Bleachers, by John Grisham, is about high school football in the town of Messina and their legendary coach, Eddie Rake. The town worships the football program because of this coach, to the point where the football booster club has more money than the school itself. In his years as head coach, the team won 13 state titles and over 400 games, including a winning streak that lasted six years and 84 wins. Neely Crenshaw was one of the star quarterbacks under Rake, so good that his number was retired. When his NFL hopes were shattered from a cheap shot while playing college ball, Neely’s life does not have much meaning. When he receives word that Coach Rake is ill and will soon pass away, Neely travels home to Messina, where he had not been in over ten years. He meets up with other players at night in the bleachers of Rake Field, where they used to play, and they sit and remember days of glory under Rake as they wait for him to die. Players from all different years under Rake’s rule show up, a rule that lasted thirty-four years. They all recall their own stories from their days of powerhouse football as they wait for the stadium lights to go out signifying the death of their famous coach. Neely must figure out whether he loved or hated Rake after years of stardom as a high school football star. He learns many lessons as he recalls the days under Rake, and as he tries to get his ex-girlfriend to forgive him from events that took place in high school. tThis is a book for all readers, as it covers many topics of life and touches on the importance of life lessons. Grisham uses a lot of dialogue in this novel, which at first is hard to follow, but gets easier and is quite enjoyable as you keep reading. This book is not all about football, though the characters share a commonality of playing under the same coach, and they often are found replaying the games from their high school careers. Grisham does not use a highly advanced vocabulary, making the book a somewhat easy read, and also a fun read. Grisham’s style of presenting the story makes you want to keep reading and find out how everything turns out in the end. Readers will not be disappointed with the story, or with Grisham’s style of writing. A compelling story really makes you take a step back and evaluate your own life where it is now. Reading Bleachers can help you make your life better, and remind you that life is not all about fame and stardom, but is about being happy and enjoying what you have and making the best of things. If you want a good read that will help you in life, this is a good book for you. I enjoyed reading this book and I am a big fan of Grisham. I like his writing style and they way he keeps you focused on the book and doesn’t let you stray from the storyline. I learned valuable life lessons while reading Bleachers. For example, I was reminded to always enjoy what I am doing and also never forget that I need to constantly evaluate where my life is at and where I would like it to be. When I finished reading this book, I wanted to read more of what Grisham has produced. I have heard many good things about Grisham and I can only back them up and say the same. The book is very interesting and it flows really well as you read. Out of ten, I would rate the book an eight. I highly recommend it for all readers because it captures football fans and also people who just like to read.
Jonathan BoyerMrs. BaltzPre AP English 1012 December 2008Bleachers by John GrishamIf you gave ever watched a high school football game, then you will know how they are filled with intense moments and not so intense ones. For coach Eddie Rake his life has been dedicated to high school football and some what reflects some of the high intensity moments and the not so intense moments. Author John Grisham gives you a look at a small southern town in a crisis as there most favored coach lies on his death bed.tNeely Crenshaw was an all American quarter back and was destined for fame. When in a game near the end of his high school career and getting ready for a collage team position when he was hit late in a play that severely messed up his right knee. After the hit and his career were over Neely moved away to another town. Neely was confused on if he liked Coach Rake or if he should hate him. After receiving news that his old coach is on his brink with death he returns to the town of Messina. Upon his return news spread quick of the once all American being back. The little town becomes very delighted to see him. While every were he goes he finds someone who knows him he cant get coach of his mind.tThe little town on Messina revolves around foot ball. When coach Eddie is hospitalized and a new coach takes his place things get really bad. The messina Spartans suffer from a losing season. This season is also the first in the schools history that the Spartans wont be going to the play offs. For the new coach he has to endure the humility and take the blame for the losing season.tCoach Eddie Rake is a do things his way kind of guy. Coach has no real plans he just does it and usually succeeds. Coach can make his self look like a real good guy and then he can make you angrier than you have ever been. Coach had a personality all to his self. One day he acted like he was just the world’s most jolly person then the next he would be angrier than a bull. t Neely is a guy you can get along with and is very out going. He is a grudge holder kind of person to. When neely gets hurt he holds everyone responsible but him self. Thus being his reason for moving away and not knowing if he should for give coach or hate him. While Neely sits on the old bleachers at the football field he sits and talks to some old friends. The lights around the field stay on during the night to signal that Eddie is still with them. When the lights go off it signals that Eddie has passed away. Now as Neely sits under the lights he has too make one of his biggest decisions. Will he forgive eddies or keep this grudge.tThe overall theme of this story is to not run away form your problems. If you have some problems no matter what size it can be worked out. This book I would recommend it to people who like sports and drama. I personally did not like this book and would not recommend it to someone who doesn’t like a lot of drama.
What do You think about Bleachers (2004)?
The book “Bleachers was a wonderful book to show you the positive and negatives of life when high school football is the main point. It also has a wonderful picture of what happens when you let an accident control your life. The coach showed me that there are people that you will consistently think about even with a bad situation. Everyone in life needs a person to help them with pushing yourself to get better more than we would push ourselves. If you decide to check out this book, you'll find the person who is your motivation. A weakness in this book is that there isn't really a situation in where something really exciting happens, most of it is sad. I would recommend this book to a classmate because it focuses on the outlook of life and everything that can occur. If this book was part of a series, I would continue to read it because its very interesting on how it is set up with everything happening very quickly. I would like to see how the team and everyone around would handle the whole situation.
—Belmin Zvekic
I like Grisham's stories (most of them), and while I am not a fan of football, I really liked this story. A legendary high school coach is dying, and his players from the past 44 years return home in his honor. For Neely Krenshaw, the return is particularly painful. He hasn't returned since the day he worn the State Championship 15 years earlier. He hadn't seen the coach since Neely sustained a pro-career ending injury his sophomore year in college. Neely has a lot to contemplate, accept, and forgive before he can move on.Lesson learned: When a person inflicts bad things on others, there will be a price to pay. Unfortunately, innocent people sometimes suffer.
—Katy
There is no doubt that Bleachers is not your typical John Grisham book. There is no legal intrigue. There are no courtroom heroics. Nobody is murdered. However, there is a good story here. At 163 pages, this book is closer to a novella than to a novel in length. I read the entire story in one day (I know, pretty lame) and it was a fun read. The story revolves around the return of football star Neely Crenshaw to his home town because of the impending death of his football coach Eddie Rake. Coach Rake made himself a town legend, but a controversial legend to be sure. Players from generations of teams migrate back to the field they played on – each for their own reason - to tell stories of their time in the program, both good and bad. Some see Rake as a hero while others can’t shake the man’s obvious flaws. But the real story is Neely trying to come to grips with his relationship with Rake – whether to hate him or respect him and the ‘incident’ kept a secret for 15 years – and the town’s reverence for both Rake and Neely over a ‘silly game.’ The book shines a light on the way sports can become far more than just sport and how people come to grips with their past when they are forced to come back to it. I think Grisham was wise to have written the story as such a short piece. It would have dragged if he attempted to turn it into a 350-page novel. But as it stands, it is a quick, fun read and I really enjoyed characters and the story.
—Chad Sayban
