“Third Base” is a story completely different from the romances I’m used to read. It’s a story of deep friendship, an indissoluble bond, important and vital for Coby and Ellie.
It’s sweet, almost platonic, like a burning fire, always there, ready to warm them up, when they need it, but also always ready to inflame.
Coby and Ellie have really grown together since they were in the bands, after the death of Cody’s mother. They always faced everything together. Every moment that counted, every significant step in their life (first kiss, loss of virginity, etc …) are memories of moments they shared and then packed and put away without going any further. Even the fact of being kind of nerd type during the school period, has joined them even more, starting their view of life as “the two of us against the world”.
In fact, reading the story, I realize they always were side by side, but never really together. They understood how important is their bond, but they didn’t understand all the ramifications of what they feel, or they don’t want to acknowledge it. They joked on it, saying they were soul-mates  and didn’t understand how true is it.
But other people who enter in their lives could see that. They couldn’t get through the “bubble” that separates Coby and Ellie from the rest of the world, turning out to be just as thieves of their time.
Boys and girls, women who have never been so important to push Ellie and Coby to put their friendship in second place.
Coby seemed to me the most fragile and insecure among them. Despite the chance to realize his dream to become a professional baseball player, with all things it involves – money, women, media attention, etc … – he is the one to show the most his need for Ellie by his side, and Ellie is always ready to push him, or the one who could take away his worry even with her silent presence.
This book is like the diary of a trip these two boys needed, to grow and put aside their fears, so they could call with its true name their bond.
It wasn’t all pink and flowers, indeed, it was sometimes frustrating to see what they were combining or how they behaved.
The point of break of their balances and the habits was certainly Gage (happy dance!!!). This exuberant boy, quite the ladies’ man, and disarming with his charm, gave a touch of cheer and color to this story. Gage and Ellie’s back and forth are fun, their teasing made me laugh a lot. In short Gage is a force of nature and without his presence I think Coby and Ellie would still be there to turn around.
I’d love to read Gage in another story dedicated to him, although “Third Base” is a standalone novel. Just saying…

 

 

 

Prima base: baciare.
Seconda base: sopra la vita.
Terza base: sotto la vita.
Fuori campo: non occorrono spiegazioni.

Ogni giocatore di baseball sa di dover tenere gli occhi sulla palla e battere con tutta la propria forza. Ogni base conta, ma l’obiettivo finale è il fuoricampo. Nessuno vuole essere eliminato. Questo è vero sia fuori che dentro al campo.
Ellie è stata la mia migliore amica sin dalla nascita e abbiamo un piano: andarcene dalla cittadina dell’Alabama dove siamo cresciuti e andare al college… insieme. Ma anche i piani meglio programmati possono tirare una palla curva. Al posto di frequentare le lezioni, adesso ero il lanciatore titolare di una squadra della Major League.
Mentre le statistiche delle mie partite erano notevoli, il mio ruolino di marcia con le donne era meno promettente. Ero il giocatore professionista di baseball incapace di andare oltre la terza base sin dalla prima e unica notte in cui avevo raggiunto quell’obiettivo con la mia migliore amica.
Quando arrivò un momento cruciale per la mia carriera, mi trovai a dover decidere se la nostra amicizia fosse più importante che solo qualche extra inning.