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Bleachers
Bleachers
Author: John Grisham
High school all-American Neely Crenshaw was probably the best quarterback ever to play for the legendary Messina Spartans. Fifteen years have gone by since those glory days, and Neely has come home to Messina to bury Coach Eddie Rake, the man who molded the Spartans into an unbeatable football dynasty. — Now, as Coach Rake’s “boysR...  more »
Info icon
ISBN-13: 9780440242000
ISBN-10: 0440242002
Publication Date: 6/22/2004
Pages: 240
Rating:
  • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
 644

3.4 stars, based on 644 ratings
Publisher: Dell
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio CD
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Bleachers on + 23 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8
I love Grisham's voice in all his novels. This was a departure from the legal mystery genre, but it was an easy, enjoyable read. Great for any football fan, anyone from a small town, or who feels nostalgic about their high school "glory days."
reviewed Bleachers on
Helpful Score: 8
This book differs quite a bit from his usual lawyer tales, and is quite a bit slower. It's interesting to see a different side to his writing, but I did not prefer it.
reviewed Bleachers on + 174 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
This is more literary than what John Grisham usually writes. Standing alone as a departure from his courtroom dramas with all the mystery and suspense, Bleachers shows a new side of Grisham as a writer. He can write in other genres and still be the well-loved author whose characters come off the page.
reviewed Bleachers on + 16 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
Even though I am not a football fan, this is an excellent book. Really captures the feeling of hometowns, team spirit and friendship in the face of adversity.
gigi avatar reviewed Bleachers on + 355 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Bleachers is an OK book, but in my opinion, not one of Grisham's best.
Read All 133 Book Reviews of "Bleachers"

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reviewed Bleachers on + 38 more book reviews
This was not nearly as exciting as most of his books. The story was interesting and rather sad but I just wasn't thrilled about it.
reviewed Bleachers on + 2 more book reviews
This book is oh so true!
reviewed Bleachers on + 36 more book reviews
This book was surprisingly good, even though I am not a big football fan. Very enjoyable.
SGTBob avatar reviewed Bleachers on + 156 more book reviews
I really liked this book. Although not a typical John Grisham book, it provided plenty of suspense and entertainment.
John Grisham has experience as a prior QB on a HS football team and writes from those experiences. The perspective he provides gave plenty of references into the High School football persona.
Many of us misunderstand the revalance that HS football has provided to the typical adult in today's world.
Although I will have to admit that many readers will not appreciate this book (because it is not a typical John Grisham book) the contents within provide us with a notalgisic reference in which to relate.
If you haven't read it you may want to give it a try. I did laugh and cry throughout the book. It really brought back many memories of my High School Days for me.
Actually, order my book and I'll send it to you.
reviewed Bleachers on + 26 more book reviews
An excellent down to Earth story about life as it really is. Reliving what had been helps bring back good memories.
reviewed Bleachers on + 29 more book reviews
One-dimensional characters gather to say farewell to their iconic high school football coach, Eddie Rake. This controversial figure touched the lives of all of his players over the thirty years that he coached the Messina Spartans. What makes the story appealing, is that the main character, Neely Crenshaw is so believable, the divorced, former All-American quarterback who suffered a career-ending knee injury.
It appears that this book is really a short story, an assignment from writing class that begins something like, pick a moment where you felt profound emotion and blow it up. This story is really one moment in time that is exploded over a course of three days.
calibella avatar reviewed Bleachers on + 3 more book reviews
If you are from a small town where football means everything, this book will really resonate with you. It's a departure from Grisham's regular legal thrillers and a slower pace. It's like a reunion of the football players and their reminiscing of the old days.
reviewed Bleachers on + 14 more book reviews
Not his typical lawyer book. I liked this one because I love high school football, and the story was real for me.
tiffanyak avatar reviewed Bleachers on + 215 more book reviews
Not a great book, but is okay. Basically it's about a bunch of guys that were small town High School football stars who come together again as their legendary coach is dying. I didn't much care for it, but it was a great commentary on the 'glory days' fof High School athletes, and how seldom their stardom lasts for long, leaving them with nothing but the memories and a broken body to show for it. But, it's also a commentary on the lasting influence, whether positive or negative, a well-respected figure such as a coach can have on the young people they're around. Not a bad read, and it doesn't take long either.


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