It’s no secret that the Twins aren’t playing very well this year. Their performance has lots of baseball fans looking for other ways to get their joy out of the sport. So why not read a book instead?

Down To the Last Pitch by Tim Wendel
on our shelves & online now*: $12, hardcover

The idea of the Twins winning the 2018 World Series is getting harder and harder to comprehend. If you need a reminder of what that would look like, check out this in-depth exploration of the last time the Twins won the World Series. Not only does this harken back to the Twins glory days, it also takes a deeper look at non-baseball things that affect how we watch the sport, including religion, cultural identity, and domestic abuse.

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
on our shelves & online now: $10, hardcover

Maybe watching the Twins has made real baseball too hard to read about. Read about the baseball team at the fictional Westish College as they struggle with obsession in pursuit of glory in the sports world and contentment in their personal lives. It’s a book that’s just as beautiful in its descriptions of the sport, as it is intriguing in its exploration of human nature.

Shoeless Joe by W. P. Kinsella
on our shelves & online now: $4, paperback

Maybe the realism of some baseball novels are still too difficult for you. Perhaps you need something more fantastical. This book, the source material for Field of Dreams, is a beautiful look at how we carve out our identities in relation to the things they love. Whether its our family, our professions, or our favorite baseball teams.

– Charlie

 

 

*We’re a used bookstore too! Prices listed here reflect our stock at the time of this article’s posting. These used copies may sell, or even more might become available! If used copies run out, new copies can also be purchased online at magersandquinn.com.