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Summary: Something very different
Review: I loved this book - it has become my favorite Grisham book. It was sweet and warm and you can tell he wrote it with great love. I'm a big fan of his and have liked other books a lot, but this one was very special.
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Summary: A Painted House
Review: The legal world of Grisham's writings has long been one of my favorites so I was a little slow at picking up this one. It took a couple of pages before I hooked into Luke Chandler's perceptions, thereafter never to look back. This seven year old boy who is telling us the story is darling, so much a boy, a boy not at all unlike my eldest son who often amazed me with his simple insights and innocent loves. And I am of the age that easily remembers sitting on the front porch of an evening listening to the radio as if it were my lifeline to the greater world out there. Yet, even for those that have never seen a cotton field, the time and conditions are so well painted there can be no distortion in the view offered. Contrasting the Chandler generations, the hill folks, the Mexican labors, the sharecroppers, the town's people is dramatic, filled with color and sympathy. I have known these people though I had almost forgotten their rustic wisdom and carnal cruelty, almost. I thank Mr. Grisham for reminding me of a simpler time, a scarier time, a time when work was expected and leisure a seldom luxury.
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Summary: slow but interesting
Review: One of the better books that i have read in a long time
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Summary: Grisham's successful use of Conflict.
Review: John Grisham's A Painted House contains all the literary devices a book can possibly contain. The conflicts in this novel are in-depth, well thought out, and very complex. Granted, there was not a dominant conflict but more of a lack of focus on one individual problem, but it can be argued that the continual focus on all conflict, no matter what size or ultimate importance in the situation, gives the novel character. In the end, Grisham successfully uses the literary device of "conflict" to greatly strengthen the novel, and deliver his message.
All the external conflict is greatly dramatized by the youth of the narrator of the tale. Luke is involved with several conflicts with several other people, especially with adults. These overwhelming relationships dramatize the maturity of a seven-year-old-boy. Luke's family also combats with a flood, nature, finding it difficult to overcome the severity of the situation. Also, there are struggles between the family and society, and what they think of each other. Ultimately, there are a myriad of smaller, and larger, conflicts between two opposing forces, always affecting the narrator in one way or the other.
Internal conflict is also present, generally coming from the inward struggles of a "too-mature-for-his-own-good" child. Combating with himself, and whether he is constantly doing the right or wrong thing, Luke Chandler is faced with many tough decisions, and questions himself nearly all the time. With the complex woes a mere child faces, the conflict is slowly building further up and up.
Despite the lack of one main conflict, the plethora of minor struggles enhances the story to a point in which one major conflict could not accomplish. The readers could argue that there was no real climax in the novel, but it is easily looked past. Instead of reading a boring introduction that lasts one-hundred or so pages, we jump into the life of this boy who provides an endless amount of twists and turns. From the minute the book begins, there is conflict, and straight up until the last page the readers are perpetually wondering what will happen next. The fact that several conflicts are always present is very impressive and makes the story much easier to read. Grisham's use of many minor conflicts greatly entertains the reader in the fact that there is always something exciting happening, something to keep our attention on. Obvious boring books result skipping over paragraphs, pages, and even chapters. This novel did the exact opposite. Grisham's employment of conflict kept most readers highly awaiting the next paragraph, sentence and even word. Ultimately, Grisham's use of conflict kept things simple and highly exciting.
In conclusion, the lack of a major conflict to focus on is overshadowed by the presence of abundance of smaller, yet complex, struggles between characters, nature, and society. Grisham successfully uses the literary device of conflict in order to enhance his story, characters and plot for the better.
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Summary: SIMPLY ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS EVER!!
Review: This was simply one of the most moving, well characterized and just plan great books I have read in a long time. I want a sequel! I nice change of pace for Grisham and while reading, you really feel from his first hand experience that you are living in those times. Fabulous book.
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Summary: A slice of life
Review: This book gave an interesting picture of what is was like to live in the 1950's in rural America with almost no money. Life was hard for sure for the Chandlers and for those who lived around them or came to help to pick cotton. But there was also a lot of caring evident for family and for others. I would have liked for some of the loose ends to be tied up, to know what happened to some of the characters, but maybe that was left to the imagination on purpose.
Rating:
Summary: Best Grisham book yet!
Review: This has to be one of the best books I've read in a long time. When I got to the end I was sad the story was over. I actually missed Luke Chandler. This is Grishams best book so far. I would consider it a classic.
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Summary: Grisham Shows What's He's Got
Review: An excellent story but the main charachter, a young boy, acts in a way of a teenager.
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Summary: Not Typical Grisham
Review: This is a very intelligent, thoughtful, literate book. I have to believe that had Grisham's name not been attached to it, this one may have been taken more seriously and viewed as modern literature rather than as simply popular fiction. That's really not fair to Grisham- like Stephen King, he is a genuinely good writer who just happens to write bestselling fiction. Like some of King's more serious books, I believe that this one has some serious literary value that should elevate Grisham's status as a writer.It's been said many times that this isn't a legal thriller. As far as I remember, there is hardly a mention of any lawyers in the book (although some characters may end up needing one). It reminded me a little bit of "To Kill A Mockingbird" in tone, although it doesn't have quite as profound a social message. It also reminded me more than a little bit of a much darker version of "The Waltons" (that's not a criticism at all). It's simply the story of an older-than-his-years 10 year old growing up on a struggling farm in rural Arkansas. The characters are finely drawn, especially the main character and his grandfather. Some of the defining events of his life occur one harvest season, and the book tells of them in a readable, enjoyable manner. Nothing earth-shatteringly profound, but not exactly shallow reading, either. Simply a very well-written story from a likable, talented author. One of the best books I've read in several years.
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Summary: Better than The Great Gatsby
Review: This is not the type of book normally associated with John Grisham, who normally writes law mysteries. This is absolutely one of the perfect novels of all time. Grisham has dethroned Fitzgerald.
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