Sooley (John Grisham) | Book Review

Set in the small village of Rumbek in South Sudan, John Grisham’s Sooley is an epic journey of the life of a 17 year old  Samuel Sooleman, or ‘Sooley’ as he would fondly be called. Coming from a poor country that doesn’t has much else to cheer about, Sooley would soon become the pride of his village with his extraordinary natural talent and his relentless determination to play college basketball in the United States and ultimately NBA.

His dreams soon get wings with a call for the trials for the national team, where he would meet his mentor for life – coach Ecko, and his subsequent selection to play a showcase tournament in the United States. Sounds much like a typical Bollywood flick with all ingredients of becoming a blockbuster. I think we have all followed the journey of some super star in our times, our growing up years – be it a Steffi Graf, a Sachin Tendulkar or for that matter a film star. And it always is an intoxicating high to see them reach the apex. That was the exact same feeling & euphoria that John Grisham basically takes us through – the becoming of a star.

And just as Sooley is taking his first steps towards stardom, his hometown is witness to some of the most violent and horrific turmoil amidst a raging civil war that sees his village burning and his family a victim to it. It may have been essential to the story, but I personally felt the degree of violence & it’s depiction could have been on a lighter tone. I found it quite disturbing. Probably that was the impact desired, if so – Grisham succeeds at it.

John Grisham’s writing is simple and easy to read. There are no unnecessary and irrelevant details to spoil the flow of the story, making it a perfect leisure time read . Grisham excels in building a lovable, larger than life character, so beautifully capturing his growth and creating a euphoria about him. He is right up there in my list of the best story tellers along with Jeffrey Archer.

There are many such sequences in the book that are so beautifully crafted and deserve a mention. Sooley’s bus rides from Rumbek to Juba and back are amazingly real & easy to visualize. The lil Angelina – even in her limited presence in the book – leaves a lasting impression – the way she is racing around to find someone to tell them of her brother’s selection into the team – it is adorable. Murray’s character is wonderfully sketched – the transformation from a casual, lazy & happy-go-lucky guy to a responsible young man.

What stays with you at the end of this book is a smile that so very much defines the character of Sooley, his sheer grit to succeed so he could bring his family to the United States, the unfazed faith of coach Ecko in Sooley’s talent and the friendship of Murray & Sooley that goes well beyond time.

Sooley in more ways than one reflects upon the importance of being at the right place at the right time; of finding the right people at the right time; and how one single bad decision or moment can make or ruin your entire life. Sooley was a good guy, no misdemeanor whatsoever. And in that one single moment of indiscretion, he ends up loosing his life.

While some may argue that the book has too much of basketball & too many scores and stuff, it doesn’t really bother much even to a layman like me who has not much understanding of the game. Grisham creates visuals of the games by his detailed accounts which almost make you see Sooley and root for him as he soars high and slams a dunk. If there is one thing I feel Grisham missed out on, it was Angelina – till the last page I was hoping the lil Angelina would be reunited with her family. That is the only downside of this wonderful story. It is hard to put in words, but there is something very likable about this book – probably the story in itself and a remarkable narration by John Grisham. A wholehearted thumbs up for this book!!

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