There are some very funny moments in this book, but the book as a whole is not funny. I found it both sad and a little unbelievable that a week of really crazy incidents could take a man who had his nose glued to an airplane window in order to see all the ballparks the plane passed over and turn him into someone who wouldn't look down to see a game in play. Plus, you are left not knowing what the future holds for our main character.

So the book gets 3 1/2 stars for being enjoyable but also unsatisfying. ( )

A novel about a hilariously tragic week in the life of a minor league baseball team and its manager. The chapter called Openers, which describes the first inning of the Opening Day game, is absolutely priceless, and the funniest tale I've read in years. Other chapters are similarly fun.

But the story, overall, is not fun, as everything unravels in an ungodly collision of incompatible characters. That you can see the inevitable disaster developing is painful, even as you laugh at everyone's antics.

Perhaps a bit rushed at the end, but absolutely delightful. Highly recommended.

This short review has also been published on a dabbler's journal. ( )