Playing for Pizza the most enjoyable?

The story made the book enjoyable. Rick's love of the game and his Italian teammates enthusiasm.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Playing for Pizza?

The most memorable moment is when he turns down the Canadian offer for $80,000 a year.

What aspect of Christopher Evan Welch’s performance would you have changed?

None.

If you could take any character from Playing for Pizza out to dinner, who would it be and why?

The judge from Parma.

rmb

I enjoyed 'Playing for Pizza' so much that I completed it in only 2 settings. The book is about two of my favorite things: Italy and sports. I recommend the book to anyone that loves either of them.

Get the book and have a great read!
rmb

Great book for sports fans

Love this book. The audio version makes it even better. I listen to this book once every other month.

Just a Story

I like Grisham's storytelling so have read most all his non-legal fiction. This one starts with an interesting premise but there are no real challenges for the protagonist. No tension. Not a page turner. It's just a story.

okay but...

g[d if you understand football and the plays, felt like it was left hanging though

Fun

Football  was interesting story from Grisham, not law related. I very much enjoyed the book.

Give Him A Break!

Like many others have said, there is some good and bad to this story. You know Mr. Grisham is at his best with lawyers, courtrooms and the like. But I applaud his efforts to go somewhere else. To me, it improves his talent level! Even though the new style may need some work.

I am not a football fan, nor have I ever traveled across the great seas. However, I expand my horizons through reading. This book did that for me. Yes, some of the detailed descriptions of both the sport and the scenery got tedious, and I am not a fan of loose sex, but I have been more bored or confused or disgusted by other selections than this one.

There was no mystery, no twisting plot, but there was a story. The main character was enlightened in the end. We got to experience that change of heart along with him. That was the story. Predictable? Maybe. Entertainng? Definitely.

The narration was well done. Nothing spectacular, but well done. I appreciate Frank Muller and Michael Beck from numerous previous titles, but Mr. Welch did a fine job.

If you enjoy Grisham, you will still enjoy this slightly different style of his stories.