A good book leaves you changed a little, and the insightful The Cactus League by Emily Nemens did just that for me. This book was a cross between a novel and an anthology of short stories, more of a trip to a museum than a roller coaster ride. There has been some criticism of the thin plot, but I found it very readable and the ending left me with a glimmer of hope for the main character and an opportunity for his redemption. I value that in a story.

The Cactus League is not a Disney tale full of peanuts and crackerjack, but a raw look at its dark side. You might not eat sausage if you saw how it was made, and the same might apply to watching baseball after seeing how it is made. Baseball is, at its heart, less of a game and more of a business.

Nevertheless, Nemen’s writing made me feel the cool, dry air and see the green grass and red rock mountains under the sunny Arizona sky. She writes not only with a solid command of baseball and its intricate facets but also an empathy for the characters who are trying to make a living playing it. Especially dear to me was the story of Greg Carver, a pitcher with a bad elbow who is struggling to remain relevant.

I enjoyed this initial offering from Emily Nemens and hope to be reading more from her in the future.