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Book Review of Playing for Pizza

Playing for Pizza
Playing for Pizza
Author: John Grisham
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Sports & Outdoors
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
2littletime avatar reviewed on + 57 more book reviews


Ready for something off the beaten path? This was a really great change of pace in a book. I picked this book up because I have been a lifelong Cleveland Brown's fan, one who lives in northern Indiana. Too I wanted to revisit John Grisham as it had been several years since I picked up one of his books. I still remember reading "The Firm" my first Grisham book and how the pages flew by. This is a little different from his normal pen, and quite a breath of fresh air. I would even recommend this book for those of the opposite sex and those partners who hate football. She might even find herself wanting to sneak a peak at football after reading the book! The story finds itself revolving around Rick Dockery who is a 3rd string Quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. Basically he enters the title game after an injury to the other two Quarterbacks ahead of him on the NFL roster. I will let you read what takes place in the book, but basically it leads to Rick's downfall in the NFL, and an agent who has a tough time finding him a gig after the downfall. Soon Rick is out of the country and playing Quarterback for a foreign pro team "The Parma Panthers" in Italy. What enspires is a coming of age book and Rick finding himself not just in the game of football. Along the way you get a flair for the life in a foreign country, tasting the food, seeing the sights, learning the customs and ways, and even a little romance is thrown in. I never had much of a desire to travel abroad, but this book makes me think twice on that stance as I love the tastes and sights set forth in this book. I really felt as though I could smell and taste the tantalizing food set on the tables before the players. Not only that, but could see the sights taken in by our main character and hear the language. If your ready to embark on a trip to Italy, and learn a little about the food, and perhaps even learn a little about our innner selves as we can feel the dissapointments of our main character, then pick up this book and score a touchdown then savor the moment when you finish it. Quite a delightful read and perhaps one of my favorites of Grisham.