This book was very frustrating for me. The protagonist loses his wife early in the story and is left to raise the son he hadn't really gotten to know before his wife's death. The story was good and an easy read, but it was rather predictable. More frustrating than predictability - details left untended (i.e., he learns from the coroner's report that his wife was six weeks pregnant ... that is never mentioned again) and really rotten-daddy behavior glossed over (i.e., in one breath he recognizes that his son is very young and grieving; in the next, he's belittling him for not being as strong a baseball player as he'd like ... in the next scene, he steps in to patiently teach another boy to pitch when HIS father is belittling him). Honestly, I can't say that I particularly enjoyed the book or that I would recommend it to others. I read the book last winter. I was torn between a four star and five star review. I really understand who Jack is. I went back to the days of coaching and realized in my last year of coaching that life was taking its' toll. Divorced, single parent, and a struggling company. I had become " Jack" in that last season. I was being way to hard on the boys and my son. It finally boiled over in a game to the point one of the assistants called me out during the game. I realized it was time to step down and regroup. The next year I was a supporting fan and did not interfere with the coaches. It was humbling but gave me a chance to reflect and just watch my two sons and daughter just play the game for fun. Baseball taught me how to be a dad again and to just sit back and relax. Reading about Melanie was very difficult as I lost my fiance in 2009 to cancer. Those memories are always there and never completely leave us. Thank you Rodney, I needed that healing. I will be re-reading those parts again and again. I don't want to steal any attention from Mr. Walther, but I couldn't help but notice how this book and two I just put out are really tied in with each other. A Baseball Coaching Manual that puts the fun back into baseball and Gods Plan A Glimpse Into Ones Life. All three make a perfect trilogy. In closing the lessons Mr. Walther brings to light are true life lessons, baseball is a timeless sport and teaches us the value of friends, family and God. Thank you for an excellent book.
What do You think about Broken Laces (2010)?
Great book for baseball chicks. Reminds me of the saying Baseball is Life.
—lkong
Like a Nicholas Sparks... This book was really sad to me...
—GurlyBee
