Review by Freddy40 -- The Fat Lady's Low, Sad Song

[Freddy40]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Fat Lady's Low, Sad Song" by Brian Kaufman.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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The Fat Lady’s Low, Sad Song by Brian Kaufman is a story about a minor league player named Parker Westfall who has been signed onto an independent league, the Miners. He agrees and is later surprised to learn that a female pitcher has been signed on as well, by the name of Courtney Morgan. The team not only struggles with having a female in their midst, but also with each other, having their ups and downs throughout the season. Well known for his home runs, Westfall falls into the role of coach, stirring things up, and leaving the stability of the team up to their willingness to be a team. The story is ultimately about teamwork and how it connects to the larger world, the big picture, while also teaching the reader about baseball from a player and coach’s point of view.

I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The short, unembellished dialogue is not what I am used to reading. However, paired with the illustrious descriptions of both the settings and the games themselves, it made absolute sense. The inner monologue of the characters, the details of the scenery, and the calculated rundowns of the plays all worked together so perfectly. I was captivated and sucked in so easily that I read the whole book in one sitting. Being a casual fan of baseball, it was absolutely fascinating reading about what goes through a player’s mind as they are watching the game. I knew baseball required skill and strategy, but the sheer amount of consideration, timing, and cooperation needed to pull off the plays in this book were amazing. I watched a baseball game after to see if I could spot some of my favorite moments from the book in the player’s actions.

I also very much enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. As you progress through the story, the quotes are used as foreshadowing devices for their respective chapters. I especially liked around the middle and end of the book when it began to use the chapters as a quick telling of certain moments that all lead up to the finale. I found it more enjoyable to read in snippets and dialogues that all made sense the further you read.

I genuinely have nothing bad to say about this book. The work seemed professionally edited, the storytelling and inner dialogue was immaculate, the settings were rich and fun, and it was just an overall joy to read. Everything coalesced so nicely, and I couldn’t stop reading it. While I’m not a die-hard fan of baseball, even the parts where they talked nothing but plays and strategies had my full attention. I could imagine the scenes as if I was watching the game right then and there.

Audiences I would recommend to read this are definitely baseball fans, both casual and die-hard. If sports aren’t your thing, you might find the strategy talk to be a snooze and the human aspect a bit dramatic. If sports are your thing, definitely read this book and I am sure you will find it just as fascinating and insightful as I have.

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The Fat Lady's Low, Sad Song
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