Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "House"

So let's put my broadcaster partner to work this week and let Jim Palmer talk about his favorite book, "House" by Tracy Kidder.

Before listening to Jim, consider this: The book is about building a house. It's about the architecture, the design, the people, the conflicts and the results.

Jim found symbolism is this book related to building a wining baseball team. If you keep that in mind as you listen to Jim, I think you will find the analogy fascinating.

When the book was published in 1985, the New York Times review included this paragraph:

"And 'House' is finally a happy story. A collection of highly abrasive people succeed in getting along with one another and producing something worthwhile. I'm not certain whether this outcome represents a triumph over adversity or a case of succumbing to necessity, but everyone, including the house, seems to have come out better for the experience."

Hmmm, a baseball team you say? Here's Jim:

What a great job our friends at the Enoch Pratt Free Library have done for us. Roswell Encina has led the charge in securing wonderful recommendations and this one for "A Little Life" by Hanya Yanaghara comes from him.

"This is a hefty book of more than 700 pages," Encina says. "But it is completely worth every page. It's a wonderful and profound book that is an ode to friendship. It is compelling, disturbing and touching all blended into one about the friendship of four men. It's a definite great read that every 20-something and 30-something should read. This is definitely the best book I've read this year. Take it to the beach, take it to the pool, take it on your trips this summer. It will captivate you!"

Fill up that summer book bag.

Gary Thorne is the play-by-play voice of the Orioles on MASN, and the 2015 season is his ninth with the club and 30th covering Major League Baseball. His blog will appear regularly throughout the season. The Edmondson Avenue branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, 4330 Edmondson Ave., presents Coffee Talk on Saturday, July 11 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the adult department. Read any good books lately? The library provides the coffee, you provide the conversation.

Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne. © Copyright 2015 Gary F. Thorne. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog's author is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Gary F. Thorne and MASNsports.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.