Scooter

I read Mick Foley's debut novel, Tietam Brown, in the summer of 2003 and thought it was good.

Sure, it was a bit gruesome and the characters had dark flaws, but I thought to myself that it was Foley's first work of fiction so I gave him a pass.

He released his second novel - Scooter - in the summer of 2005 and I didn't bother buying it at first. One reason was because it had a baseball theme and I didn't know too much about the sport. Then, a few days ago, I was looking for something to read and decided I would give it a go.

I'm surprised I am going to say this about Foley.

I hated it.

The darkness from Tietam Brown is back here. This time it is a lot worse.

Tietam Brown was handicapped with an injured hand and a missing ear, Scooter Reilly is similar in ways as he carries a limp, loses an eye and gets a scarred cheek in this book.

What is it with Foley and his title characters being scarred emotionally and physically?

It's not only the title characters in Scooter. I'd say that ninety-nine percent of the cast in this book have something wrong with them and it's quite disturbing. It's as if Foley enjoys harming his own creations.

The only positive thing I can offer about this book is it is well researched. He captures New York from the 60's to 70's. I'm obviously not that up on American history but I have this feeling everything he writes about are close if not spot on in its accuracy.

It's definitely not a nice book and I would only recommend it to people who would get a kick out of reading something based around New York during these times.

So, if you live in New York and like baseball it's for you. If not - look elsewhere.