A Painted House

Rating:
Summary: Grisham had me 'til the bitter end...
Review: This book completely captivated me immediately. Although not a suspenseful read, it was compelling and intriguing. I was instantly humbled by the simplistic lifestyle, the harsh reality of living off the land, depending on God's nature to feed and protect. A 7-year old boy working dawn until dusk in the fields with his family, dreaming of life beyond the farm, his only entertainment are his dreams and the family radio. Oh, how my heart broke as the story came to a close! Grisham left me begging for more - I want to know what happens next! Where's the sequel, John???

Rating:
Summary: Engrossing and addictive
Review: I couldn't put this book down...I had to bring in the last 2 CDs into work so I could finish it. Prepare to be transplanted not only to the empoverished cotton patch of Arkansas, but into the mind of a seven-year-old boy (Luke) of devout Baptist heritage. This book takes you to a place where, as Grisham notes, every part of the pig gets used but the squeal. What a trip.
This may be a poor cotton farm, but there's lots going on here. Mexican laborers and hillbillies come to help pick the cotton, and when they arrive you already can tell that sparks are going to fly. All flavored with the typical boy interests - discovering girls, baseball, soda pop and ice cream, and the Saturday matinee. Although the family is strict Baptist who get their share of fire-breathing preaching from the pastor, there's lots of secrets from the parents, a few lies, and a little more...
Luke's grandparents play a critical role in this family. If you have/had grandparents from the Depression-era you'll probably be able to relate to the senior Chandlers. Stoic, proud, and industrious, just keeping up with these kinds of folks either wears you out or makes you feel lazy.
I just noticed that this has been made into a movie. I don't know if this would translate to the screen well. Much of the book's appeal is in what Luke is thinking, how he is assessing situations, and making judgments. If you take away the lens of the boy, this story loses lots of substance. I don't plan on ruining my appraisal of the book with watching the movie! This book is currently selling used for a penny, and is a quick and enjoyable read. What a deal!



Rating:
Summary: You Really Know the Characters - A Great Book!
Review: I would recommend this book to anyone who loves stories about coming of age as well as those who love books where the characters are so real you remember them for years. I would put this book in the same category as Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy - an awesome read!

Rating:
Summary: Another excellent read from Grisham
Review: A Painted House is not your typical John Grisham novel, but don't let that scare you away from reading this story. Seven-year old Luke Chandler lives on a cotton farm with his parents and grandparents in rural Arkansas in 1952. Every year, his family hires hill people and Mexican field hands to help the harvest the 80 acres of cotton they own. This summer is different though for Luke as the workers move onto the farm. The Chandler family must deal with weather, lack of money, and two dangerous men who help them in the fields. A Painted House is completely different from all other Grisham novels. Usually writing legal thrillers, Grisham instead wrote a different type of story. Simply put, the man knows how to tell a story. It takes awhile to get going, but it is well worth the wait.

What makes this story so interesting is the characters. The novel is told from the perspective of seven-year old Luke, who provides some surprisingly deep insights. The Chandler family includes Pappy and Gran, Luke's grandparents, and Jesse and Kathleen, Luke's parents. Besides the family, there are also some excellent supporting characters that help move the story along including the Spruills, the hill people family, Miguel and Cowboy, two of the Mexican farm hands, and many more. For an excellent story with great characters that is different from your usual Grisham novel, check out A Painted House!