Thom reviewed Southpaw by Mark Harris
Review of 'Southpaw' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
Probably a better coming-of-age story than Huckleberry Finn, with a broader cast of characters and similar language. That said, baseball figures heavily, and those without an appreciation for the art are likely to be left behind in the dense descriptions of day-to-day struggles.
Baseball of this era has an inherent angle for character growth - the gradual acceptance of a rookie on a team. Here, this is coupled with other trials to form a satisfying Bildungsroman. Other characters are a bit more than 2D, and it is easy to see how three sequels flowed naturally. The most famous of these is the next book, [b:Bang the Drum Slowly|487233|Bang the Drum Slowly|Mark Harris|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328819477l/487233.SY75.jpg|1961039]. The Southpaw also has elements of a road trip, and is often compared to [b:On the Road|70401|On the Road|Jack Kerouac|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413588576l/70401.SX50.jpg|1701188], written a few years later.
My rating is 3½ stars, but I am rounding …
Probably a better coming-of-age story than Huckleberry Finn, with a broader cast of characters and similar language. That said, baseball figures heavily, and those without an appreciation for the art are likely to be left behind in the dense descriptions of day-to-day struggles.
Baseball of this era has an inherent angle for character growth - the gradual acceptance of a rookie on a team. Here, this is coupled with other trials to form a satisfying Bildungsroman. Other characters are a bit more than 2D, and it is easy to see how three sequels flowed naturally. The most famous of these is the next book, [b:Bang the Drum Slowly|487233|Bang the Drum Slowly|Mark Harris|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328819477l/487233.SY75.jpg|1961039]. The Southpaw also has elements of a road trip, and is often compared to [b:On the Road|70401|On the Road|Jack Kerouac|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413588576l/70401.SX50.jpg|1701188], written a few years later.
My rating is 3½ stars, but I am rounding down on goodreads due to the density of baseball. There were a few points where my lids began to droop, and I absolutely love the game. Unlike [b:Ball Four|762563|Ball Four|Jim Bouton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1391414699l/762563.SY75.jpg|81719], the majority of these are important to the story. A chapter or two from the main character dealing with the minutiae (for example, a letter to his girlfriend) would help the more casual reader. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.