The synopsis: When I was thinking about what to write here, I was thinking about the main character. Initially, I thought of this as Henry Skrimshander - a young college student whose talents as a shortstop have him destined for an amazing if not perfect future in baseball. However, upon further reflection, I realized that the main character in this novel wasn't Henry but rather baseball itself. I think Henry is certainly our "tragic hero" but the one constant (to steal a line from Field of Dreams) remains baseball. The game itself - the character of baseball in this novel - never disappointed me; never let me down; never pretended to be something it wasn't. That being said, here's what: The Art of Fielding is about several different characters, all at a pivotal point in their lives; all searching for their own truth. Henry Skrimshander - as stated - is an outstanding baseball player, destined for greatness. On the eve of breaking the record for games without errors, set by his hero, he makes a routine throw that goes disastrously wrong and leaves him, for the first time, unsure of who he is and if he's anything without baseball. Wetish College president, Guert Affenlight, has for the first time fallen unexpectedly in love with Henry's roommate, Owen. It's an affair that has all the potential of happiness and disaster. President Affenlight's daughter returns to Wetish after a ruined marriage to start her life over but she seems destined to continue making mistake after mistake. And Mike Schwartz - Henry's best friend and motivator - realizes that in focusing so much of his time and attention on Henry's future, he's forgotten to make one for himself.
Why did I love this book? Well, 1) Baseball - I love baseball. And though it is definitely a book surrounding America's favorite pastime, it is so much more than that. 2) I loved the flawed characters of this book. I didn't mind hating some of the good guys sometimes because their flaws were so human and worthwhile. (Interestingly, the most unflawed, not-searching-for-his-truth-because-he-already-knows-who-he-is character is Owen, the gay, environmentalist having a clandestine affair with his college president, 40-some years his senior.) 3) I thought about the characters in this book, long after finishing. I wondered what they were doing and if they were still on the path toward their "truth". Now that's a good book! I love a book that wraps things up but not so neatly - leaving that room for wonder and hope for the, though fictional, very real characters.
Definitely read this book! You won't be disappointed.
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