The Art of Fielding

Not being American or a team sports fan my knowledge of baseball prior to this book was about zero, I needed to Wikipedia a few terms and do a bit of background research to really follow it - for that I am grateful. I am not exactly an expert but I feel understand the game better and although will never become a fan myself I can understand why people might.That aside the book is well written and had some nice ideas which I think could have been developed more - I felt more could have been made of the fictitious guide to baseball fielding that shares the title of the novel. All references to the great guide seemed to peter out as the novel developed which was a shame for me as I felt it was the heart of the novel and could have been used more metaphorically.Ultimately I found it a chore to read for three reasons.Firstly common to this genre of college set books the academic references read like pretentious showing off by the writer - please instead of endless references to previous great writers and chest thump knowledge of them just do good writing in their honour. The references to Melville are clearly vital to the plot the rest were just dull.Secondly at times I felt the writing lacked confidence, which it didn't need to. So to caricature an example a character walks into a room makes eye contact with another character, heart rate rises, stumbles over their words, checks if anyone else has noticed, blushes etc... then the writer feels the need to explicitly add that the first character has feelings for the second - really I would never of realised!But for me the the third problem is by far the greatest, by half way through this long novel the ending was utterly predictable with only a few minor twists. Once you knew the characters (which were well developed and really very good) aided by the heavy hints laid down in the narrative (see my second point) it was blindingly obvious were it was leading which made the second have a dull trudge.

The game of baseball is a mystery to me, and has little appeal, even less so the fancy dress that seems to go with American field games, and having read the book I may be a little better informed about the game but I am no more enthusiastic; but none of this hindered my enjoyment of The Art of Fielding.The novel centres on a small group of individuals: Henry Skrimshander the young teen with an exceptional talent when it comes to handling a baseball; Mike Schwartz the college baseball captain how discovers Henry and talks both Henry and the quite backwater Westish College into his enrollment; Owen the super cool, gay black who is Henry's college roommate; Guert Affenlight the college principal; and Pella his daughter. We do get to meet other member of the team who comprise a wide mix of natures but their role is relatively minor.Henry and Mike soon become close friends, in fact Henry seems to have little else in his life besides baseball and Mike, so when things start to go wrong for Henry he is dependent on Mike, who is not always up to the task. His involvement with Henry is not helped when Pella appears on the scene and inevitably distracts Mike.Keeping an eye on the proceedings is Guert Affenlight, but this dashing and handsome older man begins to take too close an interest in Owen, an interest far from discouraged by the beautiful, slender young man, but which can only lead to disaster.The Art of Fielding is a well written and well constructed story, my appreciation of which was in no way hampered by my lack of interest or knowledge of the game of baseball. The characters are appealing and and clearly individual and one soon becomes concerned for each one of them; this is a touching and rewarding story of loyalties and friendship.

Set in the small unfashionable Westish University on the shores of Lake Michigan, the book follows the interlocking lives of five main characters as they approach some individual watersheds.Mike Schwartz is the apha-jock leader of the college baseball team, inspirational to others while suffering his own crisis of confidence in his post-graduation future. Henry Skrimshander is the ace baseball fielder in the key short-stop position, discovered, recruited and mentored by Schwartz, and seemingly destined for a career in the majors. Owen Dunne is Henry’s roommate and unconventional fellow member of the baseball team – more aesthete than athlete. Professor Guert Affenlight is the college Principal, an alumnus of the college and the team; and Pella is his prodigal daughter whose return threatens to upset an apple cart or two.Although the baseball team’s progress provides the narrative backdrop it is the developing relationships between these five that drives the book. These are multi-dimensional – within the family, inside the team and, inevitably, between lovers.The sporting context is nicely counterbalanced by the academic setting as Westish revers literature in general and Herman Melville in particular. This is due to a connection with the Moby Dick author, discovered by Guert Affenlight in his grad student days, and celebrated by the sports team’s nickname of the “Harpooners”. Poetry, philosophy and art are discussed almost as often as pitching, hitting and fielding (themselves considered an art by aficionados).Such linkages and cleverly interweaved storylines add depth to the book, as do the complex and likeably flawed characters. Although in need of a good shake every now and then, their intentions are good and their errors, mainly due to their youth, are forgivable.Knowledge of baseball is probably not essential to the enjoyment of this fine book, but as a keen follower I may not be the best judge. Certainly as a fan of the sport, I loved the book even more for its sporting context and references.

I read this on the back of the Guardian recommendation of best debut novels 2013 and reading a passage from it which described a game. I bought it because I thought the writing very beautiful - like that of a poetic sports commentator. I know nothing about baseball and I was a bit worried that my reason for buying it would not pan out because of that. I didn't need to worry - I completely loved it and got intensely wrapped up in the characters and the story. Guert Affenlight and Pella, Mike, Owen and Henry Scrims took up place in my unconscious and will no doubt stay there for a long time. To me it was like a cross between The Secret History and Dead Poets Society. I especially liked Pella and laughed out loud in recognition of her thought process and subsequent cleaning of Mike's kitchen the morning after. If Harbach does write a sequal I will snap it up but I am not sure I could feel as much delight reading it as I did 'The Art'. But that is not meant as disincentive Mr Harbach...

I heard about this book while listening to the author on the Radio 2 Drivetime programme. I like sport but I love well written literature more and know almost nothing about baseball.Reading this reminded me of John Irving, it has the same gentle style and pace of The world According to Garp or a Prayer for Owen Meany. Baseball forms the catalyst for the story but is actually more about the human condition than the game.Henry is a young man who, because his talent is spotted by a college player, is offered a place at college based on his skill on the field. Everything runs perfectly until he hits a friend with a throw during a game and his confidence and talent disappear. He goes from future star to potential has been in a few seconds.The book revolves around his relationship with Swartz, his mentor and friend, and Owen his friend and gay roommate. We see how his talent impacts on those other members of a team that is, historically, mediocre but through his efforts is transformed into a team of winners, who carry on even after his professional demise.Yet we also have the interlinked relationships of the college President and his daughter; various sexual awakenings and love interests but also the fragility of the human mind.It's hard to believe that this is a debut novel as itis so well written and we should have an author who will go on to write more and more. Yet we have to hope that his talent is not foreshortened by the success that this book has deservedly achieved.