I can't remember the last time I read a John Grisham book. As an adolescent I was religious in reading all of his early books... The Firm, The Client, Pelican Brief... I probably read the first 8 to 10 novels that he released. They were exhilarating. At some point my addiction fell off; I can't remember if the books got worst or I grew out of them.
A few months ago my son read a few of his books that were young adult fiction (we actually read parts of some together), and they were excellent. I forgot how much I enjoyed his entertaining storytelling style. So, when someone dropped of Sooley, and I realized that it had been given some positive reviews and was about basketball, I figured I had to give it a try. As usual, Grisham did not disappoint.
A departure from his typical novels, this book had nothing to do with lawyers or the judicial system. Rather, this book was about basketball. Well, mostly basketball, it also focused on immigration and tribal warfare in South Sudan. Nicknamed Sooley, the book's main character is an engaging and lovable individual who you can't help but root for. Raw, athletic, young, and still learning the game of basketball, his story of coming from a dirt court in Sudan to being one of the best players in college, is a wonderful story.
As a whole, the book is well told, has strong pacing, engaging characters and a memorable ending. Really, many of Grisham's trademarks. As a basketball fan, the book reads realistically and the details about his play, the games, coaches, etc., all resonated with me as a basketball aficionado. While the ending seemed a bit unrealistic, I think I understand more clearly why he chose to go in that direction after thinking more about the book in the past few days.
There's no major drawbacks; it's a strong book and good story. At time it seemed a tad unrealistic and on a few occasions I felt like I wanted to know more about certain characters and their motivations. However, I like the length as told so not sure how that could have been accomplished.
Overall, the book is an entertaining and enjoyable read that likely would be enjoyed by all audiences. If you are a Grisham or basketball fan (like me), the book is a must read.
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