Fans of “A League of Their Own” might delight in this earthier version, set mostly in Quinn, Montana, population 956. In addition to a foul-mouthed, hard-drinking (female) coach, Laverna Flood, of a ladies’ softball team, it features very quirky team members and a charming 12-year-old gay boy, Jake, who is the team’s official scorekeeper and fashion consultant.
The author states in a forward that the story is somewhat autobiographical, which might explain the fierce love he seems to have for his characters.
As the book begins, Rachel Flood, Laverna’s daughter, has returned home to Quinn to make amends, pursuant to her A.A. program. Although Rachel has been gone for nine years, most of the town still feels hostility toward her, especially all the women whose husbands or boyfriends were enticed into sexual liaisons with Rachel. No one is more angry toward Rachel than her own mother, but we don’t learn why for a large part of the book.
The story takes place over a softball season, and we get to know all the ladies on the team, as well as Jake (patterned after the author’s own experiences), quite well. Most of the story is hilarious, but there are sections that will knock you flat and devastate you as well. At the end, I just thought “wow.”
Evaluation: This is a terrific and in many ways astounding story. Highly recommended!
Rating: 4/5
Published by Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, 2016