This was a paperback that I got at the library book sale on Fr 6/7/19. I was unaware that John Grisham wrote comedic novels or any novels that did not involve legal matters.
This novel reminded me of the John Dortmunder series by Donald E. Westlake.
From Amazon Books:
"Rick Dockery is the third-string quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. In the AFC Championship game, to the surprise and dismay of virtually everyone, Rick actually gets into the game. With a seventeen-point lead and just minutes to go, Rick provides what is arguably the worst single performance in the history of the NFL. Overnight, he becomes a national laughingstock—and is immediately cut by the Browns and shunned by all other teams.
But all Rick knows is football, and he insists that his agent find a team that needs him. Against enormous odds, Rick finally gets a job—as the starting quarterback for the Mighty Panthers . . . of Parma, Italy. The Parma Panthers desperately want a former NFL player—any former NFL player—at their helm. And now they’ve got Rick, who knows nothing about Parma (not even where it is) and doesn’t speak a word of Italian. To say that Italy—the land of fine wines, extremely small cars, and football americano—holds a few surprises for Rick Dockery would be something of an understatement."
Lots of details about the Italian food of Parma and general information about Italy. This would be a nice book to read before visiting northern Italy. Parma is 80 miles southeast of Milan.
Part of aA customer review on Amazon:
"Grisham describes each province that Rick is dragged through by the energetic girl, Livvy, who has become Rick's lovely companion with agendas as a forceful tour guide, in such a way that you feel like you are on the same train, bus or car with them viewing ancient cathedrals, dining it al fresco with wine from the region and plenty of tasty treats that will have your mouth watering before you move on to the next province from which Rick would love to escape. Rick is more of a pizza and beer guy who would much rather spend time with his team and his bed with Livvy."
The book is very much an 'airport or beach' read, but enjoyable none the less.
Link to the book's page at wikipedia:
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