Calico Joe

By: John Grisham

Narrated by: Erik Singer

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From America’s favorite storyteller comes a moving novel of fathers and sons, forgiveness and redemption, hailed as “an enjoyable, heartwarming read that’s not just for baseball fans” (USA Today).

“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.

Critic reviews

“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

“[A] pleasure . . . Suffice to say [Grisham] knows his way around the ballpark as well as he does a courtroom.”—The Washington Times

“Grisham gets the baseball right. . . . If you were a fan of 1970s baseball, there’s plenty of memory-lane material to go around.”—Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

“As with all Grisham novels, he hooks the reader early with a compelling story line and carries you all the way to the finish like a well-pitched baseball game.”—The Charlotte Observer

Non sports fans will enjoy

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

I would consider any audio book better than the print version. I have a "bag" that I carry my kindle fire in so I can "read" while I am cleaning, working in the garden, driving longer distances in the car or after going to bed (with the sleep timer on) at night.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The middle aged man who told the story. Can't remember his name, but I remember him!!! The author and reader made him so real and so human that it would have been difficult NOT to understand his dilemma.

If you could take any character from Calico Joe out to dinner, who would it be and why?

The brothers of Calico Joe. There must have been a struggle for them as they supported their brother after the injury. Would want to ask what it was like for them.

Any additional comments?

I am not a sports fan. Deciding to purchase the book was not an easy decision for me because of that fact. However, I would recommend this book to people who are not necessarily interested in baseball. It is a beautiful story of only one of the many events that can happen to people as they journey through life---baseball just happens to be part of each characters life journey in this book.

"New old time classic"

What did you love best about Calico Joe?

I think every one loves an underdog story and that is what we have here with Calico Joe.
His rise from the minor league to "the majors" i thought was awesome because of the circumstances that got him there.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Calico Joe?

When Joe homers his first three times at bat as a rookie has to be for me the most memorable because of how incredibly rare that happens.

What three words best describe Erik Singer’s voice?

smooth, befitting, savy

If you could rename Calico Joe, what would you call it?

The real colossus of clout

Any additional comments?

A great book for all baseball lovers and those who enjoy an underdog story.

Not just a legal author!

I have so enjoyed listening to this book. I’m trying to determine the parts of the story that are actually true. We need some more Theodore Boone books John!

Grisham has finally written a winning "non-law".

Would you listen to Calico Joe again? Why?

No. I don't re-read books.

What did you like best about this story?

The "feel good" ending.

What does Erik Singer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Different characteristics of the voices.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

...Heartbreak & Healing

Any additional comments?

The beginning had more statistics than I would have liked; however, using names of actual baseball figures kept my attention. I especially liked the little bits of humor here and there.

Great book, emotive performance!

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

Emotive, entertaining, baseball

What was one of the most memorable moments of Calico Joe?

Don't like spoilers

What does Erik Singer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Intonation. And the Calico Joe and Waren impressions transport you there.

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

Calico Joe. Outstanding character.

Any additional comments?

I'm a baseball fan, but I don't know every statistic and history. So, I don't know the accuracy of the facts, but I don't care. They are todl in such a way that it's pretty exciting,