The movie was far better crafted. ( )

SPOILER:
OK, so the writing is nice. A little flowery, a little over-poetic with the metaphors, but very readable & I had trouble putting it down. The getting over the 60's thing wasn't in the book. So I was feeling positive toward it.

But there are 2 problems. One is that the nostalgia thing is still there, the idea of this perfect Iowa past that will save people, this perfect White Iowa past, this perfect isolated, lonely, hard-working Iowa past; this perfect women-in-the-kitchen Iowa past.... Etc. And the 2nd problem is Bluestein. Abner Bluestein. Short & greasy & greedy & the money-hungry, heartless accountant. Somehow the Jew in this Protestant place.

Ray is a man possessed by love. Love for his family, love for the sprawling farmland of Iowa, and most importantly, love for the game of baseball. It's this love that makes Ray take chances with all three. Spurred on by a mystical voice Ray builds a left field out in part of his cornfield. But, the voice doesn't stop there. Soon it has Ray driving to Vermont to kidnap J.D. Salinger and from there the adventure really begins. Battling debt, childhood devils, and indecision Ray leans on his ever-understanding wife (and later, Salinger) to build a cornfield stadium that only a few can understand. It's a magical story, perfect for Christmastime when the season is all about dreams and believing in the impossible. ( )

Long a favorite movie, I think I liked the book even better. Though, in defense of the movie, I would say it stayed very true to the spirit of the book, though some might argue about the details. Nothing like it. ( )

Kinsella was one of my favorite authors growing up and this is one his best books. Adapted into the wonderful film "Field of Dreams", the book is even better including a more thorough back story, JD Salinger, and the oldest living Chicago Cub! Plus no one tops Kinsella's voice for baseball magic realism.
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