The Fat Lady's Low, Sad Song

This book is a perfect example of how traditional publishing misses great books. This book, an indie title published through Black Rose Writing, is easily the best book I've read this year.

Parker Westfall is a career minor-leaguer. He's never made The Show. For more than a decade, he's been grinding out a career playing baseball in podunk towns for podunk teams, and those playing days are coming to a close. He's given one last chance for a season in the sun playing first base for the Fort Collins Miners, an independent baseball team. If there's one step below the minor leagues, it's independent baseball. With no other options, Westfall signs on. When he gets there, the team owner asks Westfall for a special favor—mentor a young pitcher who throws a helluva knuckeball.

Oh, yeah—that pitcher is a woman.

The signing of Courtney Morgan could be just a publicity stunt, and the book could have turned into a trite, damsel-in-distress novel, but it doesn't. Parker and Morgan don't fall in love. Parker isn't the white knight who teaches her the game, but rather a coach who helps her find her own way to play.

The book is a sweet paean to baseball, the unsung heroes who never get to be on baseball cards or interviewed on ESPN, and the tiny towns that keep the spirit of real baseball alive. As a baseball fan, and as a fan of good writing, this book falls into place at the top of my reading list (so far) for 2018. It's one of those books that probably should have gotten more looks from agents or publishers. It's one of those books that should get more readers than it's ever going to get.

But, like the minor leaguers this story encompasses, sometimes what you get in the end is just good enough. I loved this book. I can't recommend it enough.