This is a most unusual novelization of a movie, because it is so much more than the movie. In fact, it feels to me like the book came first, and it was so good, they decided to make a movie out of it. But of course, the movie had to leave a lot out in order to keep it under three hours.I saw the movie first, and it was good. Then I read the book, which was already waiting on my Kindle. What a movie can't do is let you hear the thoughts going through the minds of the characters. Travis Thrasher did an excellent job of portraying the helplessness, anger, and denial of an alcoholic, as well as the pain and confusion of the people surrounding him. We get glimpses into Cory Brand's memories and that lets us see his progression into addictive behavior. We hear his thoughts and feelings in reaction to the events in his current life. And then we see him begin to catch on to recovery, and to the place God has in his life.The story pulls us in from the beginning. It is full of ordinary people struggling with life's pains and joys, like we all do. The baseball setting adds interest and humor. It was hard for me to put down, even though I already knew how it ended from seeing the movie.Thanks, Travis, for another fascinating book.