The Art of Fielding - Chapters 21-40 (January 2012)

[William]

The place for discussion of chapters 21-40.

[Deborah]

I used to do Tae Kwon Do. I loved to spar and I loved tournaments. Point sparring only.

At the last tournament I fought in, I kicked a woman in the face by mistake. It upset me far more than it hurt her. I did really poorly. I was too careful. I was afraid to score.

I think the interesting question about what happens to Henry is did the injury scare him or was the injury a sign that things were going wrong?

[William]

Personally, I suspect a little of both. I think the pressure gets to him, and the injury makes it far worse.

[Ellen]

It is an interesting question; I just assumed it was a sign that things were going wrong. But maybe it was just a freak accident that shook his confidence, added to everything else that's happening.

I'm curious as to whether we meet Owen's mother again.

[William]

I think Owen is in many respects, the most interesting character of the novel, although I'm not sure he seems so until you think about it awhile.