The art of fielding book club

Henrys fight against selfdoubt threatens to ruin his future. Chances are if you liked the art of fielding, youll find something similar in harbachs magazine seventhinning stretch harbachs publisher seems to go with a lessismore approach to promote the book on their website. Written with boundless intelligence and filled with the tenderness of youth, the art of fielding is an expansive, warmhearted novel about ambition and its limits, about family and friendship and love, and about commitmentto oneself and to others. It was named one of 2011s best books by the new york times and the new yorker.

It is an expansive, warmhearted novel about ambition and its limits, about family and friendship and love, and about commitmentto oneself and to others. The art of fielding by chad harbach, paperback barnes. Chad harbachs novel the art of fielding is the next pick for the leonard lopate show book club. The highly anticipated novel the art of fielding, by chad harbach, has just been published. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. The art of fielding attempts to squeeze itself into a wellpopulated lineup with its tale of a baseball prodigy on the verge of greatness, but novelist chad harbach acquits himself well in his first atbat. Ten years in the writing, an astronomical advance, lauded by the great and the good, already the. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. The art of fielding is a first novel that arrives from the united states with great fanfare. Chad harbach, author of the art of fielding on the leonard. When you start to read the book, you think that it is primarily going to be a story about henrya poor boy who takes advantage of his prodigious baseball skills and makes it to the big leagues.

It centers on the fortunes of shortstop henry skrimshander and his career playing college baseball with the fictional westish college harpooners. At westish college, a small school on the shore of lake michigan, baseball star henry skrimshander seems destined for big league stardom. This month we are reading the art of fielding by chad harbach. The athletes talk about sacrificing their bodies to get better, and the sacrifice bunt is a baseball term that comes up frequently. At westish college, a small school on the shore of lake michigan, baseball star henry skrimshander seems destined for bigleague stardom.

At westish college, a small school on the shore of lake mic. There are 82 chapters in the art of fielding, so i am hoping to get through 10 a week. The admirable lightness of the art of fielding the new. The art of fielding critics cant decide if chad harbachs the art of fielding is really a book about baseball. The book club is reading the art of fielding in september. Written with boundless intelligence and filled with the tenderness of youth, the art of fielding is an expansive, warmhearted novel about ambition and its limits, about family and friendship and love, and about commitment to oneself and to others. Voyage out book club the art of fielding bookpeople. But when a routine throw goes disastrously off course, the fates of five people are upended.

Chad harbachs the art of fielding crossbreeds two genres with limited gene pools. Its pure fun, easy to read, as if the other fielding had a hand in itas if tom jones were about baseball and college life. The great british bake off presenter noel fielding has opened up about his virtual art club that aims to help families beat those isolation blues. The art of fielding libe compact disc quail ridge books. First novels this complete and consuming come along very, very seldom. Harbach is really comfortable not only with the nuances of baseball but life, relationships, and the curveballs they throw. Gessen exposes the modernday book business for what it is.

Book club books are 10% off for those who attend the meeting. Written with boundless intelligence and filled with the tenderness of youth, the art of fielding is mere baseball fiction the way moby dick is just a fish story nicholas dawidoff. Reading the art of fielding is like watching a hugely gifted young shortstop. You know that weird paradox you feel when you like a book but kind of wish it was over. Summary at westish college, a small school on the shore of lake michigan, baseball star henry skrimshander seems destined for big league stardom. Find discussion questions and reading group guide for the art of fielding by chad harbach. The art of fielding is a 2011 novel by american author chad harbach. So while i can recommend the novel, with reservations, i cant make the four star leap. The art of fielding, chad harbachs debut novel, hits stores today.

Noel fielding talks virtual art club and new bake off co. As a special birthday gift to me, my book club met last monday to discuss the art of fielding by chad harbach. Itis an expansive, warmhearted novel about ambition and its limits, about family and friendship and love, and about commitmentto oneself and to others. The art of fielding book club kit saint paul public. Were happy to announce that well be reading it this month in the book club, and that chad will be joining us for. The novel was nominated for the guardian first book award, and. The art of fielding seems to set out to destroy, singlehanded if need be, any idea that college sport is an overfunded and culturally narrow distraction from. Reading guide for the art of fielding by chad harbach. Chad harbach has hit a gameender with the art of fielding. This will be a great way for area groups to share not just the titles. Chad harbach, author of the art of fielding on the leonard lopate. I felt that around, oh, page 350 of the art of fielding. The art of fielding by chad harbach book club discussion.

The novel was nominated for the guardian first book award, and was. Chad harbachs the art of fielding is one of those rare novels like michael chabons mysteries of pittsburgh or john irvings the world according to garp that seems to appear out of nowhere and then dazzles and bewitches and inspires until you nearly lose your breath from the enjoyment and satisfaction, as well as the unexpected newsblast that the novel is very much alive and. This week for the keepin it real book clubs books in 140 seconds, erin balser and jen knoch talk about chad harbachs the art of fielding. The novels title doubles as that of the spiritual guide 18yearold henry skrimshander uses to perfect his game while slugging away on an american legion team in south dakota, idolizing. Harbachs muscular prose breathes new life into the american pasttime, recasts the personal worlds that orbit around it, and leaves you longing, lingering. Centering on an imaginary northern wisconsin private school and its baseball. Hank skirmshander looks to be a rising baseball star, but his talents take a serious dive while playing for westish college. Were happy to announce that well be reading it this month in the book. Chad harbachs the art of fielding is 23rds strong but maybe 100 pages too long. As part of hachette books giveaway, im offering a book club up to 10 copies of the art of fielding by chad harbach. Henry is recruited by mike schwartz to play shortstop for the westish harpooners because henry is the best shortstop ever.

The art of fielding is an expansive, warmhearted novel about ambition and its limits, about family and friendship and love, and about commitment to oneself and to others. We stuck to the discussion questions pretty well and there. In the process they forge new bonds, and help one another find their true paths. I read this vividly written, powerfully imagined story of a group of young. You can help us build our book club kits collection by donating copies of books your group has read. Chad harbach will join us for a live online chat on wednesday, september 28th, at 2 p. The art of fielding follows four different characters as they play baseball, pop pain pills, and find love at westish collegea fictional college in the real state of wisconsin.