Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella is a novel that blends baseball, fantasy and nostalgia in a captivating story of faith and redemption. The novel was published in 1982 and was adapted into the popular movie Field of Dreams in 1989. (Still my favorite movie to this day.)

The protagonist of the novel is Ray Kinsella, a farmer who lives in Iowa with his wife Annie and his daughter Karin. Ray loves baseball and is fascinated by the legend of Shoeless Joe Jackson, one of the eight Chicago White Sox players who were banned from baseball for allegedly throwing the 1919 World Series.

One day, Ray hears a mysterious voice telling him "If you build it, he will come." He interprets this as a command to build a baseball field in his cornfield, hoping that Shoeless Joe will appear there. He follows his intuition and builds the field, despite the financial risk and the ridicule of his neighbors.

To his astonishment, Shoeless Joe does appear on the field, along with other ghostly players from the past. They play baseball on Ray's field every night, but only Ray and his family can see them. Ray feels that he has fulfilled his destiny, until he hears another message from the voice: "Ease his pain."

Ray embarks on a journey across America to find out what this means. He meets J.D. Salinger, the reclusive author of The Catcher in the Rye; Moonlight Graham, a former ballplayer who never got to bat in the major leagues; Eddie Scissons, an old man who claims to be "the oldest living Chicago Cub"; and Terence Mann, a radical writer who inspired Ray's generation.

Along the way, Ray discovers more about himself, his father, his dreams and his love for baseball. He also faces challenges from those who do not share his vision or understand his passion. He realizes that he is not only building a field for Shoeless Joe, but also for himself and for everyone who needs a second chance.

Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella is a novel that celebrates the magic of baseball and its power to connect people across time and space. It is also a novel that explores themes such as family, friendship, faith and forgiveness. It is a novel that will make you laugh, cry and believe in miracles.

Want to be further inspired? You can go and visit the Field of Dreams where the movie was filmed. I have been there three times so far with additional trips to come. If you love Shoeless Joe, you will love the real Field of Dreams. It is a magical place.

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Buy it here: Shoeless Joe