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The Eastern Stars: How Baseball Changed the Dominican Town of San Pedro de Macoris Audiobook
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(2.09) - 174 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
In the town of San Pedro in the Dominican Republic, baseball is not just a way of life. It's the way of life. By the year 2008, seventy-nine boys and men from San Pedro had gone on to play in the Major Leagues—that means one in six Dominican Republicans who have played in the Majors have come from one tiny, impoverished region. Manny Alexander, Sammy Sosa, Tony Fernandez, and legions of other San Pedro players who came up in the sugar mill teams flocked to the United States looking for opportunity, wealth, and a better life.
Because of the sugar industry and the influxes of migrant workers from across the Caribbean to work in the cane fields and factories, San Pedro is one of the most ethnically diverse areas of the Dominican Republic. A multitude of languages are spoken there, and a variety of skin colors populate the community; but the one constant is sugar and baseball. The history of players from San Pedro is also a chronicle of racism in baseball, changing social mores in sports and in the Dominican Republic, and the personal stories of the many men who sought freedom from poverty through playing ball. The story of baseball in San Pedro is also that of the Caribbean in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries and on a broader level opens a window into U.S. history.
As with Mark Kurlansky's Cod and Salt, this small story, rich with anecdote and detail, becomes much larger than ever imagined. Kurlansky reveals two countries' love affair with a sport and the remarkable journey of San Pedro and its baseball players. In his distinctive style, he follows common threads and discovers wider meanings about place, identity, and, above all, baseball.
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"As enjoyable as all of Kurlansky's books. A fascinating glimpse at the Dominican Republic, and the way the business of baseball effects it."
— Matt (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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Kurlansky homes in on a singular subject and magnifies its every facet under the brilliant light of his investigative reporting, his historical sensibility, and his lively storytelling.
— Publishers Weekly Starred Review -
“Enticing and educational, a swell combination.”
— Denver Post -
“It’s history. And sociology. And anthropology. And religion. And recipes. And a study of race. And recipes. And, oh yes, a smattering of baseball. In short, a pastiche. But an enticing one.”
— Philadelphia Inquirer -
“Kurlansky homes in on a singular subject and magnifies its every facet under the brilliant light of his investigative reporting, his historical sensibility, and his lively storytelling.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“Ed Sala offers an engaging narration that is reminiscent of a grizzled former ballplayer spinning yarns about his playing days.”
— AudioFile -
“Classic Kurlansky: take one small thing…and through it tell a big multifaceted story…It is a history of missed opportunities and bittersweet successes.”
— Julia Alvarez, author of How the García Girls Lost Their Accents -
“A fantastic essay on the game of baseball and the sport dreams that unite—-for better and worse—-the US and the Dominican Republic.”
— Junot Diaz, author of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
The Eastern Stars Listener Reviews
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" This is a book I typically would not read, however it was interesting and I received a great history lesson on a number of topics. For a baseball fan this would be a great book. "
— Kathleen, 2/10/2014 -
" Not bad, but drags a lot for a short book "
— Hugh, 1/31/2014 -
" Named after San Pedro's home team, Estrellas Orientales, The Eastern Stars hit a home run with some critics and struck out with others. Kurlansky tackles his subject capably, explaining key baseball terms and concepts for readers unfamiliar with the game, but he doesn't write with the passion and determined focus of a sportswriter. Critics who panned The Eastern Stars cited Kurlansky's failure to humanize his story as well as a few holes in his own understanding of the game. However, as the study of a troubled, economically depressed community, Kurlansky's book fares better. Based on solid research and framed in simple, forthright prose, his reflections on history, culture, religion, and racial relations--oh, and baseball--charmed critics who didn't necessarily have their hearts set on a baseball book. This is an excerpt from a review published in Bookmarks magazine. "
— Bookmarks, 1/24/2014 -
" I was really looking forward to this book but found it disappointing. I was left with the sense that Mark Kurlansky likes baseball and wanted a warm holiday. It lacks the rigor and connections that I've enjoyed in his previous work. "
— Oceana, 1/16/2014 -
" Great concept, but poorly executed. Kurlansky doesn't seem to have even a basic understanding of baseball. "
— Richard, 1/6/2014 -
" Oceana - I was really looking forward to this book but found it disappointing. I was left with the sense that Mark Kurlansky likes baseball and wanted a warm holiday. It lacks the rigor and connections that I've enjoyed in his previous work. "
— Crossett, 1/4/2014 -
" Interesting historical, baseball, political read (in that order), covering the baseball hotbed San Pedro de Macoris. "
— Jason, 11/15/2013 -
" A well-done look at how baseball became a phenomenon in the Dominican ... "
— Kenneth, 8/31/2013 -
" As a personal preference I wished this book focused more on baseball then on the way of life in San Pedro. I did like learning more about guys like Andujar, G. Bell and A. Griffen. Also enjoyed learning more about their own World Series during the mlb off-season. "
— Robert, 8/23/2013 -
" Kurlansky is great at threading baseball, history, social movements, industrial development, sugar, etc. into one compelling story. "
— Noladishu, 7/2/2013 -
" Kind of boring - no new ground covered here. "
— Warren, 5/13/2013 -
" Adequate history of baseball in the Dominican Republic, including a general overview of baseball and race relations in the US and Caribbean. Not terribly interesting without prior curiosity. "
— Stuart, 10/15/2012 -
" If you are a baseball fan, this is a must read! Very interesting that so many pros come from this one town... "
— Jeremy, 8/29/2012 -
" I came across this in New Release section at the Tribeca Barnes and Noble where I like to kill time during my lunch hour. The blurb from Junot Diaz convinced me to give it a shot. It's an interesting read, but I wasn't blown away or anything. "
— My, 11/24/2011 -
" Fair. Somewhat interesting but assumes no baseball knowledge. "
— Josh, 5/16/2011 -
" This was a fun read and I felt for the desperation of the young men and boys who see baseball as the only way out of poverty, despite the high odds against making it to the major leagues. I am always somewhat disappointed in Mark Kurlansky's later works. Nothing can live up to Salt: A World History. "
— Lynne, 12/31/2010 -
" Fascinating look at the region of the Dominican Republic that produces a disproportionate number of Major League Baseball players. Author is best at describing the history and culture of the area and not baseball. "
— Steve, 11/26/2010 -
" I was really looking forward to this book but found it disappointing. I was left with the sense that Mark Kurlansky likes baseball and wanted a warm holiday. It lacks the rigor and connections that I've enjoyed in his previous work. "
— Oceana, 9/21/2010 -
" Oceana - I was really looking forward to this book but found it disappointing. I was left with the sense that Mark Kurlansky likes baseball and wanted a warm holiday. It lacks the rigor and connections that I've enjoyed in his previous work. "
— Crossett, 8/2/2010 -
" Fair. Somewhat interesting but assumes no baseball knowledge. "
— Josh, 7/29/2010 -
" As a personal preference I wished this book focused more on baseball then on the way of life in San Pedro. I did like learning more about guys like Andujar, G. Bell and A. Griffen. Also enjoyed learning more about their own World Series during the mlb off-season. "
— Robert, 7/8/2010 -
" Kind of boring - no new ground covered here. "
— Warren, 5/15/2010 -
" If you are a baseball fan, this is a must read! Very interesting that so many pros come from this one town... "
— Jeremy, 5/12/2010
About Mark Kurlansky
Mark Kurlansky is the author of thirty-five books, including fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books. He has received the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, Bon Appetit’s Food Writer of the Year Award, the James Beard Award, and the Glenfiddich Award.
About Ed Sala
Ed Sala has narrated dozens of audio books throughout his career. His readings include Harlan Coben’s Tell No One, Stephen Sears’ Gettysburg, and Cormac MacCarthy’s Outer Dark.