I enjoyed this book as any Kinsella fan would. I found some of the stories true gems, but others I found somewhat uninteresting. This is not Kinsella's greatest selection, but it shows a different side of the author and some of the stories are more adult oriented content. I enjoyed the stories 'Fiona the First', 'Shoeless Joe Jackson Comes to Iowa', 'A Picture of the Virgin' and 'A Blacksmith Shop Caper' as the real good ones. Those alone are worth the book, so you won't be disappointed overall.

"Fiona the First," the opening story in this collection, was cited for excellence by Stanley Elkin and Shannon Ravenel in the 1980 edition of BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES.

Speaking to bibliographer Ann Knight in 1983, Kinsella admitted that a few details from this story are semi-autobiographical: "The lady who keeps saying, 'He can put his shoes under my bed,' I saw at a Vancouver Mounties game in Seattle in 1954." And, "the business about the stewardess trying to give away a baby happened to me and a young lady at the Vancouver International Airport in 1970 or '71."

These stories celebrate particular relationships: between father and son, brother and sister, perfect strangers, a spiritual icon and her admirers, doctor and patient, father and daughter, bowling buddies, etc. They are classic Kinsella. No fan of his opus will want to overlook these initial, "adult-oriented" adventures into the regions of Magic Realism. These tales are Icarus flyers; they tempt the sun to melt their wings.

I first saw the movie Field of Dreams when I was in the 3rd grade, I loved the movie so much. Then in the 6th grade my teacher started to read us the book, but never even came close to finishing, I was disappointed. Then, this year (10th grade) I read it over Christmas break, and I couldn't put it down. I have never read a book that could calm me down and not make me sleepy. I had to get my wisdom teeth out and I was currently reading that book, everytime I got nervous I read the book and it relaxed me! I recomend this to anyone who likes baseball or just loves to read. Even if you don't like to read I still recomend it! It is better than the movie and I still think the movie is good, there is just to much to capture. I could read that book again and again! So, I recomend it to everyone!

I liked the book. The story is one of a young baseball player overcoming his personal denial in his search for happiness and purpose to his life.

Mike Houle, a ballplayer fresh out of college with a business degree (a rarity) waits for the chance to get drafted but gets passed over because of a dismal senior season. He had always been an excellent second baseman, leadoff singles hitter and base stealer, but now finds himself waiting by the phone. His agent sends him to an obscure league in Iowa where things are not quite as they see.

Think - "Shoeless Joe (or Field of Dreams)" meets "The Stepford Wives" only not as sinister.

The character Mike holds the story together. His voice, motives and emotions are believable and while he's smart enough to know better he sometimes chooses the wrong path. He holds to his dream.

I enjoyed Kinsella's writing. The dialogue is great and there are many interesting stories within the story, like the Roger Cash episode where he bests the town's top team with only a group of high schoolers to back him up. It's all about the distances.

Emmett Powell and his family were a hoot and there are a number of quirky characters in the mix.

My critiques: A lot of telling and not enough showing. There are scenes where someone is relating a story and I lose sense of where I am, especially when the storyteller basically drops out of the novel. The imagery is vivid but I wanted more substance.
Going with the previous comment, I felt many of the characters were not fully developed. We never really get to know Mike's brother, Byron. Nor do we get much insight into Daniel Morganstern's issues with the team. Stanley Wood disappears about halfway through, as does Crease. McMartin has an episode then reappears later.

Would I recommend the book? Yes, it's a pleasant summer read.

W.P. Kinsella, transplanted from Canada to Iowa, writes about two of his favorite topics in Magic Time: Iowa and baseball. As those are two of my more favorite subjects, I read Magic Time and came away a little less satisfied than I would have hoped to be. The story opens with the background/childhood of Mike Houle, hustling baseball player (in a good sense). The first few chapters are consumed with an oft-told story concerning baseball distances; if you haven't heard the story before, I won't spoil it for you except to say that it has been around and used in stories over the years. Mike goes on to make himself into a minor star in college but didn't quite have enough "talent" to be drafted into the minor leagues, to put it politely. His agent lands him a spot in the Cornbelt League in Iowa, with the Grand Mound team. The other teams in the league, spread out along U.S. 30 in eastern Iowa, also appear to draft players, give them day jobs and have plenty of time for the players to practice. Eventually, though, the secrets of the Cornbelt League are discovered: there's more sociology taking place here than league baseball games. While the book does have its moments of disjointedness and pleasure, I found the most enjoyable part of the book was in considering the notion of what the people of Grand Mound were trying to do, and what a baseball player would do in the same situation: stay or go? Accept what I was or prove everyone wrong? Having lived in a small town in eastern Iowa up the road aways from U.S. 30, and having loved living there, I think Mike was getting a heck of a deal - if he could appreciate it. But then, that's part of the fun of reading, placing ourselves in the character's position. Magic Time can certainly give you the opportunity to do that - and it does it pretty well.

Mike Houle is a baseball player who, unaccountably choked in his senior year at LSU and is left undrafted by the major leagues. When his agent calls with a chance to play in semi-pro ball in Iowa, Mike agrees although he's never heard of the team or the league. At least, his agent assures him, the major league scouts will have a chance to see him play.

What Houle finds in Grand Mound Iowa comes as a complete surprise to him. Families take in ball players--especially families with young and attractive daughters. Is that normal? And Grand Mound, according to his sponsor, is one of the few towns in Iowa which is actually growing. The entire town shows up for the regular inter-squad matches held by the local semi-pro team and Houle, the pressure off, finds himself playing the best baseball of his life.

He may be playing great baseball but he isn't stupid. There's something going on in this town, and with this team, that just doesn't make sense.

Author W. P. Kinsella creates an ode to baseball as the solution to the world's problems. In a strange, fairy tale part of Iowa, baseball has become the savior of a town, and the town in turn has become the salvation to a number of players who had somehow lost touch with the love of the game. Kinsella's lyrical writing makes MAGIC TIME an intriguing and compelling read. Although the plot itself is somewhat slow moving (but then, people say the same thing about baseball), Houle's coming of age and his growing realization of the mystery of Grand Mound made me keep turning the pages.

Shoeless Joe is by far Kinsella's best work as an author. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. Inspiring the famous and popular movie 'Field of Dreams', Kinsella spins a magical adventure that permeates throughout the American spirit. Baseball becomes the enchanting weave of nostalgia that is carefully woven to express all that is good in life and can be again. Magnificent dialogue between wonderful characters bring this story to life and hits a home run right into the heart of Americana. There are more characters in the book than those that appear in the movie, and makes for wonderful mix personalities. You will love how Kinsella involves well known author J.D. Salinger in this story, and the light touch of humor surrounding difficult situations. This story is about believing and following your heart, and achieving your dreams. It is about all that is good in life and imploring you to take a look at it. It lifts the reader above the day to day problems that face us all, and carries you off into a world of imagination. Shoeless Joe the talented Left Fielder who had his career ended because of the Black Sox scandal leading to permanent ejection from the game by former baseball commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis is allowed to return at Ray Kinsella's newly crafted Iowa baseball field surrounded by a corn field. Ray had heard a voice that instructed him to build the field, and he followed it. The magical story unfolds from there, and grows to become a masterful blend of inspirational characters who join together to travel a journey of hope and faith in themselves and their dreams. A simply magnificent combination of past, present and future that only Kinsella could spin. This will certainly become a favorite of any baseball fan. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

At first glance, Shoeless Joe appears to be a book about baseball. However, as you read on, you realize the author is using baseball, a game of magic to describe the beauty of everyday life. The way Ray Kinsella describes his family, his baseball field when its completed, baseball itself gives you a sense that the world is a beautiful thing. It is a book about magic, love, and realizing deep down who you are. Ray feels guilty about his fathers death and it is very emotional when they meet at the end. Even though it seems fanciful and all that, you still feel that it is real and the book allows YOU to believe in the magic of miracles. I recommend the movie, Field of Dreams as well because you can actually see everything happening as it becomes more real. My favorite part of the movie is when Ray says "Dad, do you want to have a catch?" and Ray and his father throw the baseball to and fro. Baseball is a game of legacy, a game that has lasted through the generations, that loves to be passed on from father to son. The book should definitely be read!!!!!!!

There is an element of perfection W.P. Kinsella captures in his book Shoeless Joe. Remember the scenes in the book as being vivid? The players in the field, the rustling of the corn stalks, the fans on the left field bleachers and Annie on the porch swing on a beautiful Iowa day? Kinsella captures all that.

It was tough reading the book after seeing Field of Dreams, but I still enjoyed it. Kinsella captures both the zen of baseball and its mystique and the strive for perfection.

How many of us would shuck the responsibilities of a farm/home mortgage/job etc., to follow our heart? Not many. Kinsella did and the book is a testament to the heart. A great book; read it just before baseball season opens in April to get the full flavor.

My first exposure to these "Silas Stories" was through the book (and the film) "Dance Me Outside", which is still a very strong piece of Canadian literature (& film). I have since been snapping up every "Ermineskin" work that Kinsella produces. "Miss Hobbema Pageant" continues the adventures of our favourite characters, Silas and Frank. I guarantee that you will laugh your way through the tale of Frank's entry as a Miss Hobbema contestant! The other stories, as always, range from thoughtful to hilarious. I only hope that Kinsella never runs out of stories to tell!

I tried to read Shoeless Joe without much success and had long stayed away from Kinsella's books. Desperate for a good read, I stumbled upon this gem. I must admit, the title grabbled my attention and when I opened up the book, I stumbled upon the narrator telling the story of how his girlfriend walked in upon one of his practical jokes and was bathed in motor oil, I figured that the book ought to be interesting. It is a collection of short stories set on the Ermineskin Reserve outside of Hobbema, Alberta. I recall reading the book late into the night, giggling at some funny situations related in the stories. I am proud to say that I have since revised my preconceived notions of Kinsella's work and will be looking forward to reading his other works.

I think this was originally released as The Further Adventures of Slugger McBatt; if so, this is another great opportunity to be entertained and moved by Kinsella. I've been reading his baseball books since I was a youngster, and they rarely fail to engross me, and redefine and confirm my love of baseball.

Don't be deterred by those claiming Kinsella is "only a baseball writer." Baseball forms but a backdrop for this stunning collection of Kinsella stories about people. Of these eleven tales, one is about architecture [!], one a compelling examination of human values, and six are love stories. Playing the game itself remains in the background, with the exception of a story showing how a varied community uses a context to unite in a common cause. As he's done before, Kinsella demonstrates his mastery of the short story. His portrayals of motivation and value conflicts find sympathetic responses from readers knowing nothing of the game.

Kinsella has dealt often with poignant issues, but the title story in this gathering of fine writing achieves a summit of excellence. As an Albertan, he's dealt with Native Peoples, Ukrainian, Scandinavian and Irish communities, often in the first person. Here, he adds Japan to his quiver of cultural portrayals. Again, baseball only forms a mechanism to depict the power love exerts over the unwary. Imagine falling in love with someone you can't converse with, then come to realize the barrier isn't linguistic. Craig Bevans goes to Japan to become a star, but falls in love with "the boss's daughter." The formula would be trite in hands other than Kinsella's - the star manipulating the owner for reward. Bevans, however, is driven by love, not ambition, and the ironic end of this story leaves the reader breathless, if not tearful.

The prize in this array of vividly crafted relations is The Arbiter. In any sport, writers focus on the newsworthy. American baseball pitchers, managers and strong hitters are social idols at many levels of both fact and fiction. Their abilities and their activities are recounted, assessed with their lives often scrutinized in agonizing detail. One group of people associated with any sport, however, are almost universally overlooked. The Arbiters - the referees, judges and umpires of any sport, sink into obscurity, relegated to background roles. In baseball, the umpire's dark suit melds them into the grassy horizon of the diamond. Only the contested call brings them to the fore of our attention. Once the game is decided, they fade from view and memory. Kinsella has retrieved one, vividly bringing him into our view as a man of enviable values. In an almost Sophoclean portrayal, Kinsella gives us a man driven to achieve perfection. What can challenges to that drive achieve but to erode it? Kinsella walks us through The Arbiter's confronting those challenges resulting in a nearly inevitable response.

Those who've read Kinsella will welcome this book as a pinnacle among his achievements. He's unquestionably a master of the genre. Some critics have claimed Kinsella shouldn't depart from short story writing. If this is Kinsella's response, their carping is surely vindicated. There's not a word extra nor any out of place. If you're new to Kinsella or not a baseball fan, have no worries; these stories will not leave you wondering what it's all about. Kinsella's people are identifiable by all of us. You will find yourself or someone you know in here without difficulty or distraction. You will come away wondering why you haven't read this excellent author before. You will, however, almost certainly want to read more.

Now available as "Go The Distance", this book contains interesting, but generally depressing, short stories ... far from Kinsella's best, but better than average stories.

I am a big fan of all of Kinsella's baseball books. This one takes us to 1940's Canada as seen throught the eyes of young Jamie O'Day. We hear about all the eccentric people in Jamie's life including Truckbox Al McClintock, the Little American Soldier, and many other interesting characters of the region. It is always appealing to me how the author revolves his story around baseball. Bob Feller even has a role in the story. My only complaint would be that the way the author repeats names of people and towns throughout the book can be annoying. Box Socials takes us to a time when life was slower and people enjoyed following the small town baseball teams. If you are a baseball fan and enjoy a good story-I think you will have fun reading Box Socials.

Without the example of T. R. Pearson's A BRIEF HISTORY OF A SMALL PLACE Kinsella would have had no precedent for the repetitive style he uses in BOX SOCIALS, a novel set in the time and place of his own childhood, west of Edmonton near a place called Darwell in the 1930s--when you were supposed to have a license from the government to turn your radio on!

That he succeeds in telling a baseball tale in a time when he himself knew no baseball and weaves in some truths about the racism that existed in what was, even there, a multi-cultural environment is a tribute to his inventiveness.

This book is best read aloud with a Southern accent. So, if you aren't prepared to "work" at it a bit, you'll probably be disappointed. Otherwise, you'll find yourself noticing the width of the Pembina River-- next time you're on the Edmonton/Jasper highway.

I've read this book over and over again and I'm still not tired of it. I was assigned to read this book over the summer by my dad, and loved it! So realistic! I was amazed of how I could relate to Jamie (the main character). One of the Kinsella books more easily found, but at a great price here on Amazon.com. A must-read-right-now book. Once you start, you just can't stop! It's worse than chips! I recommend it to all of my friends