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142nd out of 447 books
—
334 voters
Miracle on the 17th Green
by
James Patterson (Goodreads Author),
Peter de Jonge
Travis McKinley is an ordinary man living an ordinary life - he has a job that he despises, a marriage that has lost its passion, children from whom he feels disconnected, and at age fifty, a sense that he has accomplished nothing of consequence with his life. But on Christmas Day, he goes out to play a round of golf, and for the first time, he finds himself in the "zone."...more
Paperback, 160 pages
Published
May 5th 1999
by Little Brown and Company
(first published 1996)
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Oct 07, 2010
Dan B
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Golf Fanatics
Recommended to Dan by:
Alex M
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I was not sure if I was going to like this one. For one thing, I am not necessarily a huge fan of golf. Secondly, I haven't really liked any of the books that James Patterson has written with Peter de Jonge. This one proved to be a nice surprising exception.
Travis McKinley is at a point in his life where he is starting to look back and wish that he had made some different decisions. He is a moderately successful adman. He has three children and is happily married to and OBGYN. One Christmas day,...more
Travis McKinley is at a point in his life where he is starting to look back and wish that he had made some different decisions. He is a moderately successful adman. He has three children and is happily married to and OBGYN. One Christmas day,...more
I read somewhere that you did not have to love, or even know much about, the game of golf to really enjoy this story. WRONG! Despite growing up with a father who's mantra was "it never rains on the golf course" I know very little about the game. I am okay with that.
This book however, did require some knowledge of the game beyond your typical surface knowledge. I do believe I would have enjoyed it more if I understood more about the way a golfer thinks.
Travis seems to be at the end of his rope...more
This book however, did require some knowledge of the game beyond your typical surface knowledge. I do believe I would have enjoyed it more if I understood more about the way a golfer thinks.
Travis seems to be at the end of his rope...more
I expected "Miracle on the 17th Green" to be a light, heart-warming, love story like so many of the other James Patterson works I've read. I anticipated a quick read with an underlying golf theme somehow equating enduring love to the game of golf through a not so subtle metaphor; maybe something along the lines of "Like a strong/healthy golf swing, a strong/healthy relationship requires a lot of work... and just when you think you've got it figured out you'll run into some uexpected change or ki...more
Travis McKinley is just an average amateur golfer and an ordinary person. But that is all about to change in an instant. On Christmas day Travis plans to play golf at his regular old country club and he begins to play exceptionally well. When he is putting he can see the line of the putt and his game is instantly improved. He ends up playing in the cold until dark and he misses his family Christmas dinner. Travis and his wife have been drifting away for a while now and this pushes her over the l...more
A very different book than the previous ones I've read by James Patterson. Although the book is heavily focused on golf as a vehicle to tell the story, you don't need to be a golfer (I'm not) to enjoy it. The story follows Travis, a man entering mid-life who has the perfect storm brewing: he's about to be let go, his marriage is falling apart, and he misses Christmas Eve dinner with the family as he practices golf and finds the zone. The story takes you through his entry into the senior golf tou...more
Patterson is known for his crime/detective novels, but this one is co-written with Peter De Jonge and is a nice little romantic feel good read. It was originally published in 1996 and was just reissued in May of 2010.
It's a short novel, less than 200 pages, and one you could easily finish in a day or two. As you can detect from the title it is about golf, but not so much that you have to be a golfer to understand the lingo or to enjoy the story.
The story is about a middle aged man whose life is...more
It's a short novel, less than 200 pages, and one you could easily finish in a day or two. As you can detect from the title it is about golf, but not so much that you have to be a golfer to understand the lingo or to enjoy the story.
The story is about a middle aged man whose life is...more
Know this: I don't play golf. But I understand and appreciate the game, which comes in handy for MIRACLE ON THE 17TH GREEN. I chose this book because is was co-written by James Patterson, it was only 149-pages with short chapters, and it received some great reviews. Golf was not the key attraction here.
Travis McKinley of Illinois, is 50 (but looks 42). His marriage is on the outs. He hates his job as an Ad Copywriter. But that's ok; he just got fired. Now he's FREE! Free to attend golf school in...more
Travis McKinley of Illinois, is 50 (but looks 42). His marriage is on the outs. He hates his job as an Ad Copywriter. But that's ok; he just got fired. Now he's FREE! Free to attend golf school in...more
Those who are familiar with golf and its lingo will totally enjoy each of Travis's seemingly magical rounds of golf, however, there is much more to this delightful story than the consequences of the birdie puts, shanked drives or shots under par. The author describes in excellent and sensitive fashion Travis's love for his wife, children, grandfather and his commitment to pursue his dream of playing professional golf. Discovering the nature of the actual "miracle" on the 17th green is one of, if...more
PART I:
So far I am really impressed with this book. Patterson has, once again, caught my attention. As I started reading, I had a little trouble getting into the book, since golf is not a personal number one interest. But as I kept reading the book started to become more interesting. While Patterson is describing character, Travis McKinley’s Christmas, it made me mad. Then once I read on, I understood that he wasn’t purposely being a jerk. As McKinley spent time on the golf course, he was in a...more
So far I am really impressed with this book. Patterson has, once again, caught my attention. As I started reading, I had a little trouble getting into the book, since golf is not a personal number one interest. But as I kept reading the book started to become more interesting. While Patterson is describing character, Travis McKinley’s Christmas, it made me mad. Then once I read on, I understood that he wasn’t purposely being a jerk. As McKinley spent time on the golf course, he was in a...more
Dec 18, 2009
Veronica Dunn
added it
Part 1.
At the beginning of part 1 of Miracle on 17th green it talks about how Travis is at the golf course on Christmas day. Right from the start I don’t like the guy. I mean really what kind of guy is at the golf course on Christmas day. It goes on to tell how he plays golf and ends up missing Christmas Dinner with his family, yes he has a family. Hard to believe you would think. You come to realize this is a normal thing for Travis to let his family down because the kids that he has are not s...more
At the beginning of part 1 of Miracle on 17th green it talks about how Travis is at the golf course on Christmas day. Right from the start I don’t like the guy. I mean really what kind of guy is at the golf course on Christmas day. It goes on to tell how he plays golf and ends up missing Christmas Dinner with his family, yes he has a family. Hard to believe you would think. You come to realize this is a normal thing for Travis to let his family down because the kids that he has are not s...more
This is a nice holiday read. It's mainstream fiction, perhaps a little predictable (but for me it did deliver a couple of surprises). But if you're looking for a short, positive Christmas story, you are sure to enjoy it.
My favorite parts are where the main character interacts with real golf celebrities.
--John
My favorite parts are where the main character interacts with real golf celebrities.
--John
1 like · like · see review
Miracle on the 17th Green
Part 1 Summary
In the beginning of the Miracle on the 17th Green, you find out who the main character is. Travis McKinley opens the story while playing a round of golf, clearly in the zone. Round after round, he plays all 18 holes on the golf course and goes back to play it again, working on his putting. He only realizes that when he gets done with his third round on the golf course that he realizes that he is late for his Christmas dinner with his family. As a matter of...more
Part 1 Summary
In the beginning of the Miracle on the 17th Green, you find out who the main character is. Travis McKinley opens the story while playing a round of golf, clearly in the zone. Round after round, he plays all 18 holes on the golf course and goes back to play it again, working on his putting. He only realizes that when he gets done with his third round on the golf course that he realizes that he is late for his Christmas dinner with his family. As a matter of...more
Dec 15, 2011
01ryand Dean
added it
Ryan Dean
The Miracle On The 17th Green
The Miracle On The 17th Green by James Patterson was a awesome book. I am very into golf and wanted something that was very similar to what I do. This book is a great book for anyone who knows the great game of golf. I don’t really read a lot but this book had me hooked, I couldn’t put it down. This book made me want to go play golf every second I read it. Its not all about golf though, its how a man can relate to golf to how much his wife means to him. It’...more
The Miracle On The 17th Green
The Miracle On The 17th Green by James Patterson was a awesome book. I am very into golf and wanted something that was very similar to what I do. This book is a great book for anyone who knows the great game of golf. I don’t really read a lot but this book had me hooked, I couldn’t put it down. This book made me want to go play golf every second I read it. Its not all about golf though, its how a man can relate to golf to how much his wife means to him. It’...more
Travis McKinley has been playing golf for most of his 51 years taught by his grandfather. On a chilly Christmas morning he decides to take his sticks on to the course and he plays the most amazing round(s) of golf ever in his life. Unfortunately time was slipping by and he realized he had missed Christmas dinner with his wife and three children. With his marriage already on the rocks and his children showing resentment towards him, he knew this is one mistake he will surely regret. After the hol...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Travis McKinley pursues a goal of playing on the PGA Senior Tour after finally figuring out how to putt during a round of golf on Christmas Day. Amongst the turmoil of a marriage breakup and the loss of his job Travis final figures out what's important in life.
This is the first James Patterson book I have ever read and it certainly doesn't make me want to read another. Miracle on the 17th Green is a very simple story and offers no surprises. It actually reads like it should reside in the Young A...more
This is the first James Patterson book I have ever read and it certainly doesn't make me want to read another. Miracle on the 17th Green is a very simple story and offers no surprises. It actually reads like it should reside in the Young A...more
A friend's review of this novella sparked my interest & so I gave it a go. I read it in one sitting which gives one an idea of its length & the complexity of the subject matter. Still, it was a lovely read & every once in awhile we all need a feel good story. I'm not a golfer although on the rare occasion when I watch a match on television I think that it might be fun to walk a course and hit the ball well. Of course, the amount of time & energy it would take to reach "hit the ba...more
Very quick read. Nice story. I am not a golf fan....and other than hitting a bucket of golf balls at the combined putt-putt course, my knowledge of golf is severely limited. But, I could follow it and even enjoy the story! So, that said....you do not have to be a golf fan. I also was mislead in my own thinking.......thought the "miracle" was some type of special power or supernatural intervention...perhaps reading Patterson's Bird Children books made me think that way. Instead, this is just a go...more
Travis McKinley is an ordinary man living an ordinary life - he has a job that he despises, a marriage that has lost its passion, children from whom he feels disconnected, and at age fifty, a sense that he has accomplished nothing of consequence with his life. But on Christmas Day, he goes out to play a round of golf, and for the first time, he finds himself in the "zone." He sees the putting line that has eluded him for years. Always a fairly good golfer, he finds himself playing like a pro and...more
I'm not normally one to read fiction and I've never read any of Pattersons books but a close friend told me to read this one. Of course I was reluctant but I'm glad I did...it was a fast read and well worth the short time it took me to finish it. I became involved with the main character from the beginning and really cared about what was happening in his life. I know nothing about golf but to me that was really just a metaphor for finding what you love in life and then going out and doing it.
I enjoyed this book probably more than any other book I have read this year. Although I have to admit that being the daughter of an avid amatuer golfer not only gave me an inside knowledge of golf, golf strokes, golf competitions and pro golf course may have made it more of an easy read. However the book stands along as a great story, golfer or not. The realationship of the family, the decisions, all of these make a meaningful situation for the book to unfold. I highly recommend it.
Star Rating – 4 stars
Put in a hook – “Standing on the far side of the green on the exact line of my putt was Sarah. She looked at least as beautiful and determined and animated as the day we met. I wasn’t seeing the line of my putt at all, but only the line of my heart.”
Supply a paragraph of background/overview… This book is about a man named Travis. He is stuck in a troubled marriage. Then one Christmas morning he went out to play golf. That morning he started to play like a pro. He was playing...more
Put in a hook – “Standing on the far side of the green on the exact line of my putt was Sarah. She looked at least as beautiful and determined and animated as the day we met. I wasn’t seeing the line of my putt at all, but only the line of my heart.”
Supply a paragraph of background/overview… This book is about a man named Travis. He is stuck in a troubled marriage. Then one Christmas morning he went out to play golf. That morning he started to play like a pro. He was playing...more
This was a really short audio book - only 3 discs. I only picked it up because I recognized the author, it was short, and I thought my husband would be interested in it for a short trip this weekend. Overall, I enjoyed it. I'm not really into golf at all but I always seem to enjoy sports stories. I can't relate to the story at all but that's ok. It made me laugh out loud a little a couple times. Nice way to kill a few hours in the car.
This was a most delightful read. Having just completed a difficult classic read, it was the right book at the right time. While I am not a golfer I still found this book most entertaining. The store line was entertaining, the conflicts realistic and the solutions believable. If you are a golfer it would be a plus because you would revel in the hero's experiences and no doubt learn more about golf. This is a fun and relaxing read!
Not your normal James Patterson book. Although the book is heavily focused on golf, you don't need to be golfer to enjoy it. The story follows Travis, a man entering mid-life whos about to be let go from his job and his marriage is falling apart. Because of everything else going on in his life he decides to pursue a life long dream of playing on the senior golf tour. Youll have to read the book to find out what happens.
OK, I really liked the story... however, it would be nice if Patterson had gotten his geography right... there is a comment early in the story where the main character is dining with his wife in a high rise restaurant in suburban Chicago, from which they are able to see the lights in Canada.... not in my universe
still that's probably my only complaint... and it's every golfer's dream
still that's probably my only complaint... and it's every golfer's dream
A cute sappy love story - but with all the great stuff out there I think it was a bi of a waste of my time spent reading. My author loyalty is waning - as I realizing that not all of James Patterson is great. Maybe if I enjoyed golf I would have appreciated more of the meat of the book and of the main characters accomplishments - but I cannot say I would recommend this.
First...I am NOT a golfer...not the slightest bit interested in playing it or watching it...but I AM a reader and LOVE books by James Patterson...so had to give this one a try. He never fails to capture me with his stories and this one was no exception. A very quick and delightful read! If you enjoy Patterson's books, add this one to your list!
At last a book by James Patterson that I did not like. Actually, he didn't even write it. He had the idea and some other guy wrote it. It's about a 51 year old loser who, because of some miracle, suddenly becomes a professional golfer who wins tournaments. Who cares? The guy is white, has three kids, and his wife no longer loves him. Boo Hoo.
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The subject of a Time magazine feature called, "The Man Who Can't Miss," James Patterson is the bestselling author of the past year, bar none, with more than 16 million books sold in North America alone. In 2007, one of every fifteen hardcover fiction books sold was a Patterson title. In the past three years, James has sold more books than any other author (according...more
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Offical UK Site
The subject of a Time magazine feature called, "The Man Who Can't Miss," James Patterson is the bestselling author of the past year, bar none, with more than 16 million books sold in North America alone. In 2007, one of every fifteen hardcover fiction books sold was a Patterson title. In the past three years, James has sold more books than any other author (according...more
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“Plus, if I can wax philosophical for a paragraph, there's an even more fundamental principle involved here, and it apples to everything from what you decide to do for a living, to making an omelette, which is that there is nothing so consistently dangerous, not to mention more likely to mess with your head and leave you muttering into your beer, than playing it safe.”
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“Plus, if I can wax philosophical for a paragraph, there's an even more fundamental principle involved here, and it applies to everything from what you decide to do for a living, to making an omelette, which is that there is nothing so consistently dangerous, not to mention more likely to mess with your head and leave you muttering into your beer, than playing it safe.”
—
1 person liked it
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Sep 24, 2010 10:05am
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