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.

Superb listen

Even better the second time. Exceptionally well done. Grisham is a master writer. His best classic

Maggie

Very entertaining Described the meals and wines to perfection. It made me want to go eat Pizza and pasta. The story line was light but left with a moral of not letting others down.

Great story teller

As with all John Grisham's books this was great. He has got to be one of America's greatest story tellers.

Very entertaining

Having grown up in Italy, I very much appreciated the detailed descriptions of Italy in this book. The story was original and the book well written. I highly recommend this wonderful and entertaining book.

Never read anything by John Grisham

But heard the name, he was dismissed from my list as being too intellectual. I guess since this isn't his typical is why I loved it!! I actually cheered in my car!

Not much more than a play-by-play football game

A good travel log but not much more than that . Predictable arc and romantic involvement. No spy or espionage in this one . Disappointed.

Use your imagination.

Enjoyable, better than watching football on TV. NO COMMINTATORS. Football for the love of the game.

Entertaining

I've always enjoyed Grisham and this one did not disappoint. Good plot, although I can just about figure out what's going to happen, something changes. It's a good read (listen).

Loved it!!

Thought it was the perfect mixture of humor, romance and football. Great job by the narrator

An unexpected pleasure

Where does Playing for Pizza rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I first listened to this audiobook as a curiosity and it quickly became one of my favorite John Grisham books. It is a great story and it surprised me when I learned the audiobook time was less than 7 hours. It seems longer because it is such a good story.

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

The retelling of Rick Dockery's epic collapse in the AFC Championship Game and Dockery clandestine attack of the newspaper reporter on American soil.

What about Christopher Evan Welch’s performance did you like?

Welch does what I most enjoy, he acts out each character giving them their own personality and distinctiveness. He just doesn't do an Italian accent for an Italian character...he gives them some depth. I appreciate that. He even does a good job making the female characters seem credibly feminine.

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

The final play of the championship game where Dockery got his clock cleaned. You just knew that might be the end for Dockery.