Rating: 
Summary: A lone dissenter
Review: I bought this book based on all your illustrious reviews, but truthfully, I found it tedious, not thrilling. Schlictmann is not a person I would look up to based on what I read. His extravagance was extremely annoying and I think he did the families no good. I don't read Grisham so maybe I'm out of my genre, although I've enjoyed true-crime narratives such as Fatal Vision. If you consider this the best book you've ever read, you need to read a lot more books.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrifying...
Review: An extremely well written piece of non-fiction that one hopes turns out to be fiction. But it isn't. This is an engrossing page turner that should leave the reader horrified at the thought of justice in our judicial system. Of course, there are the old maxims that acknowledge we have a flawed system, but it's the best existing system in which one can expect to approximate justice. I'm of the mind that we can and should always do better. However, "A Civil Action" is cause for alarm. Upon finishing the book, I felt exhausted and emotionally drained.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible Book shows that one man can make a difference.
Review: With 10 books to read for college history classes, I did not really have the time to be reading this book for fun. I picked it up and hoped to get to it sometime later in the semester. But once I started, I couldn't put it down. I finished it in two days and then read it again. Lucky for me I was able to incorporate it into a paper topic. Pure Luck. A must read for pleasure and educational value.
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Summary: I never knew a historical book could be so good...
Review: A CIVIL ACTION is a must read for everyone. I have never read a historical book with as much intrigue and interest on every page. There are a few points where the book slows down -- but never fear, it picks up again -- usually better than before. Regardless of whether you are interested in history, cancer, or law; this book is perfect for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: A remarkable read!
Review: A devastating description of the bankruptcy of our judicial system. Some judges are power-hungry egocentrics and our system provides no effective means of censuring them.The appeals process is a travesty, the truth is of absolutely no concern to the system, and the practitioners of "law" are little more than common thugs. Hold up a 7-11 and go to jail. Go to Harvard, wear a suit and a fancy tie, and you can commit multiple murder with impunity. This well-written book demonstrates that money, ego, and political clout are more important than justice in our society. As Shakespeare said, "Kill ther lawyers".
Rating:
Summary: This book deserves an eleven
Review: The best book I've read in years. I'm so happy my son turned me on to it. Turned a boring plane ride into a passionate experience. Bravo. A Civil Action deserves a higher rating than ten.
Rating:
Summary: Was happy to re-read this one!
Review: I do not normally read a book more than once. "A Civil Action," however, is the exception.I just finished reading my hardcover copy for the second time. I'm glad to be finished, because now I can tend to my chores and can regain some semblance of a normal life! Having read the book before, I KNEW better than to start it in the middle of a work week, but that's what I did. I understand Robert Redford is directing the film version of the book, with John Travolta starring as Jan Schlichtmann. I will be waiting to see the movie-going public's reaction to the gross injustices done by W. R. Grace and Beatrice Foods. Since reading the book the first time in 1995, I have not knowingly purchased any of their products. I wonder if the public-at-large will be moved to boycott the two corporate giants. I will add to the other comments here - - Don't begin this book unless you have the free time to finish it. It's that good!
Rating:
Summary: Astonishing, an amazing book!!
Review: A Civil Action is one of the best books that I've read in the past 12 months! This is the story of the Woburn case, a case against W. R. Grace and Beatrice Foods, in which two of their subsideries poisoned two wells that were used as part of the city of Woburn's water supply. The poisonious water caused the deaths of several children and health complications of many adults. The book tells of the legal battle that the families and their lawyer faced when fighting against two multi-billion dollars company. Told in an easy flowing narrative that captures your attention and doesn't let go. I cheered, I cried, I cussed. Talk about injustice! The book left me with the feeling that if I could get my hands on a couple of the defendant's lawyers, violence and bodily harm would befall somebody, but it wouldn't be yours truly. Then, common sense enters the picture, and the best revenge on W R Grace and Beatrice Foods is that the story is told and is told by an excellent writer. There is a reason why this book is a best seller. But, I can't help to think that there is divine justice after all. And here I thought John Grisham's novels were fairy tales. This book proves the addage that truth is stranger than fiction. I wish the families of Woburn well! An excellent book!
Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary and Enticing
Review: Irresponsibilty...Tragedy...Egotism...Persistence...Incompetance...Dishonesty...Recovery. "A Civil Action" will take you on a legal rollar coaster ride, from the unfortunate deaths of innocent victims, to the closing arguments and disappointing verdict. Just when you think that you know what will happen next, a shocking discovery or unexpected event changes everything. I believe that W.R. Grace and Beatrice were ultimately responsible for the chemical dumpings and the resulting water contamination. Schlictmann handled the case fairly well, except perhaps for his closing arguments. If the plaintiffs wanted tenacity, however, they could not have found a better representative than Jan Schlictmann. His persistence and obsession to seek justice for his clients was admirable, but it came with a price. When an individual is willing to take risks this great, like Schlictmann did, he/she cannot expect to win every time or for everything to go smoothly. As for as the defense is concerned, I think they did what all defense attorneys do: get their client a not guilty verdict, even when they know in their heart that the defendant is guilty. There were definitely some ego problems here. Both Facher and Cheeseman seemed annoyed that this younger lawyer, Jan Schlictmann, upstaged and outsmarted them on more than one occasion. Author Johnathon Harr does not give much coverage behind the scenes with the defense, so one cannot say with certainty what they were thinking about. But, given the evidence, it would be hard for anyone to think that these two corporations were not in some way responsible for the contaminations.
If there is one individual deserving of blame in this case, it has to be Judge Skinner. Here we have an egotistical, worthless, stubborn old man, masquerading as an impartial seeker of justice and truth. A man incapable of admitting that he could make a mistake. A man with an attitude: "I am the judge, the infallible god of law. I will decide how I want this case to be decided". How could Skinner not know that Grace and Beatrice were responsible for these deaths? Why did Skinner pose his unreasonable set of questions to the jurors? Why did he seem partial to the defense? When I was reading this book, I started to get resentful at the fact that Schlictmann was still referring to Skinner in a respectful way by saying "Your Honor". There is nothing honorable about a washed- up, lying, egomaniac who pretends to be a judge!
Schlictmann did survive, but barely. I hope that his life is a little less hurried today. I also hope that the families are at peace with themselves and with the tragic losses that they have experienced.
For thos who have an interest in the legal world, "A Civil Action" is an absolute must read. For the rest, it is highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Books I ever READ, Period!
Review: 502 pages seemed like a blur! Very fast paced, I'm glad I started reading it on a weekend and finished it before work on Monday, or I would've found some excuse to stay home until I was done with it. Jonathan Harr is extremely gifted at putting you there in the action, as if you were a fly on the wall. It was a really dizzy pace near the end, as Jan tried to do everything he could, before he ran out of funds and let those poor people in Woburn down. He is truly, the Don Quixote of attornies!
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