I waffle between a 3 and 4 for this book. It is exceptionally well written, but it references a sport about which I know -- or knew, for I've picked up a few things -- absolutely nothing. Prior to this reading, my entire knowledge of cricket has come from watching Jane Austen movies.

Cricket is to Sri Lanka what baseball is to the United States. Men sit around with a drink in hand creating their fantasy team -- the best players through the years. It is this -- the drinking and the list making -- that launches W.G. Karunasena to complete his bucket list item, to write the story of his favorite cricketer, Pradeep Mathew.

Shehan Karunatilaka has written a beautiful story honoring the country of Sri Lanka and the sport of Cricket. That I didn't understand sections of this book should be blamed on my ignorance of the culture and sport and not on his writing ability.

If you're a cricket fan, or possibly a baseball fan, you'll appreciate the dedication of W.G. Karunasena, and the skill of Pradeep Mathew.