Rating: Summary: A Cleverly Brilliant Novel full of Humor and Suspense!!! Review: The Partner is a must read. As a 13 year old boy, I enjoyed it emensely. Each character had its own indepth personality. I found The Partner to be one of Grisham's most brilliant piece of work. I think each reader will be able to identify with Grisham's fictional characters. You will have to remind yourself that this is a work of fiction. The Partner is an extremely convincing book. You will actually take sympathy for the selfish Patrick Lanigan. John Grisham once again has you ask yourself, "Who really is the Bad Guy?" On a personal note, I was captivated by John Grisham's unique writing skills all throughout the entire book. Whether it is on the beach or in your home, John Grisham's The Partner should be on the top of your reading list
Rating: Summary: Taking on a new villain: Greed itself. Review: I read the book before reading any of these reviews, and I admit I agree with many of the critiques of the book's plot, characterization and unsatisfactory ending. Upon reflection, however, I wonder if Grisham is driving at a different message.
Consider the issues he's taken on in previous books: A Time to Kill was a statement against racism, The Chamber was his argument against the death penalty, The Rainmaker challenged the health insurance industry, and The Runaway Jury took on big tobacco. But this book doesn't have a real villain, at least not in some institutional form. The only thing that motivates all the main characters is the cry, "Show me the money!"
And here is perhaps the thrust of the novel. Grisham explores the corrupting power of greed, evidenced through lawsuit and litigation. No one is immune. Lives are shipwrecked and ethics are compromised because of the seductive desire for untold millions. Even those we believe to be noble are not above selling out their closest loved ones.
Though part of me desperately wanted a different ending, it serves as a striking commentary on utter emptiness of those whose ultimate goal is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It also reminds us once again that the best laid plans of mice, men and even Grisham heroes go aft agley.
Rating: Summary: Loved It Until the Last Chapter Review: I love to read Grisham for the fast paced legal scheming and stategy, and this book really delivers. Grisham lets the reader experience the action by slowly weaving the plot and subplots together and doing so in such a way that keeps the story flowing at a fast pace. I would have ranked this book as my favorite over A Time To Kill and given it a score of 10 but for the ending which came out of nowhere and proved a bitter dissapointment
Rating: Summary: Disappointing, predictable Grisham Review: I've burned through most of Grisham's past books, devouring every word with rabid intensity... I was fully expecting this one to be another fast-paced rollercoaster ride through the inside world of lawyers and courtrooms. I knew after the first chapter that this was not the Grisham we all know and love.
_The Partner_ has to rate as the worst Grisham book I have read, although it was still better than a great deal of the literary torture I've found myself subjected to. It might actually be a decent read if you go into it expecting to kill some time instead of _A Time to Kill_. Not only was the plot was predictable almost to the point of being insulting, but the main character was smugly unlikeable and more than a little annoying. By the last third of the book, I was hoping something would go wrong for seemingly invincible Patrick. I'd grown to dislike him so much that the ending (if one can call it that, seems like the word "ending" implies some finality) gave me a sick little thrill.
All in all, the book seemed terribly contrived. It read like a draft for a movie script and left the distinct impression that Grisham plans a sequel. Sure, I'll read it if there is one (I'm still a Grisham fan, albeit a sorely disappointed one) but I won't be looking forward to it as I have his other novels. And if there's a movie, I'll see it on cable if I see it at all!
Rating: Summary: Is it really stealing if your intentions are noble? Review: You're a hard-working guy and want to do well in your chosen profession. Except that you find yourself working for unctuous, morally repugnant souls who are actually set on destroying you. You're also trapped in a bad marriage and you don't get along all that well with your mother. What to do? What to do? While this book could've rapidly degenerated into a cliche-ridden novel, John Grisham has instead crafted a philosophical tale, a modern-day allegory, that tests whether a man can indeed steal tainted money and then assume a new identity in another part of the world. What makes this novel fascinating is that our protagonist not only plotted the disappearance of an obnoxious amount of money and himself, he also prepared for his capture and return to American shores. While the ending was a weak, you find yourself simultaneoulsy cheering for the lead and repulsed that he was able "to get away with it." Don't get too caught up in the somewhat simplistic plot but instead enjoy the nuances of the philosophy behind the story
Rating: Summary: More story would have been nice... Review: It's become a fashionable thing to read everything John Grisham puts out; and in that line; the story is not bad. But for a person who has never read Grisham; disappointment with this novel may set in. If we could have had more story; life on the run, how the law firm was swindled, etc., the read would have been a great ride. But for tried and true Grisham fans, the story ranks right up there with "The Client" and "The Firm." This book was not as memorable as "A Time To Kill," but still thoroughly enjoyable
Rating: Summary: The Best Grisham in a while Review: After his recent efforts, John Grisham writes his most original, suspensful books in years. The story of a man taking $90 million dollars may seem recylcled, but he puts enough twist and turns to make it his own. I liked the way he kept the twists and turns going throughout the book. He didn't write The Firm again or get on his soapbox and bring the story to a halt. He also created a terrific ending that was perfect. I hope John Grisham uses whatever he did for his next book, because after letdowns, like The Runaway Jury and The Chamber, he is showing what made him so compelling in the first place
Rating: Summary: Could this be Grishoms first venture into the sequel biz. Review: Loved it, loved it, Hated it. Clever, suspenseful,
really juicy Grishomesque twists of law and detail. Then comes the absolutely unrelated "no
not possible" ending, leaving the reader with this is definately going to be a sequel, why else? If not Grishom you lost me. Not since "Chicago Hope"
blew away "Alan" the lawyer with no forwarning has an ending been so unsatisfying,unexpected and annoying.
Rating: Summary: I wanted it to end differently. Review: Partners was very suspence filled. I could not put the book down. I continued to read and form my opinions and reform my thoughts and opinions. I like a book that will keep you on your toes. Vocabulary was one that anyone could understand. I rated it a nine because I felt the ending really left me hanging. When I got to the end I went back and reread the last three pages thinking that I had missed something
Rating: Summary: Not Grisham's best--but the ending is worth it. Review: Not Grisham's best effort, but stick with it. Patrick finally gets what's coming to him in the end. As in most situations, the criminal gets caught or screws up because he can't keep his mouth shut
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