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Summary: Special blend
Review: Only Grisham could write characters that you hate so much, yet don't mind being around. It's the mark of a great writer; one that is able to keep your interest in a character while letting you know he's the worst possible excuse for a human being on the planet. Such is the case with Danny Padgitt-the murderer and sociopath in Grisham's "The Last Juror." But Danny is only one of a handful of people that populate this small town where a newspaper has failed and, even though recently purchased, needs a shot in the arm to revive it completely. Enter Mr. Padgitt. And while he helps out with circulation figures-albeit in an indirect and unintentional way-he's also the vehicle that pulls the plot along, swearing to exact revenge on the jury that put him away for life. Life turns out to be only nine years and people start to die shortly thereafter-you do the math. At any rate, "The Last Juror" is an excellent read, full of great descriptions, wonderful characters, and a great plot. But then, you be the jury.Also recommended: A Time to Kill, The Firm, Bark of the Dogwood
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Summary: A great storyteller practices his art.
Review: The more novels John Grisham writes, the more he evolves as a storyteller. "The Last Juror" leans more toward current works such as "Bleachers" rather than his older, thriller-type works such as "A Time To Kill" or "The Firm", so if you are looking for a pulse-racing thriller, this may not be for you. While the plot was a little predictable, it is still an enjoyable ride. One of my favorite aspects of this novel is how Grisham weaves characters from previous works that were set in the same town into the story, such as: Lucien Wilbanks, Harry Rex Vonner, Judge Noose, and there is even a brief mentioning of Judge Atlee (from The Summons). A delight for Grisham fans, but if you have never read Grisham before, I would suggest starting with "The Runaway Jury" or "A Time To Kill".
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Summary: Fast Read -- Too short
Review: This book was a great fast read -- I wanted it to go on longer.
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Summary: Like a delicious home-cooked meal: a fine tale
Review: How did I not realize this book was coming out? Thank heaven for the Kroger display as I dashed in for milk and juice Sunday night! I read John Royal's positive review in "The Houston Chronicle" and went to reading. And I did love the reading. But this is not Grisham's best book EVER. This is a good read, comforting as the meals protagonist Willie Traynor laps up on Miss Callie's porch in Clanton, Mississippi's Lowtown. And the suspense of a murder trial in 1970's Clanton, the town of Grisham's first dynamite novel, "A Time to Kill", does give it a great tone. Best of all it is a story of the little Southern town and its citizens as presented by the small town newspaper owner, a "northerner from Memphis and Syracuse University". And it is the best of worlds for Willie as he develops a style and a presence as a very important cog, though an outsider, in the wheel of progress that has come to Clanton during his journalist's career. He takes on the persona of a real character as he accepts a gentleman's attire complete with bow tie not unlike Tom Wolfe or Willie Morris, real writers/journalists of our times, who one can picture as inhabiting a Clanton and breaking into the industry in just such a way as fictional Willie Traynor. His cohorts and co-workers are colorful and familiar. And though a modern times tale, there is the feel of the town of "To Kill A Mockingbird" with Harper Lee's characters placed into more modern days. The evil folks still terrorize others, but the good folks stand for truth and justice. I was amazed at the overt bravery of Willie Traynor. I guess one has to credit it to youth and testosterone and the guidance of a skillful veteran writer who drives his main character into difficult situations. I was moved to tears near the end, and found that Grisham is still able to connect to my emotions. I recommend this book for a good winter read. Grisham has produced another tome that is worthy of the good folks of the South.
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Summary: The best
Review: Told in first person, this latest Grisham tale is a plethora of interesting and eccentric characters, intrigue, realism and tension, and wonderful writing that we've all become accustomed to in a work by Grisham, Like "A Painted House" this book is set in the South. Like Grisham's legal thrillers, this one deals with trials, courtrooms, and everything in between. But this novel is a hybrid of all of his past (successful) attempts. This one blends his previous styles into a great melange of inspirational writing and plot. The premise alone should make you want to read it, but that aside, the execution and writing are marvelous. A truly enjoyable tale of small town life, mystery, and local color, all blended into a fun read. Also recommended: The Firm, Pompeii, Bark of the Dogwood, Drop City
Rating:
Summary: Grover's Corner With A Bite
Review: A Syracuse U. dropout buys a small town newspaper in Clanton, Mississippi and wakes the townspeople up! Grisham captures the atmosphere and attitudes of this town as if he'd lived there most of his life. Beautiful character profiles and enough action to give the story punch involving a brutal rape/murder, a trial and a promise for revenge. But the "last juror" is Mrs. Callie, a black mother of seven PHD offspring whose inspiration (and great cooking) is the glue that gives an immature, 23 year old the guidance and stability to persevere and eventually, after 10 gritty years, to make his mark. Grisham in a 5 star effort.
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Summary: PROBABLY GRISHAM'S BEST NOVEL EVER
Review: THE LAST JUROR blends Grisham's slice of life style in PAINTED HOUSE with his traditional potboilers, making it more real and not so fantastic as past works. The first person narrator, Willie Traynor, takes over a small town paper, The Times, in 1971, about the time local punk, Danny Padgitt, rapes and murders a young woman in front of her children. As owner/editor of the Times, Traynor gets to know many of the local characters, not least of which is a black woman from the wrong side of the racially divided tracks, named Callie Ruffin. Callie is THE LAST JUROR referred to in the title, as the novel is more about the relationship between her and Traynor than it is about the criminal, Danny Padgitt. Grisham does not disappoint the reader, as by the end of his trial Padgitt threatens the jurors, that if they find him guilty he will "get" every one of them. They find him guilty anyway. Though sentenced to two "life" sentences in the Mississippi penal system, Padgitt ends up serving about 10 years. And then jurors start getting murdered. The meat of the book is devoted to Traynor and Callie and her remarkable family who have managed to educate themselves out of their racist little town. Callie has broken barriers throughout her life, and being the first black to sit on a Ford County jury (and the last juror seated on the jury) was just one of her many accomplishments. The lunches cooked by Callie for Traynor are mouthwatering to read. Over all, the story and wonderful prose are very compelling. With a twist ending that comes as a welcome surprise I felt this was Grisham's best work yet and I highly recommend it to Grisham fans and first time readers.
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Summary: This is the John I fell in love with
Review: Yes! We return the brooding town of Clanton for a thriller with heart that reminds me of the passion that made A Time to Kill and The Firm such great books. Danny Padgitt gets released from prison a mere 10 years after getting a "life" sentence, and members of the original jury are starting to drop like flies. If you're like me you felt a steady decline in Grisham's writing since his first few novels. It was almost like he'd forgotten where he came from. He tried to redeem himself with Painted House and Bleachers, but I really couldn't get into them. There was a lot of heart in those books, but I didn't feel for the plot. There was a lot of plot in some of his later thrillers, but not a lot of heart. Finally we have both and it's a grand slam.
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Summary: Still hangin' in there
Review: I loved this book, along with all of Mr. Grisham's books! While it's a social commentary on small-town life in the South, it's really much more. It's a wonderful stream of character studies that all mesh to form the fabric for this excellent book. The story isn't complicated but it is interesting enough to keep your attention. Also recently read "Odd Thomas," "Angels and Demons," and "Bark of the Dogwood."
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Summary: What a book!
Review: As usual, Grisham doesn't disappoint, whether it's a legally-based thriller, a down-home "Painted House" or any of his other great reads. At least there's some consistancy in this world. Also liked "The Firm," "Bark of the Dogwood," "A Child called It."
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