Blind Your Ponies

Traber Burns gives a gentle, straightforward reading of this heartwarming story about a small town on the verge of extinction. Each of the residents of Willow Creek, Montana, has a story of pain and despair--especially the 19 high school students whose boys' basketball team has suffered 93 straight losses. Then a Norwegian exchange student and a transfer student from St. Paul put an end to the team's losing streak. The students, the coach, and the people of Willow Creek suddenly dare to hope, to dream, and to bury their demons. This is a story with humor, sorrow, joy--and lots of exciting basketball action. Burns reads with wonderful expression but never intrudes with his narrative style, letting West's story speak for itself. M.M.G. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

October 18, 2010
In this originally self-published hit, the small town of Willow Creek, Mont., is the place where dreams go to die. English teacher and basketball coach Sam Pickett hasn't won a game in five seasons and decides to quit coaching, but he changes his mind after getting a look at the 6-ft.-11 Norwegian exchange student, Olaf Gustafson. Sam's other recruits include Tom Stonebreaker, whose drunken father would rather see him working the family farm, and Peter Strong, who moves in with his hippie grandmother after his parents' divorce and would rather be back home in Minnesota with his girlfriend. As the team coalesces around Olaf and begins winning games, their march toward the state tournament inspires Willow Creek and ignites a touching romance between Sam and his assistant coach. If the novel is a little too long, its sentiments worn too shamelessly on its sleeve, and its symbolism a little too obvious (Sam dubs the team bus "Rozinante" in honor of Don Quixote's steed), this uplifting story about the triumph of human decency is sure to be enjoyed by those who fondly recall another David vs. Goliath roundball yarn—Hoosiers.

August 1, 2011
This novel by West ("Amos: To Ride a Dead Horse") originally was self-published in 2001; republished in paperback in 2010 and selected as an Indie Pick, it is now newly available on audio. The high school boys' basketball team in the tiny, forlorn town of Willow Creek, MT, has lost its last 93 games. Just as the coach, English teacher and widower Sam Pickett, is about to retire, he discovers the school's new 6'11" Norwegian exchange student, who has a great outside shot. As the team marches toward the state tournament, the spirits of Willow Creek's residents soar, and Sam's broken heart begins to heal. Actor Traber Burns warmly narrates this wonderfully sweet and sappy inspirational sports story, which will appeal to those who enjoyed "Hoosiers" and "Field of Dreams". Ripe for a movie adaptation. [For a less laudatory take on this title, read the review of the Algonquin pb, "LJ" Xpress Reviews, 12/23/10.—Ed.]—Beth Farrell, Cleveland State Univ. Law Lib.

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