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Summary: The dialectic paradigm of narrative and realism
Review: The main theme of Grisham model of the dialectic paradigm of narrative is not theory, but subtheory. However, the stasis, and hence the collapse, of postcapitalist narrative which is a central theme of The Pelican Brief emerges again in The Last Juror, although in a more self-sufficient sense.
The characteristic theme of the works of Grisham is not discourse, as Derrida would have it, but postdiscourse. If the dialectic paradigm of narrative holds, we have to choose between neodialectic rationalism and deconstructivist capitalism. Therefore, the dialectic paradigm of narrative holds that consciousness serves to marginalize the underprivileged.
Marx promotes the use of neodialectic rationalism to modify sexuality. However, the primary theme of Long's analysis of the dialectic paradigm of narrative is not desituationism, but predesituationism.The premise of neodialectic rationalism holds that the State is part of the fatal flaw of consciousness, given that art is interchangeable with consciousness. But any number of narratives concerning realism exist. "Art is intrinsically impossible," says Derrida. The destruction/creation distinction prevalent in Joyce's Finnegan's Wake is also evident in The Last Juror. In a sense, Baudrillard's model of the textual paradigm of reality suggests that reality is part of the defining characteristic of narrativity.
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Summary: Not what I expected
Review: I had really been looking forward to this book, expecting (and hoping for) a return to the great legal thrillers that made me a John Grisham fan. Unfortunately, this book wasn't what I expected at all. The book centers around a young newspaper editor in Clanton, Mississippi during the 1970's. Rather than a murder mystery or a legal suspense book, it is a story about a small southern town dealing with the issues of the day, including Vietnam and desegregation. The murder and trial are only a very small part of the actual plot. They help to explain the town and the people living there and it provides some action to keep the plot moving, but don't expect to be surpised at the ending. All in all, it wasn't a bad book if you're looking for a story about a small southern town, but if you're looking for a good legal thriller, this isn't it.
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Summary: Life and death in a small town.
Review: John Grisham's new novel, "The Last Juror," is set in Clanton, Mississippi in the 1970's. Joyner William Traynor is a twenty-three-year-old college dropout with a background in journalism. His wealthy grandmother lends Traynor the money to buy "The Ford County Times," a bankrupt weekly newspaper. The young man, dubbed "Willie" by the folks in Clanton, is determined to turn the newspaper into a profitable enterprise. When a young widow named Rhoda Kassellaw is raped and murdered in Clanton, Willie reports the crime and the subsequent trial in lurid detail. "The Ford County Times" gains a host of new readers and Willie becomes a fixture in Clanton. He also makes himself the target of some dangerous people. Danny Padgitt is accused of the Kassellaw murder, and his family is well known for bribing public officials and killing people who cross them. The Padgitts are not at all happy with Willie Traynor's coverage of the Kassellaw murder. Danny even has the temerity to tell the jurors that if they convict him, he will get them sooner or later. With "The Last Juror," Grisham is in top form. He beautifully depicts the assorted characters in Clanton, including the corrupt politicians, the drunken reporters, the gun-toting citizenry, and the good Christians who have a personal relationship with the Lord. One of most memorable characters is Miss Callie Ruffin, a black woman who has raised eight children, seven of whom went on to earn PhD's. Willie writes a lengthy and complimentary feature in his newspaper on Miss Callie and her family. He also becomes Callie's dear friend and a frequent guest at her bountiful table. Miss Callie is the first black woman voter as well as the first black juror in Clanton, having been picked to serve on the Padgitt jury. "The Last Juror" has suspense, excitement, warmth, and gentle humor. Without preaching, Grisham perfectly captures the racial tension and the social upheaval of rural Mississippi in the seventies. He tells his story through Willie Traynor with effortless simplicity and with great affection. "The Last Juror" is a pleasure to read, and it is one of Grisham's finest novels.
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Summary: Typical Grisham Story
Review: All of the stereotypes are here in this well-written and entertaining novel.
Jack Bryan
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Summary: MORE THAN A THRILLER...
Review: It's a relief to see Grisham going back to legal nailbiters instead of mundane novellas like Bleachers. Yet, his latest (somewhat annoyingly only available in hardcover!) is more than a thriller. It has a good dose of humor and some pithy social commentary on racism and its aftermath in 1970s Mississippi -- the town of Clayton where the novel is set clearly has larger woes to worry about that the rape + murder of our young protagonist. Yet, for this precise reason, The Last Juror is not a very tight novel. I could weed out page after page of racially inclined banter that lends very little to the overall plot. In fact the title "The Last Juror" -- which refers to the first black juror in the Ford County -- is a little misleading as she remains relatively cursory to the plot. You'll recall from an earlier Grisham called "The Juror" that the title referred to the juror in question, who was the lynchpin of the plot. Here though, I found myself skimming pages, skipping entire chapters etc and comfortably finishing the novel anyway without missing out on any pivotal fact. I wonder if this filler text was Grisham's way of pandering to the town that launched his career (he began as a Mississippi lawyer) or to make up for the very little space this novel would have otherwise occupied... All in all, it's a worthy read, and the writing is fluent and enjoyable as usual, but you've seen more gripping fiction from the ilk of Grisham.
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Summary: best grisham book in sometime
Review: this book reminds me of Pat Conroys "The Prince of Tides". which I consider Conroy's best. Grisham's humor and wit are delightful. I may be a little prejudiced (born and reared in the south). I have known people like the characters in "The Last Juror",especially Miss Callie. Some white people were like that too. One being my mother, who is no longer with us. I have no doubt where she is, if there is truly a hereafter. One never went to my mothers house and left hungry. Also, I and my brothers and sisters were never allowed to go to the "show" or play cards on Sunday. I found it amusing that Miss Callie might administer the death penalty for adultry as easily as she might for murder. My dating days with warnings about how my mother felt about premartial sex would be a good analogy for me.
Our lives have changed so much since her death but I fondly recall her love for us and her many friends. This book awakened many wonderful feelings.
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Summary: Fans will likely love this book despite its weaknesses
Review: Fans of Grisham will no doubt find a lot to like in The Last Juror, especially those well conditioned to the sparse, even lax, writing style that he and others have made very popular. The novel draws us into the adventures of a young man who goes to work, at age 23, for a small town newspaper and winds up owning it in short order. The heart of the story, however, revolves around the rape and murder of a woman living in the small town, the trial and sentencing of the accused. Fast forward nine years, with a few intervening details thrown into the mix, and the accused is out of jail and threatening the town by just being back in the area, even though no one knows what he's up to. The characters in this novel, including the narrator, are not sharply drawn and, indeed, are almost forgetable from one chapter to the next. It is written in a style close to a memoir, forcing the narrator to tell what happened rather than letting it unveil itself in the manner of a good yarn. The "looking back" aspect detracts from the internal drama of the story. In other words, and doesn't call on the writer to expand the drama of scenes, since he, the narrator, already knows the outcome. I was left with the impression of a lot a events passing before me, without much chance to experience them or have the insight that must have come to the narrator living through them. Grisham throws in a thinly disguised version of Wal Mart to give details of what happens to a small town when the big discounter hits the area. This is a worthy effort because he shows how, in fairly short order, local businesses are driven under by the mega competition. Too many people, perhaps, have not considered the impact of their bargain hunting buying habits. Part of the inspiration for the concluding section of the novel clearly came from the Washington, DC, area sniper events of a year and a half ago. Grisham doesn't over play this aspect, however, which is good, for to do so would have overcome the story with artificiality. I had the impression from the closing third of the novel that Grisham was starting to hit his stride. Enriching elements that could have enlivened the earlier part of the book were rushed into the closing section. There was at least one glaring error of internal consistency. It happened in regard to explaining what the character Sam Ruffins had done while on the run from a jealous husband with murderous intent. There might have been other errors of this type that a more careful reader could find. Even though the error I discovered was rather small, it is not something one expects to find in a book by an experienced, best selling writer. This book was not boring and it covers a sweep of southern life late in the 20th century that many will find interesting. The importance of religion in small town life, the easy corruption of small time politics, the lasting impact of racism and segregation are all worthy topics given a breath of life in the novel. Grisham brings out a portrait of a vivid African American woman who overcame racism, something other author's have neglected, or been unable, to do. Her role in the storyline, however, is secondary, except for the friendship between her and the narrator. Still, all in all, for me, this was not a deeply memorable read. Enjoyable at times, yes. I am left with a question: how can something be interesting without being revealing, dramatic without being memorable?
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Summary: You will be glad you read it!
Review: I didn't know what to expect when I started out. John Grisham has never written a bad book...only great ones and even greater ones! The Last Juror is not an exception. The characters were real and the storyline was believable. In his true writing style, Grisham did a supurb job of telling the story. This is one of those books you really don't want to finish! The beginning is fast...the middle is steady...and the ending is wonderful! I won't give it away here. I'll just challenge the reader to pick it up, read it for five minutes, and just try to put it down! Buster Wasden
Albany, Ga
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Summary: Southern Comfort
Review: "A Time To Kill" is the best book John Grisham has ever written. "The Last Jury" is nowhere near the gripping, sweating, heart-pounding novel "A Time" was. . . but its pretty darn good. It is so comfortable. I found myself often supressing the urge to smile and then just giving up and going with it. You can visualize every single character. I felt as though I had my feet up on somebody's front porch, drinking iced tea and talking about each neighbor as they walked by. Loved this story!
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Summary: Worst Ever?
Review: I thought after the very weak effort on Bleachers he would bounce back with one of his best efforts. WRONG! Don't waste your money, reading this book is less exciting than listening to Nora Jones.
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