Title: The Blind Side
Author: Michael Lewis
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Biographies, Book to Film, Non-fiction, Sport
Dates read: 18th – 24th February 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: Norton
Year: 2006
5th sentence, 74th page: Did you see the way that kid moved?
When we first meet him, Michael Oher is one of thirteen children by a mother addicted to crack; he does not know his real name, his father, his birthday, or how to read or write. He takes up football, and school, after a rich, white, Evangelical family plucks him from the streets. Then two great forces alter Oher: the family’s love and the evolution of professional football itself into a game where the quarterback must be protected at any cost. Our protagonist becomes the priceless package of size, speed, and agility necessary to guard the quarterback’s greatest vulnerability – his blind side.
I decided to buy this book since I absolutely love the movie. And I love books. So I really figured that I couldn’t go wrong. And I was right. I absolutely loved this book. I was drawn in completely and actually had quite a bit of trouble putting this story down. Which is quite surprising for a biography – normally I read them because they are easy to pick up and put down…
Inspirational biographies are always interesting. Especially when they give an insight into a area of life which I have no experience with. So pretty much anything from America suits this requirement. Memphis and Hurt Village, and all these other places that were mentioned gave me such an interesting insight into a life that I won’t ever have to live. The amazing way in which everything just lines up for Michael and how some incredibly giving souls are willing to help him was kind of jaw dropping. I want to imagine that people like that exist in the world, but it isn’t until you read about specific examples that you truly believe that it’s possible.
Although Michael Oher’s story is intense and powerful, I loved the anecdotes and tales from the NFL that filtered throughout this novel. I still don’t 100% understand this game, but I feel like I have a much better grasp of what is going on.
This novel managed to combine a powerful biography with the historical evolution of the game. Key players are mentioned, statistics cited and plays described. All alongside the plight of a young boy from a bad situation. It combines to create such a unique, powerful and enthralling story that I can’t stop thinking about.
Earth and Skye 
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