Author Description
A novel of passion and obsession, Heart of the Order is the story of Danny ("Kiss of the Wolf") Bacigalupo, a baseball player from the alleys of Chicago's North Side, whose life and career are shaped by a tragic childhood accident. Danny knows about guilt from the stern Irish women in black hoods and floor-length robes, but their words don't move him -- not until the death of Mickey Meenan. It was an accident: A line drive off Danny's bat collided with young Mickey's Adam's apple. Danny manages to shake the accident, but he can't shake the presence of Mickey. Even after fourteen years of pro ball he doesn't know whether he's Mickey or Danny, a swinger for the fences or a player who hits safely. A magic realism informs the novel and takes the form of a monologue from a father to his son. The book's first half focuses on the love between Danny and another memorable outsider, Grace Jankowski -- the fat girl with the beautiful eyes. The second half reveals the tough world of minor-league baseball and Danny's friendship with a black shortstop named Book Johnson. Throughout both sections of the novel, baseball becomes a personal crucible as Danny struggles to find himself and a single identity. Novelist David Bradley, winner of 1982's PEN/Faulkner Award, praised "the wisdom and humor of the novel's narrative voice and the stylistic risks that have transformed this straightforward story into art." A section of the novel appeared in TriQuarterly magazine; it has also been awarded the 1985 Virginia Prize for Fiction, and has won for the author a major fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Menrva's Summary
THE PULSE
A professional baseball player struggles to reconcile his identity after a childhood accident leaves him haunted by the memory of a boy he killed with a line drive. Danny Bacigalupo navigates the physical demands of minor-league baseball while contending with the psychological weight of his past. His objective is to find a singular identity amidst the pressure of his career and the lingering presence of the boy he accidentally struck. The narrative framework utilizes a unique monologue structure, shifting between the protagonist's internal conflict and the perspective of a father speaking to his son, blending realistic sports drama with elements of magic realism.
INSIDE THE PAGES
- Monologue-driven narrative structure
- Incorporation of magic realism elements
- Exploration of guilt and identity
- Depiction of minor-league baseball culture
- Focus on outsider characters
- Chicago North Side setting
- Examination of childhood trauma
- Thematic focus on the sport as a personal crucible
THE COLLECTIVE ECHO
Discussion often centers on the author's ability to blend the gritty reality of minor-league baseball with a surreal, haunting psychological landscape. Readers frequently highlight the effectiveness of the narrative voice, which maintains a balance between the protagonist's internal turmoil and the external pressures of his athletic career. Critics have noted the stylistic risks taken by the author, particularly in the use of a father-to-son monologue to frame the story. The book is often cited for its character-driven approach, where the sport serves as a backdrop for a deeper investigation into guilt and self-discovery. Many readers appreciate the nuanced portrayal of the protagonist's relationships, particularly his connection with Grace Jankowski and Book Johnson, which grounds the more ethereal elements of the narrative.
Page Count:
314
Publication Date:
1986-01-01
Publisher:
Henry Holt & Co
ISBN-10:
0030085039
ISBN-13:
9780030085031
Contemporary
Fiction
Sports
Magic Realism
Coming of Age
Baseball
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