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Hitting into the Wind: Stories
A collection of stories about baseball contains the tale of a minor league player who fears that he will never make it, an umpire experiencing marital problems, and a man who collects old baseballs. 20,000 first printing.
205 pages, Paperback
First published January 25, 1994
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 10, 2019
This book has everything I love about baseball and then some. An outfielder, alert, poised for action. A pitcher throwing fastballs like a melody. The crack of the bat when it hits the ball just right, the arc of the baseball as it follows the wind. Children dreaming in the backyard.
I don't think being a fan of baseball is a prerequisite to enjoying the stories, but it's certainly an added bonus-- especially since I can't really relate to ever playing baseball or hoping to make it to the Majors. Regardless, Meissner's writing is playful, poetic, and sincere.
The collection is a series of bite-size stories that is super easy to zip through and while the narration is (unfortunately) rather male-centric, it makes the stories feel personal. It's easy to picture Meissner as a kid with a wiffle ball and a dream. It's easy to picture a full-grown man waiting for winter to end in order to head back out onto the field. I can picture Meissner's son blooming with the same baseball wonder, dreaming the same dream, asking if a baseball game can be tied forever.
Also, the breadth of topics covered is incredible. Meissner is able to both mythologize the sport as well as take on a more jaded attitude. This is a collection about baseball, yes, but also about America, growing up, and family.
I don't think being a fan of baseball is a prerequisite to enjoying the stories, but it's certainly an added bonus-- especially since I can't really relate to ever playing baseball or hoping to make it to the Majors. Regardless, Meissner's writing is playful, poetic, and sincere.
The collection is a series of bite-size stories that is super easy to zip through and while the narration is (unfortunately) rather male-centric, it makes the stories feel personal. It's easy to picture Meissner as a kid with a wiffle ball and a dream. It's easy to picture a full-grown man waiting for winter to end in order to head back out onto the field. I can picture Meissner's son blooming with the same baseball wonder, dreaming the same dream, asking if a baseball game can be tied forever.
Also, the breadth of topics covered is incredible. Meissner is able to both mythologize the sport as well as take on a more jaded attitude. This is a collection about baseball, yes, but also about America, growing up, and family.
Displaying 1 of 1 review