The Chamber

Rating:
Summary: Guilt or Innocence
Review: The book The Chamber is a book about a young attorney representing a Klu Klux Klan terrorist from the sixties. Adam Hall is a corporate attorney in a prosperous Chicago law firm. But, one day Adam learns that his firm represents his grandfather Sam Cayhall, a terrorist. Adam then gets permission from his firm to go to Mississippi to represent him. Once there, Adam goes to the prison and learns that his grandfather is very close to being sent to the gas chamber. Adam then sends appeals to the lower courts for Sam Cayhall to be released. The appeal is declined. Next, Adam sends an appeal to another court. After all but one appeal is denied Adam faces the chance that his grandfather will die. Will he die or will the final appeal go through, read The Chamber by John Grisham.

Rating:
Summary: Poor, bad, pathetic..you get the idea.
Review: I read this book a few years ago so I don't remember why I didn't like it. All I know is that it's a terrible piece of fiction. I gave up on Grisham after this one. I went along with the hype and read a few of Grisham's early works before I came to my senses and realized that he's a mediocre writer at best. If you want to give Grisham a try read The Firm or A time to Kill. They don't set any new literary standards, but at least they are entertaining. But do not enter this Chamber. It's a

monumental waste of time

Rating:
Summary: Horrible
Review: 1 Star because it is a John Grisham Work. This was Grisham using his best selling ability to write a book against the death penalty. If you are looking for a story that will hold your interest you came to the wrong place. The only reason I finshed the book is because I kept hoping it would get better. A great writer who wasted our time on this one. If you want to read a good law mystery pick Grisham -- just don't pick this one. The Client , Street Lawyer, Runaway Jury, The Firm are all 4-5 Star Books so read those not this book

Rating:
Summary: Really awful
Review: Unbelievable to me that others rate this work so highly. Weak characterization, linear plot with no twists or turns, and writing that is surprisingly juvenile. The first Grisham book I'd read; I expected far better.

Rating:
Summary: A little above average book on a very convroversial subject
Review: This book deals with a grandson lawyer defending his murderer grandfather who is about to be executed. The book gives quite a lot of details bout the last minute moves of the law teams working for the state, but mainly those of the defense team. It also gives quite a lot of details about the lives of the people who are locked up in the death row, and a few stories of executions gone wrong - even though I'm not sure how accurate they are.

The only problems in this book are the characters, that could use a little more developing as people, and the fact that even though the crime was described in detail at first, there's not a lot of sympathy toward the victims and their extended family later on - I don't agree with capital punishment myself, but I do think that the victims'family has a right for sympathy too...

Rating:
Summary: Almost as bad as "Battlefield Earth."
Review: It is astonishing to me that people have rated this book as "five stars," when it is so grossly bad. The writing is horrible; the characterization is junior-highschool level; the plot rambles, meanders, and stumbles from nowhere to nowhere without direction. This book lacks any kind of positive trait.

Save your time and money: buy a book written by someone who knows how to write.

Rating:
Summary: Could have done more with the subject
Review: The death penalty is a highly-charged, emotional affair. Knowing this, Grisham proceeds to write a novel with almost no emotion in it. In what seems to be an attempt to persuade the reader against the death penalty, Grisham fails to present a plot which might change minds. Nobody would want the convict in this story to get gassed. Because the convict is such a sympathetic character, Grisham loses the opportunity to argue against the death penalty in those cases where the convict is less sentimental. In any event, the story is only mildly intriguing, but not a bad book if you're taking it to the beach for some easy reading.

Rating:
Summary: Good book
Review: I really like John Grisham and have read most of his books. This is a good story and nicely written with a weird last page. Although I do not agree with his stance on the death penalty; I am assuming from the book he is against it; it is worth the read.

Rating:
Summary: Death Row--Good Read
Review: This is a good book giving insight to the justices and perhaps injustices of death row. It is a long story(Paperback is 600+ pages)which will loose some readers because often the story seems to provide filler information not critical to the plot. However, stick with it, it is definitely worth reading. There are plenty of twists which keep your interest.

Rating:
Summary: Sad American History
Review: This is a very good book , it really touches on the reality of death row. Grisham gets into the head of a death row convict , and also shows how justice isn't always fair .