Calico Joe
by John Grisham
- Percentage of approved critics who have given this book a positive review.
Critic Rating
58%
Critic Reviews: 44
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- User rating from iDreamBooks & iTunes
Reader Rating
79%
Reader Ratings: 2442
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Synopsis
A surprising and moving novel of fathers and sons, forgiveness and redemption, set in the world of Major League Baseball... Whatever happened to Calico Joe? It began quietly enough with a pulled hamstring. The first baseman for the Cubs AAA affiliate in Wichita went down as he rounded third and headed for home. The next day, Jim Hickman, the first baseman for the Cubs, injured his back. The team suddenly needed someone to play first, so they reached down... more
About John Grisham
- All Critics: 44
- Positive: 30
- Negative: 14
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Kansas City Star | 23 May 2012
Call this one a bloop single for Grisham, a slugger capable of much more. And further evidence that, as a writer, he's probably more Minnie Minoso than Babe Ruth.
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Chicago Tribune | 19 May 2012
I wanted more brick dust. I wanted more about what the tragedy did to Joe Castle's family.
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The Washington Post | 6 Apr 2012
It’s a sweet, simple story, a fable really. And like all fables, it has a moral: Good can come out of evil; it’s never too late to confess your sins and seek forgiveness.
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Good E-Reader | 30 Apr 2012
Grisham makes all of us become baseball fans, at least for the duration of his book.
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Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer | 14 May 2012
The story is heartbreaking and realistically written, mixing in real people, events, and places with fiction.
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USA Today | 9 Apr 2012
...Calico Joe is no World Series thriller decided in the last at-bat. It’s more like a pleasant, mid-season afternoon at the ballpark, when the home team slowly rallies and wins.
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Book Reporter | 13 Apr 2012
It may lack the suspense and fast-paced tumult of his legal thrillers, but its more taciturn style is appropriate for a baseball book because, as he observes early on, baseball is a game “played without a clock.”
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Oregon Live | 21 Apr 2012
Grisham swings, misses with a baseball tale of redemption...not a great baseball novel..."Calico Joe" is a melodrama.
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Seamheads.com | 12 Apr 2012
... the book is a good reminder of the fragility of our innocence and the fallen nature of all of us, even our greatest heroes...for those who are baseball fans, it is a must read!
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Esquire | 25 Mar 2012
...baseball is a sentimental sport, and with spring training under way, this was exactly the reading experience I wanted.
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Onyx Reviews
It's a story governed more by emotion than suspense. Grisham pulls out all the stops to manipulate his readers.
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Boston.com | 10 Apr 2012
Baseball serves as background to the preposterously unlikely achievements of one character so heroic that his doom is certain...melodramatic...improbable.
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Under My Apple Tree | 9 Apr 2012
This is a charming, emotional story with a touching ending. Highly recommended.
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BookHounds | 9 Apr 2012
This story about family and redemption with roots in baseball that will have you trying not to get too emotional but still tearing up like a Hallmark special.
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Mississippi Press | 21 May 2012
"Calico Joe" is a wonderful book that begs to be made into an iconic movie.
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Chronicles of Natalie | 9 Apr 2012
As anyone who loves baseball or has a family member who loves baseball knows, those stats come as easily as breathing, and John Grisham moves easily between the world of baseball to the private stories of the men and boy in this story.
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The Mystery Lady | 8 May 2012
If you’re a baseball fan, you will most likely enjoy Calico Joe. If you’re not a baseball fan, you will most likely enjoy Calico Joe.
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BookPage | 1 Apr 2012
As with all Grisham novels, it is a smart, smooth read--and it's guaranteed to entice thoughtful fans of the summer game.
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Deseret News | 28 Apr 2012
To put it in baseball terms, "Calico Joe" is not a bottom-of-the-ninth, two outs, game-winning hit in the postseason, it's more like the home team coming back to win after trailing by several runs in the fifth inning on a warm summer evening.
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C Mash Reads | 21 Mar 2012
It was much more than a “sports related” book, it was about making amends, truth and coming to terms with a relationship between father and son.
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Yahoo! Voices | 17 Apr 2012
It might not be the timeless classic that baseball fans always hope for, but like a utility infielder it was strong up the middle with a serviceable bat.
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Lincoln Journal Star | 14 May 2012
Grisham has found the perfect combination of the hopes of the Chicago Cubs, the joy of baseball, the love-hate of father-son, the "Code" of baseball, jealousy, crime, redemption and death.
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Sippy Cup Mom | 27 Mar 2012
Calico Joe is perfect for celebrating the upcoming MLB Opening Day and also Father’s Day.
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Only A Game | 14 Apr 2012
Still, some of the baseball elements of Calico Joe struck me as carelessly executed, or perhaps insufficiently edited.
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Just Another New Blog | 22 Apr 2012
A surprising and moving novel of fathers and sons, forgiveness and redemption, set in the world of Major League Baseball.
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Wrighty's Reads | 18 Apr 2012
Grisham weaves an interesting tale filled with drama and heart...The ending is very satisfying and brings a form of closure to a broken little boy as well as the reader.
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Cornell | 21 Apr 2012
Grisham swings, misses with a baseball tale of redemption.
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Bookfan | 10 Apr 2012
Grisham’s story is heartfelt... it will resonate with other baseball fans as well.
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Los Angeles Times | 19 May 2012
Can a baseball book not leave you with the smell of mustard in your noggin' and brick dust under your nails? This one does. Grisham would've done well to study a little Red Smith or Roger Kahn as a pre-writing warmup drill.
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Chicago Sun Times | 13 Apr 2012
In baseball terms, Calico Joe is no World Series thriller decided in the last at-bat. It’s more like a pleasant, mid-season afternoon at the ballpark, when the home team slowly rallies and wins.
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Kirkus Reviews | 1 Apr 2012
...while the narrative and settings are solid, the story drifts toward a somewhat unsatisfying, perhaps too easy, conclusion.
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Ethan Casey | 24 Jun 2012
Calico Joe is wonderful...it’s good enough that the passage of time might well validate the immodest claim of the dust jacket blurb that it’s a classic.
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The Washington Times | 4 May 2012
Suffice to say he knows his way around the ballpark as well as he does a courtroom, lingo and all.
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Compass Book Ratings | 21 May 2012
The story may be fiction, but the way in which the characters come to terms with their issues and demons gives hope to those who may have some of the same issues.
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Deseret News | 28 Apr 2012
"Calico Joe" isn't the greatest baseball story ever told, but the elements of forgiveness and redemption are moving and drive the reader to keep turning pages.
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Live Your Dream | 14 Jun 2012
...this book is a must read for all! This is a story of family, passion for sport(baseball in this case), disappointments,forgiveness and resilience.
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Knitting and Sundries | 17 Apr 2012
I don't know what RBIs mean-I don't know what the numbers for batting averages mean, but I know an engrossing, page-turning book when I read one. After a few pages, you will not want to put it down.
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DNA | 13 May 2012
...it is no World Series thriller...Maybe I was expecting more than just a story on relationships or a family drama.
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The Washington Times | 4 May 2012
We know Mr. Grisham as the master of the legal thriller. Suffice to say he knows his way around the ballpark as well as he does a courtroom, lingo and all.
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nccoast.com | 25 Jun 2012
...your heart may experience a little tug and even a smile or two may automatically appear on your face as you get close to the end. This kind of progression in the drama is the stuff of great writing.
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Luxury Reading | 11 May 2012
... Grisham layered the details of Joe’s first few games, and baseball geeks will love it, but Calico Joe is really a book about people, forgiveness and relationships.
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Express | 15 Apr 2012
...a superbly written book which, though fewer than 200 pages long, deserves a place on any family bookshelf.
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Two Weeks Notice | 16 May 2012
Corny? Well, yes. If you don't like baseball, you might gag.
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