I have read or listened to every Grisham book. Most of his books are legal thrillers but he is first and foremost, a great storyteller. The fact that he is a lawyer that takes his fair share of shots at the legal industry doesn't hurt his standing with me.
"Calico Joe" is his newest novel. It is a shorter book in the tradition of "Bleachers" and "A Painted House". My "Type A" personality requires that I have my audio books set to a faster speed. I devoured this four hour book in about three hours - my two hours of driving to Winner and back plus an hour in my basement this evening working out.
If you read a preview or teaser for "Calico Joe", it is presented as a book about sons and fathers set in a backdrop of baseball. It certainly was that, but it was more about redemption and reconciliation to me.
The story is told by Paul Tracey as both a young boy and a grown man. When young Paul told his story of looking up to baseball players and memorizing the stats on the back of baseball cards, it evoked memories of my childhood. My summer days were full of baseball, wiffle ball and evening of trading baseball cards. All of the players young Paul spoke of were the heroes of my childhood. I felt like I lived much of the early part of the story.
Without giving away the story line, there is a theme of atonement and reconciliation. It reminded me of an experience that I had as a young boy (at about the time I was trading baseball cards).
I had a bully in my life for what seemed like years but was probably a couple of weeks. Every day after school, I had to walk by the bully's house. Every day, without fail, he was there with his goon friend to pick on me. I didn't realize it at the time, but though the bully was a year older than me, he wasn't any bigger than I was. Though it was not my nature, I probably could have kicked his ass.
He, obviously, realized that because he had befriended the biggest kid in his class. This goon was conveniently near the bully at all times. So I never got past thinking about the fact that the goon could sneeze and break me in two.
Since they terrorized me every night on my way home, I would constantly look for alternate routes. But they seemed to have a sixth sense and would always be between me and my house. They always found me.
I don't remember the circumstances around why the episodes stopped, but they did. Not long after, I forgot all about it. Several years later, I stood a head taller than the bully.
Flash forward about thirty five years. I see the ex-bully for the first time in a long time. As our eyes meet each other, I nod and he makes his way over to visit me. I am wondering what in the world we might have in common to talk about as he is obviously approaching me.
He sticks his hand out and greets me. I am still bewildered as I grip his hand and shake firmly (perhaps subconsciously trying to remind him that I am bigger and stronger that I was many years ago - and the goon is not by his side anymore!!).
But he wastes no time in letting me know the reason for his seeking me out. He acknowledged being a bully and told me he was sorry for what he did to me. I acknowledged that he scared the shit out of me but I forgave him. We had a good laugh. Our visit ended with him buying me a beer before he went back and joined his group. I thought about that interlude for several days wondering what would cause him to suddenly want to reconcile.
But reconcile we did and I know I felt better about it and I could only imagine how much better he must have felt if he had been carrying that around for thirty five years.
Not long after that, my bully was diagnosed with cancer. Shortly thereafter, he was dead. I have thought about him many times. I wondered if he knew or had some premonition that caused him to yearn for my forgiveness.
"Calico Joe" reminded me of my episode of redemption and forgiveness and how much better I felt that night after shaking hands with my bully. It reminded me just how much both acts set us free.
If you love baseball or stories of fathers and sons, or maybe need a reminder of how important redemption and forgiveness are in any relationship, let me recommend that you take an evening and read "Calico Joe".
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