Elements of Hitting

This is as fine of a novel with a baseball theme I've ever had the pleasure of reading. One, though, need only be a fan of great storytelling, characters, and writing to enjoy it immensely, as the baseball is clearly secondary to the story of Walter Innis, a man approaching forty, recently abandoned by his wife, reunited for the first time in twenty-five years with his dying and formerly abusive father,and suddenly without a job beyond that of the unpaid coach of his new girlfriend's son's baseball team. More than anything Walter's story is evidence of the fact that none of us, no matter how hard we try, can make it through life without confronting our pasts. When Walter finally confronts his the results are intermittently - and at times all at once - hilarious, gut-wrenching, shocking, sad, maddening, and, ultimately, uplifting. A great story filled with tremendous characters with all of the flaws and idionsyncracies that make them as believable as everyone you know. If only every novel with a sports theme, or every novel period, were written this well.

THE ELEMENTS OF HITTING is a hard hitting character study of a son and father, both having failed in their roles in some way. Don't be fooled by the cover. This is not the traditional "baseball book." Here, baseball is simply another place on the stage, a venue for participation, a venue where great tragedy and joy both occur. The novel is well-paced and anchored by memorable characters, not your ordinary "buddy" characters, however. The reader may have difficulty finding something to like about the hapless Walter Innis. But as his history is revealed, layer by layer, his honesty and complete lack of pretention should garner a measure of sympathy. It is gratifying to see such a gifted writer use the undying baseball metaphor.

The Elements of Hitting was something I picked up because of my love of Baseball, figuring it was another Dad and Son connect through "the Game" story. But it was much more than that. It illustrates how life throws curveballs and how you react to them, do you get into the game or sit on the sidelines. The use of the chapters switching back and forth between Walter Innis' current thoughts and his memories makes for an interesting read.

This was a very good book focusing not only the aspects of baseball, but more towards the aspects of life.

The book was a very good book, not focusing only on the aspects of baseball but more on life.