Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Characters, But Uneven Story Line
Review: This book could have been called "How I Spent My Summer Vacation, by Luke Chandler". Picking cotton, mostly, and not delivering on promises to keep secrets. Lots of secrets. Too many secrets, actually.Just about every time the plot would build up a head of steam in the way of suspense, it seemed to bleed it off like an engine with bad compression that can't quite deliver the punch. Many opportunities for a larger and more satisfying resolution of the internal tensions seemed to have been missed. When I realized the end of the book was a couple of pages away I thought, "Uh-Oh, we're in trouble here!" It jist started out slow, and then fizzled out altogether. This book is a color commentary of 50's life in the "Babble Belt". It is a nice little story, but lacks the customary edge of many modern novels. Most of the character interaction is interesting, but some seemed a bit implausible to me, such as the young belle running off to marry a snake-eyed Mexican migrant worker who'd gutted and robbed a guy a day or two earlier. Of course she was unaware of this, and the fact the guy he'd killed happened to be her brother, but still I didn't gauge her to be that poor a judge of character. A good roll in the hay, by all means. Running off to Toronto to get married and start a wonderful new life with Mister Right - I don't think so. Nevertheless, the story is fulfilling in a strange sort of way. It's interesting how the generalized local male was portrayed as a thin Baptist veneer overlaying a deep undercurrent of violence. Despite the fact that insights into the Southern mindset have been handled more skillfully by others, it is still worth a read.
Rating: 
Summary: As good as it gets
Review: I gave up on grisham because when i read all of his books i was in college and now im working full time. That, and the fact that his latest book ( A painted House) wasn't about lawyers. I was disapointed.
A few weeks ago i decided to catch on and i bought A painted House. I felt that , as fan that i am, JG deserved an oportunity. So, i decided to give it to him.
My advice: Buy the book, read it and enjoy it! It's as good as any of JG's books. You just can deny it, and if you stick to the excuse that it is not good because of lawyers-lack or mistery-lack (as someone say, wich btw there is), you couldn't be more wrong. I disagree totally with the guy who gave the book 1 star.
Finally, reading JG helps me with my english, wich i hope is not to bad.
Rating:
Summary: A Mediocre Grisham
Review: I agree with the reviewers who felt that Luke was an unbelievably mature 7 year old... I had him pegged at 11 or 12 and that made the story much less credible. I also agree that the ending was weak. We never knew whether Ricky returned from the War and a murderer was allowed his freedom in spite of the fact that he had just run off with a young woman who was innocent of his crime.
Rating:
Summary: Apples & Oranges
Review: If you're into reading the quick-scene, fast-action novels that are typical of Grisham, you're likely to be disappointed with this one. The only other Grisham novel I've read was The Brethren--entertaining, but not literary. Comparing A Painted House to The Brethern is like comparing Gone With the Wind to The Terminator. I'm not saying one is better or worse than the other. It's a matter of accomplishing a different goal, which appeals to different interests and tastes. Personally, I enjoy the quick-scene, fast-action novels, but I prefer the literary beauty of A Painted House much more. Considering that Grisham has a different goal with A Painted House, I believe he was quite successful in this arena and hope to see more like this from him.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: This was a pretty weak storyline. I am usually a Grisholm fan, but this left me a little disappointed. The novel drags on without many captivating scenes. With all the great novels out, including some other Grisholm books, I would recommend a pass on this one.
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT READ
Review: WONDERFUL STORY, TOLD FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A 7-YEAR OLD BOY (WHICH IS PARTLY WHAT MAKES IT SUCH AN ENJOYABLE BOOK) WHO LIVES ON A FARM IN ARKANSAS WHERE THEY RAISE COTTON BUT DREAMS OF PLAYING BASEBALL FOR THE CARDINALS IN ST.LOUIS. THE CHARACTERS ARE RICH AND BELIEVABLE. A GREAT SLICE OF SMALL TOWN AMERICANA IN THE 50'S BUT ALSO FILLED WITH MYSTERY AND INTRIGUE. I FOUND IT THOUROUGHLY ENJOYABLE.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent...A nice book for a slow read
Review: I found the book "A Painted House" to be one marvelous read. This particular book, as well as "keeping Christmas" shows that Grisham has the gifted range of writing abilities that now takes him beyond the simple limits of legal thrillers. To me, this was highly refreshing. This particular book is not meant to be read fast, it runs on it's own natural thread to be read slow and carefree just as time often did back in the old south. And don't look for a particular point or some sort of thriller, it wasn't intended to be read that way. Read it with a sense of nostalgia of a laid-back world of rural America. This sort of world is gone forever with the exception of movie films, memories and of course a book called "A Painted House." ... Thanks again John for an excellent story in "A painted House." and "Keeping Christmas" It shows that your wonderful writing talent has further excelled into new boundaries. Keep putting them out there, guy. We'll keep reading them.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic!
Review: I'm not a big Grisham fan, but "Painted House" deserves to be an American classic. If you are looking for a fast-paced, plot- intensive book, this is not for you. However, if you love to read about real people, their stuggles and the beauty of the human spirit, you will be enchanted with "A Painted House." Grisham, you've proven to me that you can truly write. Give us more of this!
Rating:
Summary: A different story
Review: I just finished reading 'A Painted House' and found it quite different from the usual Grisham novels. I enjoyed the book. His treatment of 'family secrets', from a child's viewpoint, is very well done. It provides much 'food for thought' concerning the burdens often placed on children, by adults. I recommend this book highly.
Rating:
Summary: I don't get the critics....
Review: I just finished this book a couple days ago and was blown away by how good it really was. I was shocked to read so many reviews bashing it. I have read all but one of Grisham's books and have found them good, but this one held my attention even more than the others. I'm so impressed by Grisham's ability to turn away from the lawyer thrillers and try something new (Skipping Christmas was excellent too). He grabbed my attention from the very beginning and I didn't want the story to end. I understand there are different opinions out there but from a faithful Grishman reader, this was one of my absolute favorites.
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