Wayland Smith's Reviews > Shoeless Joe

I don't remember when I first read this. Probably shortly after Field of Dreams came out. I loved that movie, and the book was damn good. Baseball, magic, love... someone or other called this a male romance novel, and they're not far off, really.

Ray Kinsella is prompted by a Voice that comes from nowhere to build a baseball field in the middle of his farmland. Like most farmers, he's barely making it and can't really afford to lose the acreage. But he does it.

Strange and wonderful things happen, bringing magic to a small corner of Iowa. Ray connects with a legendary author and gets some surprises about his own family. It's a great story that, if it doesn't touch you at all, I truly feel sorry for you.

Edit: This book gets more magical with each read, and a bit more tragic when you learn the real story behind the author's later life.