Rating: 
Summary: This is not a legal thriller and that's not a bad thing!
Review: For those who gave this book a poor rating, I suspect it was because you were expecting a thriller with all sorts of plot twists and turns, perhaps culminating in a tense courtroom showdown. Be warned: A Painted House is definitely not that! It does not possess the action-packed, edge-of-your-seat excitement that is synonomous with Grisham. This book is about a family of farmers in 1952 rural Arkansas. It is narrated by a 7-yr. old boy named Luke who describes a particularly eventful summer in his resourceful family's cotton fields. Although it lacks the action of his other works, this book is written well enough to be more engaging than you might expect a story about Arkansas farm life to be. Grisham's characters help paint a picture (excuse the pun) of rural life that is often simple, treacherous, and even deadly. Yet Luke, with his childlike curiousity and yearning, shows us a gentler and more endearing aspect of his town as well. It is this accurately captured fabric of life, with all its dichotomies, that Grisham successfully portrays in a way that is so engaging. Comparing this book to any of his other books is self-defeating because it is of a completely different genre. I think that if A Painted House is read and judged on its own merit, it will be found to be an enjoyable read with a soothing writing style and an accurate account of a way of life you probably were not all that familiar with.
Rating: 
Summary: Not the John we have come to love and appreciate!
Review: I have been an avid Grisham fan since his 1st book, many times reading them over a very short time frame. While this book demonstrates the quality of a fine author, its content and storyline is not consistent with what we have come to expect. John would have helped himself by writing this under a different name- but then it wouldn't have seized upon the John Grisham fame. I'll have to investigate his next book prior to "running out" and buying a copy (like I do everytime) to see if I really want to own it.
Rating: 
Summary: Sequel - I think I am Confused
Review: I read several reviews where readers are looking for a sequel to wrap up the various storylines. I read "The Painted House" in the serialized version that appeared across six issues of the Oxford American magazine (John Grisham is the Publisher). This version included an Epilogue that brought closure to all of the storylines. Apparently the book version did not include this epilogue. What's up with that? I'll give 5 stars to the Oxford American version .... I would have been VERY disappointed if there had been no epilogue. I will be even more disappointed if a sequel is written that ignores what has already been published.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful and delightful change
Review: I could not put it down! I read the book at record speed and when I got to the end, I flipped to the front and thought I'd read it again! I have read every Grisham book and wasn't sure how I'd feel about the switch. But the story grabbed my attention and held on till the end. Unlike some of his books where I find myself dragging through the middle, this was not the case. When I started feeling over-whelmed with my life and it's mundane chores, I thought of little Luke and the families of his time. It made me appreciate the simplicity of our high tech world. John Grisham has shown that he can write outside of his element and make strong, believable characters and a plot that still keeps you guessing.
Rating:
Summary: Second only to A Time To Kill
Review: As an avid Grisham reader, I really enjoyed reading a book with full character development and a good storyline. Although I still feel A Time To Kill is the best book he has ever written, A Painted House comes in as a close second. I only hope that Grisham will write a sequel to this book and let us know what happens to the Chandler clan.
Rating: 
Summary: dISAPPOINTING!
Review: John Grisham is a talented writer...but you'd never know it from this book. This must be the season for "old times" books...but Baldocci did it much better! The book is slow to start and only has a couple of minor interesting sections. While normally I read a book straight through, I kept putting this one down to reread another favorite..even one of Grisham's. Gave mine to the senior's library! It will probably help them go to sleep.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrible! Dull! Boring!
Review: There are no words to say how awful this book is. I could't finish it. I'm assuming this book was sold to a publisher because of Mr. Grisham's name, not for the story content. If there was a -1 that would have been my rating. Pass this one up and don't waste your money.
Rating:
Summary: 4 1/2 Stars - Simple, Real and Refreshing
Review: Grisham's writing style has always been simple, elegant and effective. But, his last few legal-oriented works fell a bit flat. This story is a refreshing change of pace. The characters are believable and the story of small town America is realistic. I had an instant connection with these people and enjoyed spending the entire a harvest season with the Chandlers, sharing in the ups, downs and "secrets." I was sad to see it end, and that is always an indicator of a good story in my book.
Rating:
Summary: Great Now Form For Grisham
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I could visualize the characters and their story. I read the in 2 days. It kept me interested and wanting to know more. I think Grisham has another couple books with this story. Possibly we'll know what happened to Ricky and the others in up coming books. The book made me think about we all do to get what we want. Luke's Mom got what she wanted in the end. I would recommend this book to friends.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Change of Pace
Review: I have been addicted to John Grisham's books since the Firm. I must admit, however, that his "Lawyer" books have become a little stale. "A Painted House" is a pleasant departure from his previous genre. For anyone expecting the ususual pace of his novels John Grisham will certainly disappoint with this book. The pace of this book reflects the pace of the people that one would find in Black Oak, Ark; which is certainly the beauty of this book. Character development these days gets overshadowed by most authors need to entertain their audience (this includes most of John Grisham's books). In a painted house I feel that I know these people. The book transmits clearly the feelings that Luke Chandler ( and I suspect John Grisham) has for the people of his family. John Grisham avoids being overly sentimental which is what makes this an even more enjoyable read. In other reviews that I have read about this book a major critisism is that there are so many loose ends. I think it is the mark of a good book that you care so much for the characters it comes as a disappointment when you don't find out what ultimately happens to them. It is my great hope that this book left open the door for a sequil. He has left himself fertile ground to tell more about the story of Luke Chandler and his family. At the very least it does not hurt us to have to use our imagination to conclude the story. I know how it would conclude for me.
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