Playing for Pizza cover art

Playing for Pizza

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Playing for Pizza

By: John Grisham
Narrated by: Christopher Evan Welch
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Playing for Position

Rick Dockery is an NFL quarterback who can’t catch a break. One huge mistake makes him a national laughing stock overnight, and no team will touch him.

Playing for Pizza

But all Rick knows is football, and he needs to find a team. Against all odds, Rick gets his break – as star quarterback for the Panthers… of Parma, Italy.

Playing for Pride

Rick doesn’t speak a word of Italian, and the crowds there aren’t exactly NFL-standard. But football americano is about more than fame, and home comes in the most unlikely of packages.


©2007 Belfry Holdings Ltd (P)2007 Random House Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Sports Thriller & Suspense Fiction Italy Suspense

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All stars
Most relevant  
If you follow American Football this would be more interesting but never the less an interesting yarn giving some insight into Italian ways.

Playing for Pizza

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A little short but also not much filler. But a good little story if you like nfl/American football. Def worth a listen

Enjoyable different American football story

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I thought this book was absolutely delightful and was disappointed when it finished. I read some very negative reviews from UK readers on Amazon and almost didn't purchase the audio book. I'm glad I did. It's a lighthearted love story- love for football (the american version), love for all things Italian, and regular old boy-girl love. I'm a fan of 'futball americano' so quite enjoyed the story of the washed up quarterback who finds not just his game, but his humanity and appreciation for what's really important in life when he is 'deported' to the Italian version of the NFL. John Grisham's descriptions of Italian food made me hungry and I've now put Parma on my list of Italian cities to visit. OK- so this isn't your typical Grisham legal thriller, but he's a wonderful writer, whatever the genre.

pizza in paradise

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enjoyed every minute made me want to be in Italy.

had to listen more than once and found it just as enjoyable the second time.

impressionable

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It so captures the way the Italian way of life infiltrates into the novice traveller to this country. Once it begins to dawn on one there is no looking back and why would you. There is no where like Italy as this book shows.

Fall in love with Italy

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Not a waste of money, but prefer legal stuff.
wasn't gripping and doesn't hold attention well.

listened to whole story over few days

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If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

I've bought and enjoyed many Grisham books so thought this would be another gripping read. Whilst the story is well told and excellently read I was disappointed to find that it wasn't a typical Grisham courtroom drama or mystery. The whole story is based around an American football player, if you follow American football you would no doubt enjoy the story, but I know nothing about the game so my enjoyment of the book was limited.

Would you ever listen to anything by John Grisham again?

Yes, but I'll read the blurb more carefully next time

American football

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What disappointed you about Playing for Pizza?

Slow to get into. Light hearted. Not the usual complex work I usually enjoy fro this author

Would you ever listen to anything by John Grisham again?

Definitely though I don't recommend this book

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The narrator was very good

What character would you cut from Playing for Pizza?

None

Any additional comments?

Weak story line

Very light for Gresham

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Again a book published by Penguin with a terrible narrator, story terrible too, shall not choose any more books published by this publisher. I will return this book if I can.

Worse one I tried to listen too

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