Official Review: Willy B. Superstar by Dennis N. Ricci
Posted: 28 Jul 2019, 13:19
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Willy B. Superstar" by Dennis N. Ricci.]
2 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Willy B. Superstar: Willy's Ballgame Continues is a sports novel written by Dennis Ricci. As the sequel to Willy’s Ballgame, the book follows the career of Willy Mae Beal, the first woman to compete in the major league. Hired by the New York Diamonds, Willy’s biggest dreams are about to come true, but not without many trials. Can she handle the cutthroat world of big-league baseball while dealing with the unique challenges she will face as a female pitcher?
The novel features a huge cast of characters: players from many teams, their partners, journalists, and other associates. No knowledge of the previous novel is strictly required since most characters get reintroduced, but having so many names thrown at once can feel overwhelming, especially during games. The reader does need some working knowledge of American baseball, however, as familiarity with jargon and the inner workings of leagues is assumed.
Perhaps the greatest flaw in Willy B. Superstar is how long it takes to start telling its story. The first chapters consist of inconsequential games interspersed with short character moments that do little to advance the plot or develop these characters. For example, there’s a moment when Willy is anxious about her poor batting and talks to a teammate called Demeter, who gives her some tips. This could’ve been a great chance to explore these two and their relationship, but it comes off as cold and technical; one might as well just read a baseball manual.
Even Willy feels more like a prop than a character in the beginning: almost none of her “failings” are her fault, her critics come off as irrational, and the novel keeps reinforcing how much everyone loves her. This setup pays off later on when Willy gets thrown under the bus, in large part thanks to the unrealistic expectations placed on her. It’s an important point, but it didn’t need that many chapters to be established.
Chapter eleven is roughly when the plot kicks in and we get reasons to be invested in the narrative: Willy has to face several challenges and make tough decisions to continue chasing her dreams. We see her at the lowest, most vulnerable point, rooting for her as she rises again. All of her efforts culminate in a nail-biting climactic game that ties everything together. Despite not being a baseball fan, I couldn’t help being sucked into the game’s tense atmosphere and cheering alongside the fictional audience.
One unfortunate issue plaguing the novel is the abundance of typographical and formatting errors. Lack of spacing (for example, “Alexandria Dukes’game”) and misuse of quotation marks are the most common typos, while formatting problems range from misaligned paragraphs to vertically written sentences.
Willy B. Superstar: Willy's Ballgame Continues is an overall decent novel featuring a charismatic protagonist and an engaging storyline. Deducting two points for the lackluster beginning and poor editing, I rate it 2 out of 4 stars. The book is suitable for older teens as it contains occasional vulgar language and discussions of sexual themes, but there aren't any erotic scenes. The reader doesn’t need to be the hugest baseball fan to enjoy this novel, but I don’t recommend it to those unfamiliar with American baseball.
******
Willy B. Superstar
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
2 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Willy B. Superstar: Willy's Ballgame Continues is a sports novel written by Dennis Ricci. As the sequel to Willy’s Ballgame, the book follows the career of Willy Mae Beal, the first woman to compete in the major league. Hired by the New York Diamonds, Willy’s biggest dreams are about to come true, but not without many trials. Can she handle the cutthroat world of big-league baseball while dealing with the unique challenges she will face as a female pitcher?
The novel features a huge cast of characters: players from many teams, their partners, journalists, and other associates. No knowledge of the previous novel is strictly required since most characters get reintroduced, but having so many names thrown at once can feel overwhelming, especially during games. The reader does need some working knowledge of American baseball, however, as familiarity with jargon and the inner workings of leagues is assumed.
Perhaps the greatest flaw in Willy B. Superstar is how long it takes to start telling its story. The first chapters consist of inconsequential games interspersed with short character moments that do little to advance the plot or develop these characters. For example, there’s a moment when Willy is anxious about her poor batting and talks to a teammate called Demeter, who gives her some tips. This could’ve been a great chance to explore these two and their relationship, but it comes off as cold and technical; one might as well just read a baseball manual.
Even Willy feels more like a prop than a character in the beginning: almost none of her “failings” are her fault, her critics come off as irrational, and the novel keeps reinforcing how much everyone loves her. This setup pays off later on when Willy gets thrown under the bus, in large part thanks to the unrealistic expectations placed on her. It’s an important point, but it didn’t need that many chapters to be established.
Chapter eleven is roughly when the plot kicks in and we get reasons to be invested in the narrative: Willy has to face several challenges and make tough decisions to continue chasing her dreams. We see her at the lowest, most vulnerable point, rooting for her as she rises again. All of her efforts culminate in a nail-biting climactic game that ties everything together. Despite not being a baseball fan, I couldn’t help being sucked into the game’s tense atmosphere and cheering alongside the fictional audience.
One unfortunate issue plaguing the novel is the abundance of typographical and formatting errors. Lack of spacing (for example, “Alexandria Dukes’game”) and misuse of quotation marks are the most common typos, while formatting problems range from misaligned paragraphs to vertically written sentences.
Willy B. Superstar: Willy's Ballgame Continues is an overall decent novel featuring a charismatic protagonist and an engaging storyline. Deducting two points for the lackluster beginning and poor editing, I rate it 2 out of 4 stars. The book is suitable for older teens as it contains occasional vulgar language and discussions of sexual themes, but there aren't any erotic scenes. The reader doesn’t need to be the hugest baseball fan to enjoy this novel, but I don’t recommend it to those unfamiliar with American baseball.
******
Willy B. Superstar
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon