Rating: 
Summary: Arkansawyer Weighs In
Review: I read A PAINTED HOUSE with much interest and generally was not disappointed; however, Grisham's dialogue lacks authenticity, although he may have been trying to avoid cliches.
Having lived in rural Arkansas, I found the customs, characters, foods, everyday events fairly true to life. But Luke, the narrator, was a bit wise for a seven year old. I doubt if a child that young, even a literary child, would have such sophisticated insight. Does anyone know if this book is semi-autobiographical?
Enjoyed the read.
Rating:
Summary: A Painted House
Review: A Painted House by John Grisham is a great book. A seven year old boy named Luke Chandler starts the book as a child and by the end he has grown up considerably. It takes place in September of 1952. Luke lives on a cotton farm with his mom and dad and his grandpa and grandma. The time comes when the cotton needs to be picked so the Chanlers hire some Mexicans and a family of hill people.
Luke ends up over hearing to many things and seems too be at the wrong place at the wrong time during the whole book. By the end he witnessed 2 murders, a birth, and many conversations, all of which he should not have been involved with in the first place. Luke has to handle many secrets and even lies and he handles it way better than any adult could.
After all the hard work of picking the cotton all day week after week it begins to look like rain. With 1/3 of the cotton to harvest yet they have to stop everything and hopefully wait it out. The Chandlers and Mexicans and the Hill people go through so much, but in the end, the Chandlers make it through one of the most unforgetable harvest they will ever experience.
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Summary: Great Weekend Read
Review: I have read many of John Grisham's books, and so far have not been disappointed. This book probably moved a little slower than his other books, which is why I'm only giving four stars instead of five. But I must say to the reviewer who did not read beyond chapter 3 -- YOU MUST READ FURTHER. I admit myself that I found the first several chapters rather uninteresting, but things tie together quite well near the middle of the book. You need to read at least that far to get to know some of the characters. I also was slightly disappointed in the ending, because I felt that there were a few parts of the story unfinished. For example, there was a character of Ricky Chandler, who was constantly mentioned throughout the book, but never materialized.
But what I thought was the redeeming quality of this book was its main character, Luke Chandler. He may only be seven years old, but is wise well beyond his years. I also enjoyed reading about the general lifestyle of 1950's rural Arkansas, it's always enjoyable to be brought to a different time and place.
Over all, I would definitely recommend this book as a good read, though it is definitely not Grisham's most exciting book.
Rating:
Summary: Good Story
Review: Wow! While there were some areas I would have liked more completion, leaving some details open allows you to stretch your mind and develop for yourself what might have happened. I don't think anything that was left out would have contributed to the overall story. In essence there was a lot packed into a period of time of just over a month. Warning: it is a little graphic in parts.
I did start this book a couple of times before I finally committed to read it. I am glad I did. It was a good story.
Rating: 
Summary: I tried to like this book
Review: But I just couldn't. I usually devour all of John Grishams book, but this one I couldn't just seem to get interested in. It was different than his other ones. I never did read past chapter 3.
Rating: 
Summary: Grisham's Best
Review: In my opinion, this is, by far, Grisham's best book. Except for Skipping Christmas, it is entirely different from all of his other works. There is not a single lawyer in the story. It is about a young boy living a way of life in a certain place at a moment in time. Grisham proves himself to be an exceptionally gifted writer who can successfully venture out of his usual themes. This book is so good it could have been written by William Faulkner.
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Summary: --Summer of Secrets--
Review: THE PAINTED HOUSE takes the reader into the life of young Luke Chandler, a precocious seven-year-old boy who lives on a cotton farm in rural Arkansas. Luke is an only child who loves baseball and misses his young uncle who is fighting in the Korean War. In Luke's world, summertime is composed of the St. Louis Cardinals and grueling days of picking cotton.The harvesting season was one of the most crucial times of the year for the Chandler family. As soon as the cotton was ready to be picked the farmers then had to quickly find the laborers to help them harvest the crop. This story begins in the summer of 1952 when a group of Mexican migrant workers and the Sproul family who are "hill people" are hired to pick the cotton on the Chandler farm. Luke, who seems to be older than his years, tells the story of that season. There's a lot of tension between the Mexicans and the Sprouls and because Luke has a crush on Tally Sproul, he snoops around and gets involved in the lives of the migrant workers and becomes the witness, and keeper of many secrets. One of the secrets causes Luke to tell a major lie, which puts him at odds with his strict Baptist teaching. John Grisham's story gave me the same feeling that I had experienced many years ago when I first read TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. I've enjoyed all of the Grisham books, but I believe that this is one of the very best and parts of this story will always remain in my mind. I was also very impressed by David Lansbury the narrator of the audiotape. His voice brought the people alive!
Rating: 
Summary: Stupid book
Review: this book is soooo stupid....what plot did it have? No mystery, no nothing!!! Just a bunch of writing!!! NOTHING LIKE HIS FIRST COUPLE OF BOOKS......
Rating:
Summary: A nice change
Review: When I bought this book I wasn't expecting a Law Thriller, so my expectations for the book were not all that high. I began reading the book and thought to myself, I cannot believe I just bought this book. Boy was I mistaken. Grisham does a wonderful job with this book. The buildup of all the characters was wonderful and the story behind the story, marvelous... It was a pleasant change from Grisham with this book.. A+
Rating:
Summary: Good to see another side of Grisham
Review: I was glad when I finished A Painted House, because I thought somewhere in the book there would be a drawn out scene in a courtroom, but it ended up being a great novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was slow, but captivating and I would recommend it to anyone who has a taste for great writing and a good novel.
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