When I started reading
Signal Caller I got the impression Lane and Kendall
Patterson are more than husband and wife – they are
a team. Lane is pressured by his job and Kendal has his back.
But as the story moves I see looks can be deceiving. Lane
is a signal caller for the Philadelphia football team. Fans
are aware of his migraines, but when he’s in the game
he’s gold, and that’s what counts. A play Lane
calls the “fumble bumble” is just the beginning
of Lane’s life altering change. And it looks like Kendall
is wrapped up in the life of a player’s wife. Kendall
is best known for her expensive outfits, heavy drinking and
insulting others during the games. Sports columnist Tony Rhine
sees Lane as the perfect target after his fumble bumble. Rhine
is a man who thrives on destroying others. Eventually everything
builds up and Lane is suddenly faced with hearing loss. He
discovers the deaf world, sign language and possibility of
surgery. Lane also addresses medicinal ways to deal with his
migraines. It’s quite a story. As I read I wondered
if Lane would accept his fate and make adjustments. Or if
he would chose anger and denial. And where would Kendall end
up in all of this…
Patterson
gives readers a plausible storyline. It’s a bit wordy
in places – only because I get the impression the author
wants the reader to understand football and deafness. The
conversation flows. Using all caps for the sign language works
well, too. I’m not a sports buff, but I do understand
deafness. I found Signal Caller an interesting read.
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