A Hidden Gem
The fact that this book was first published more than ten years ago, is a symptom of the politics of the industry.
The book's resurgence seems to be a welcomed antidote to many of the flimsy and superficial offerings and ideas of the age of "social media", self absorption, and "special effects".
While some would say the style is "old fashioned", like a good umpire in baseball, it is hardly noticed as the reader becomes vividly engaged in the story and involved with the many well developed characters.
This simple, yet profound book, may indeed be best for "mature audiences" that can appreciate the blending of the timeless ideas of Cervantes, redemption in the face of "PTSD horror", the true meaning of sport, and the potential healing power of "the village" in small-town rural America.