What do you think?
Rate this book
Inside Moves
Jerry Maxwell and his good friend Roary are both handicapped. They divide their time between Max's bar in San Francisco and the bleachers of the Oakland Sports Complex to cheer on the Golden State Warriors. After a failed suicide attempt leaves a man named Roary partially crippled, he finds himself living in a run-down house in Oakland, California. He spends a lot of time at a neighborhood bar, which is full of other disabled people, and becomes best friends with Jerry, the barman with a bad leg. Jerry's luck turns round when a professional basketball player loans him the money for an operation to fix his leg. Once he is fully healed, Jerry goes on to become a basketball star, fulfilling his lifelong dream. Inside Moves was made into a critically-acclaimed film in 1980 by Richard Donner. Selected and introduced by celebrated author Sherman Alexie.
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
1 person is currently reading
58 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 12, 2012
This might be the best work of fiction I've read in years.
Roary tells the story of his friend Jerry, whom he knows from Max's bar, where cripples hang out. Roary idolizes Jerry and Jerry needs Roary to give him confidence when he needs it most. There's also basketball, druggie whores, an actress with a heart of gold (and a limp), a rich widow, Sport Illustrated, the Celtics, ballet and more.
Mostly, though, it's the story of a friendship, told so well from one point of view. The book will break your heart, and then fix it and fill it up with hope again.
All this in 160 pages.
Roary tells the story of his friend Jerry, whom he knows from Max's bar, where cripples hang out. Roary idolizes Jerry and Jerry needs Roary to give him confidence when he needs it most. There's also basketball, druggie whores, an actress with a heart of gold (and a limp), a rich widow, Sport Illustrated, the Celtics, ballet and more.
Mostly, though, it's the story of a friendship, told so well from one point of view. The book will break your heart, and then fix it and fill it up with hope again.
All this in 160 pages.
April 14, 2020
A timeless book about basketball..... and so much more. Within the pages a group of outcasts find a family and home and two friends' relationship allows them to travel life's uncertain road towards a goal. This book would be a perfect read for so many of my high school athletes who would normally not be big readers. Very worthwhile.
April 10, 2014
On my own, I'd probably never have chosen a book set in 1970's San Francisco, about a group of guys with disabilities who hang out at the same bar all the time, and end up befriending a pro basketball player, but now I wonder why that didn't sound interesting to me at first! I'm really glad someone in my book club chose this for us. It's a charming little gem of a book, and everyone in the club—even those who have zero interest in sports—liked it a lot.
June 8, 2025
Visit JetBlackDragonfly (The Man Who Read Too Much) at www.edenthompson.ca/blog
with a large clear image of the 1978 Signet paperback.
Inside Moves is a tender novel about friendship and courage, dealing with the sensitive issues disabled people face, brotherly love, and second chances.
A classic film was made of it in 1980, starring John Savage and an Oscar-nominated Diana Scarwid.
Roary freely admits he scares people looking like he does. He's pretty gross-looking and walks funny because he is a cripple (his words, not mine). A landmine in Vietnam left him paralyzed for over a year, then he surprised everyone by learning to walk, leaning in a side shuffle. He was a high school athlete, so this is a bitter pill, unlike Jerry, who was born a cripple.
Roary met Jerry at Max's, a San Francisco neighbourhood bar with nothing to advertise it and a mainly disabled clientele.
Max has no legs and sits by the register all day, Stinky plays cards with the guys despite being blind, Benny is a pimp, and Wings has a terrific body but no arms. You suffer for a long time before meeting people who know how you feel. You have to find your own kind.
Jerry was born with gimpy legs, and when he isn't bartending, he works in a box factory. Unfortunately, his ratty girlfriend Ann is a junkie whore who spends what he earns. Roary and Jerry bond quickly over the Golden State Warriors basketball team, going to games whenever they can. Jerry boasts he could beat all those players, and he's actually good. He has found a doctor who claims an operation could restore Jerry's legs, and Roary arranges a loan for the money. Soon, Jerry is recovering, joining tryout teams, and even making it to be a Warriors power player.
The two share their hopes and failures without pretense. Their bond is stronger than brothers, with Roary helping Jerry realize his dream. Jerry leaves Ann for good, and Roary dates Louise, the new waitress at Max's who has one leg shrunken from polio. She fits right in with the family at Max's.
This reminded me of novels of the time like Ordinary People and Coming Home. The second half, as Jerry leaves his friends at Max's behind to pursue his basketball career, is sports-heavy, and fans of the game will enjoy the play-by-play of his success.
The 1980 film is faithful to the novel and became a quiet cult favorite.
The excellent writing makes this a gem about outsiders with nothing to lose, and supporting friends and family in whatever dreams they have left.
with a large clear image of the 1978 Signet paperback.
Inside Moves is a tender novel about friendship and courage, dealing with the sensitive issues disabled people face, brotherly love, and second chances.
A classic film was made of it in 1980, starring John Savage and an Oscar-nominated Diana Scarwid.
Roary freely admits he scares people looking like he does. He's pretty gross-looking and walks funny because he is a cripple (his words, not mine). A landmine in Vietnam left him paralyzed for over a year, then he surprised everyone by learning to walk, leaning in a side shuffle. He was a high school athlete, so this is a bitter pill, unlike Jerry, who was born a cripple.
Roary met Jerry at Max's, a San Francisco neighbourhood bar with nothing to advertise it and a mainly disabled clientele.
Max has no legs and sits by the register all day, Stinky plays cards with the guys despite being blind, Benny is a pimp, and Wings has a terrific body but no arms. You suffer for a long time before meeting people who know how you feel. You have to find your own kind.
Jerry was born with gimpy legs, and when he isn't bartending, he works in a box factory. Unfortunately, his ratty girlfriend Ann is a junkie whore who spends what he earns. Roary and Jerry bond quickly over the Golden State Warriors basketball team, going to games whenever they can. Jerry boasts he could beat all those players, and he's actually good. He has found a doctor who claims an operation could restore Jerry's legs, and Roary arranges a loan for the money. Soon, Jerry is recovering, joining tryout teams, and even making it to be a Warriors power player.
The two share their hopes and failures without pretense. Their bond is stronger than brothers, with Roary helping Jerry realize his dream. Jerry leaves Ann for good, and Roary dates Louise, the new waitress at Max's who has one leg shrunken from polio. She fits right in with the family at Max's.
This reminded me of novels of the time like Ordinary People and Coming Home. The second half, as Jerry leaves his friends at Max's behind to pursue his basketball career, is sports-heavy, and fans of the game will enjoy the play-by-play of his success.
The 1980 film is faithful to the novel and became a quiet cult favorite.
The excellent writing makes this a gem about outsiders with nothing to lose, and supporting friends and family in whatever dreams they have left.
May 11, 2018
I saw and loved Richard Donner's 1980 adaptation a few years ago, and have been meaning to check out the book ever since. Like the movie, the story is a perfect blend of depressing, uplifting, and funny.
Roary is a great character to be in the head of. He's funny, a bit immature, and most importantly -- genuine.
Of course one of the main plot points, Jerry going from cripple to NBA superstar, is a little far fetched... but it doesn't make the book's message -- that anyone can overcome anything and come out okay in the end-- lose any of its power. And since I've already seen the movie, I knew it was coming... and either way, it somehow works.
The book unfortunately seems to be incredibly obscure (only 40 ratings on here.... huh), and the movie isn't very well known at all. I really wish more people were familiar with this sadly beautiful story.
Roary is a great character to be in the head of. He's funny, a bit immature, and most importantly -- genuine.
Of course one of the main plot points, Jerry going from cripple to NBA superstar, is a little far fetched... but it doesn't make the book's message -- that anyone can overcome anything and come out okay in the end-- lose any of its power. And since I've already seen the movie, I knew it was coming... and either way, it somehow works.
The book unfortunately seems to be incredibly obscure (only 40 ratings on here.... huh), and the movie isn't very well known at all. I really wish more people were familiar with this sadly beautiful story.
August 3, 2018
I wish I'd read this one in high school and therefore had a group of people to discuss themes, content and symbolism with (but as the content is rather adult, I can see why it wasn't a classroom read). I'd like to discuss this novel with people from all different perspectives and with different amounts of interest. I really enjoyed Walton's story as well as his writing, though it's nothing like how I write or my usual favourite style. Walton's work reads like Catcher in the Rye or Red Pony, written in that straightforward way but dealing with supremely complex human emotions and situations. I really, really enjoyed it.
Yes, I'd read it again, especially if I found people who might want to discuss it with me!
Yes, I'd read it again, especially if I found people who might want to discuss it with me!
October 3, 2021
i got this book as a gift and recognized that i'd seen the movie which is just as off beat as the book, the story told thru Rorary, is like your sitting down with him in Maxes where all the handicapped people hang out, and having a beer and Roary is telling you about all the characters and himself like your best friends and he's confiding in you. altough its a short book, almost a novella its seems longer, not cause i got bored but it seems so dense, theirs no air-space, your right there in the thick of the action.
its a book about people helping each other but on the other hand its a book about finding yourself and not depending on people. its also a book that will pick you up if your down, and up more if your already up.
d
its a book about people helping each other but on the other hand its a book about finding yourself and not depending on people. its also a book that will pick you up if your down, and up more if your already up.
d
November 9, 2022
This book was incredibly moving. It's about a man badly disfigured by the Vietnam war who finds an unlikely group of friends in a bar called Max's, including a "cripple" who ends up playing in the NBA. The characters feel very real and their pain is painful to the readers. It's about sports on the surface, but it's really about pain, love, community, alienation, and much more about the human condition. I loved it.
January 22, 2020
A really nice an powerful story. Ostensibly, it's about basketball but in reality it's a story about life and friendships. After ,my recent 700 page Cloud Atlas read, it was nice to get into a well-paced 171 page book with chapters from two to six pages.
December 16, 2020
Very intriguing book. The movie was a bit lame.
January 2, 2018
Gritty but sweet-toned fable about an interesting group of characters in the Bay Area, circa mid-seventies. Well-told in an efficient and spare style with a knowing and humane intelligence driving it all. (For some reason it felt like, in a good way, one of those classic young adult novels from the same time period but, obviously, dealing with more adult subject matter. Still trying to suss this thought out.) A quick and very satisfying read. Inspired what is supposed to be a fine film version.
August 11, 2013
This is another of the four books recently published by Dark Horse in their Pharos Editions. (You can see my description of a Seattle Town Hall event I attended that describes the Pharos editions - new printings of worthy out-of-print works - and the Washington State writers who recommended them at my previous review of Land of Plenty at http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...)
Sherman Alexie recommended Inside Moves and wrote the introduction to this edition. He spoke quite eloquently at the Town Hall event about his love for the book (he says he rereads it every couple of years). Describing it as THE definitive basketball novel, he also made it clear that it is about a lot more than basketball, which makes it one of his favorite novels of all time. It was made into a film, which I have not seen, and Alexie took pains to note that while he considers it one of his favorite films, it is a different experience from the novel.
I think it is a terrific novel, too. It's funny, poignant, has great characters - and is just a pleasure to read. Having read a number of Alexie's books, I can definitely see that Inside Moves had no little influence on Alexie's straightforward, plainspoken, genuine-feeling style of narrative.
It's a shame the book has been out-of-print...this edition should provide a welcome renewed interest for the novel. It's not to be missed.
Sherman Alexie recommended Inside Moves and wrote the introduction to this edition. He spoke quite eloquently at the Town Hall event about his love for the book (he says he rereads it every couple of years). Describing it as THE definitive basketball novel, he also made it clear that it is about a lot more than basketball, which makes it one of his favorite novels of all time. It was made into a film, which I have not seen, and Alexie took pains to note that while he considers it one of his favorite films, it is a different experience from the novel.
I think it is a terrific novel, too. It's funny, poignant, has great characters - and is just a pleasure to read. Having read a number of Alexie's books, I can definitely see that Inside Moves had no little influence on Alexie's straightforward, plainspoken, genuine-feeling style of narrative.
It's a shame the book has been out-of-print...this edition should provide a welcome renewed interest for the novel. It's not to be missed.
August 16, 2013
amazon has republished this as part of their new Pharos series of unrecognized fine novels. It is a nice sports novel to read. Set mostly in a dive bar in San Francisco's Inner Sunset neighborhood, peopled by injured VN vets. Walton's career after this first novel is just as interesting - a handful of unsuccessful novels, books on creative writing and books on yoga and Buddhism, and even some music CD's have filled out his resume.
The basketball is rather unbelievable, but just a little over the top. The first person tale of friendship works. A few side bars, like the plan to open a woodworking shop w/ a rich woman, seem to pop out of nowhere and disappear. You get only a mild feel for the city of San Francisco, and it helps to have lived there, so you understand what he "means" in some of his quick, one or two line comments about different neighborhoods of the city.
Decent novel - read for basketball or San Francisco in the late '70's. 5 out of 10.
The basketball is rather unbelievable, but just a little over the top. The first person tale of friendship works. A few side bars, like the plan to open a woodworking shop w/ a rich woman, seem to pop out of nowhere and disappear. You get only a mild feel for the city of San Francisco, and it helps to have lived there, so you understand what he "means" in some of his quick, one or two line comments about different neighborhoods of the city.
Decent novel - read for basketball or San Francisco in the late '70's. 5 out of 10.
January 20, 2014
Actually this is a re read for me. I read this my first year of college because...I couldn't see the movie. It wasn't playing locally. I bought the book, devoured it, and while I still think it is a great book (even though I don't understand the ending)I can even see why I enjoyed it so much then, even more than the movie which too was enjoyable. Walton has a very crisp economical writing style which is Hemingwayesque, but still somewhat original. He can pack a lot into a few pages. He can use dialogue to show character in very interesting ways. It is a relief to say this book is actually better than I remember it being. I think I lost it in that fire, but I am not sure.
March 27, 2014
A lovely, unpretencious, straight-forward, clean read. I'd never had picked it up on my own (it's about guys, guy friendships, and basketball and physical limitations), but it was a book club choice. This is why I love book club! I often read books that turn out very enjoyable, but not ones I'd normally gravitate to.
July 23, 2013
This book has great characters and a good story. It is definately 3++. A new Pharo edition of an out of print book recommended by Sherman Alexie.
June 22, 2014
Fun book. Great characters and sense of place with a smart appreciation of basketball.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews