"The Art of Fielding" by Chad Harbach

528 pages

At tiny Westish College, baseball star Henry Skrimshander seems destined for major league greatness. He’s not the biggest or most athletic, but he has something special…a gift that is hard to put into words but is evident whenever he steps on the field. But then, as Henry is closing in on the record for consecutive games without an error, a routine throw goes disastrously off course. In that one moment, the fates of five people are changed forever.

I loved this book. The Art of Fielding is something special—a literary sports novel that captures the beauty of baseball and has a lot more to it as well. The characters feel so real that as I was reading I often forgot that they aren’t. I liked the way that their lives intertwine and how all of their choices and actions affect each other. The writing style fits the story perfectly, creating an almost nostalgic feel even though it takes place in the present. The baseball scenes are captivating and portray the mystical atmosphere of the sport. There are some surprises at the end and things are wrapped up rather nicely.  This is one that I recommend for all baseball fans…and everyone else.