Bleachers by John Grisham

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Recommended: Importance of setting in literature

Is it possible for a fictional novel to have the characteristic elements to make the reader believe that it is nonfiction? In the novel, Bleachers by John Grisham, we witness a disoriented former high school all-star quarterback make a return to his hometown after many years as he tries to figure out the feelings he has for his former Coach. The novel takes place in a small town called Messina, where the biggest events to happen are high school football on a Friday night. Other than Spartan football, the small populated, Messina does not have much going for them besides hearing about the latest news and gossip spread with the locals. Neely Crenshaw is the main character focused in the story. A once high school hero for breaking quarterback records and accumulating wins for the Spartans, decides whether if it is right to keep a grudge or be thankful from his passing coach, Eddie Rake. Eddie Rake is the reason why Spartan football was put on the map. His intense and unorthodox practice turned students into actual Spartans of football. He is also the reason many former Spartan football players have returned, including Neely because he has been in severe condition due to cancer. As the players reminisce on realistic events and moments of state games, they also await for the lights to shut off on Rake’s Field. The believable context of this fictional novel has a convincing setting, theme, characters, and events that make readers believe the possibility in real life.

The setting takes place in a small town called Messina, Mississippi. Before founding out that it took place in Mississippi, the beginning of the novel had a southern vibe where the folks enjoy red and yellow maple plants grow, but still have dirt roads to park in (...

... middle of paper ...

...pen arms to Rake when not many did because of the death of a player, Rake showed a different side to him. Rake showed that there was more to him than just football and discipline.

Bleachers holds emotional characters with stories of their own. It describes any town or city that loses someone that is a significant figure. Even though it may be fictional, the amount of emotions each player goes through seems accurately real to how any human being would feel losing their coach. The novel illustrates how one person needs to forgive and move on with their lives because if you hold a grudge for too long, it will eventually eat every single day. “Once you’ve played for Eddie Rake, you carry him with you forever. You want his advice on how to overcome failure because he never taught us it.”

Works Cited

Grisham, John. Bleachers. New York: Bantam Dell, 2004. Print.

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