Love Yourshelf: Chad Harbach’s Art of Fielding is a Home Run

Author: Emily Agnew

 

I love reading. The stress of Cornell can be overbearing, as it feels like as soon as one prelim is over there is immediately another paper to write, problem set to finish, or quiz to prepare for. When school is overwhelming, it is nice to be able to escape into a new world through literature. We all get caught up in the frenzy of Cornell assignments, forgetting what it is like to live outside of the Ithaca “bubble.” However, it is important that as college students we cultivate our education in more than just studying for our prelims, and one way to do this is to read outside of the classroom.

 

 

One of the best books that I read recently was The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach. Though the 500 pages seemed daunting, I couldn’t put it down once I had picked it up. This novel is a great read, and full of interesting characters.

 

At the risk of sounding cheesy, this novel truly captures the essence and struggles of growing up. Set at Westish College, a small school located in Michigan, the novel chronicles different characters throughout their college lives, drawing the reader in with its colorful cast. This book is  particularly meaningful as a college student, as the messages of vulnerability and growth are relevant to this time in our lives.

 

 

Centered on baseball, the novel follows the loveable and awkward Henry Skrimshander and his journey for baseball fame. The plot starts off slow, but it quickly picks up, bringing the reader along in Henry’s many ups and downs. Henry is admitted to Westish on a scholarship, and often feels inadequate in comparison to the other students. However, his love of baseball immediately bonds him with his gay and flamboyant roommate, Owen, who is also on the team.

 

You don’t need to be a baseball lover to enjoy this book. I am the farthest thing from an athlete and not a sports-fan in anyway, and yet I find the baseball terminology relatable and endearing. The reader is drawn into Henry’s quest, cheering for him on the sidelines and hoping for his success. I love coming-of-age stories, and Harbach’s novel is filled with character development. Henry grows from a young and timid freshman, self-consciously obsessed with making it as a baseball star, to realizing there may be more to life than a professional baseball career. Though he faces hardships throughout this realization, he ultimately comes out a stronger and more confident individual. Each character is caught in a vulnerable time in their lives – some of them college students, others older, but regardless of their age the struggles they face are relatable for all ages.

 

 

Just as Henry’s self-consciousness and doubt threaten to ruin his hard-earned baseball career, many other characters also experience a crisis at the climax of the novel. The college president, Guert Affenlight, falls hopelessly in love with Owen, while Guert’s daughter, Pella, returns to Westish after the hardship of a failed marriage. Mike Schwartz, another of Henry’s teammates and friends, realizes that by helping Henry he may have ruined his own chances of success. In facing and overcoming these difficulties each individual character comes out stronger in the process.

 

The stories of these five individuals are tied together in intricate and captivating ways, building off of each other. This novel shows the vulnerability of human nature as all five of these characters strive to achieve their best selves and overcome their difficulties. The Art of Fielding captures the essence of growing up and the importance of human connection, love, and self growth. Indeed, Harbach’s novel is truly a home-run.