Rating: 
Summary: Pretty Good Book
Review: Troy Phelan is one of the richest men in the world. He is worth 11 billion dollars and is soon to die. He has many children and he has to split his estate evenly. He has a meeting at his house and his family makes sure he is mentally competent so he can sign his will legally. He passes it and signs his 11 page will. Soon, he starts to write a note.(Actually a new will) He finishes it and jumps off the balcony and kills himself. This will says to pay off all his families debts then give the rest to a girl who became a missionary and moved to Brazil.(An unknown daughter) All of the children go out and buy all they want because they think hundreds of millions of dollars will be at their doorstep soon. The lawyers set out to find Rachel to tell her of her award. They decide to send a man, Nate, whose life is in total disarray, who has just gotten out of Rehab(Alcohol & drugs, not the first time). He goes to Brazil and finds Rachel(Troy's daughter) with a remote tribe. After some time, he becomes a part of the tribe and he gets a brand new life. He gets to start over. The testament, which means the final will, is a fitting title for this book because it's all started by a will written by one of the richest men in the world. This leads to the change in Nate's life. This book was a mediocre book. It was slow moving at parts, but Grisham's description of his characters was excellent. Also, it is quite unbelievable that someone can forget everything and their life turns out for the best.
Rating: 
Summary: Immaculate
Review: The Testament was the first book I ever read by John Grisham. The novel captivated me and carried me on a pleasant journey. When it comes to books my fastidious nature sometimes forces me to overlook impeccable material. After reading "The Testament" I've been on a Grisham binge to read everything he has touched. If you have seen the movies this does not preclude the suspense and enjoyment you'll encounter by reading the novel. From my experience, books are often significantly better than the movie. Read "The Testament" you'll love it.
Rating:
Summary: Mediocre story, but interesting travel adventure description
Review: The very beginning of this book starts out great and then goes downhill pretty quickly. The aspect of travel to South America keeps the book afloat, but the characters are nothing special. I read the hardcover version and on the inside flap it said something to the fact that 'Nate O'Riley's latest release from rehab was going to be "murder"'. Considering there is no murder at all in this story, I found this to be misleading and dissapointing.
Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant start, but no idea for the rest
Review: Another story from Mr Grisham about the volunteers fighting for the idea and about the lawyers willing to give up their millions for this idea and I will never buy his book anymore. Great beginning with the old millionaire creating his intrigue, but then... big disappointment - there is no intrigue at all (exactly like in the "Street lawyer"). No idea how to develop the plot. Looks like Mr Grisham has just fallen in love with the Brazilian forests and wanted to write something about that. I was reading it and waiting for something to happen and suddenly... I got to the end. Where is the plot, intrigue and suspense from the "Pelican Brief" or "Partner"?
Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate Page-Turner
Review: Wow! This book had me until the very end. What a page turner! I was home sick one day and I put away the entire thing in one sitting! The first fifty of so pages, where Troy Phelan speaks in the 1st person, are unbelievable. My favorite Grisham.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing...
Review: The idea is an intriguing one. Multi-billionaire Troy Phelan is old and lonely. He built his fortune while neglecting his wives and children. Now, losers all, they are just waiting for him to die so they can divide the money. He has one last surprise in store for them, however. A surprise will leaves everything to an unknown, illegitimate child who lives as a missionary in Brazil. The legal maneuvering as Phelan's lawyer battles the family over the estate is entertaining and satisfying. It's difficult to feel much sympathy for this bunch and their conniving lawyers are even worse.Other aspects of this tale are less satisfactory. The selfless missionary, Rachel, lives in the Pantanal while pursuing her desire to foist her religious convictions off on a bunch of stone age natives. The lawyer sent to find her, Nate, is a weak personality. He, too, has devoted his life to his career while neglecting wives and children. He is also attempting his fourth recovery from binges on drugs and alcohol. Poor Nate! He's stuck in the same rat race as all the rest of us, but he just can't cope. Nate finds Rachel in the Pantanal. The Pantanal is not the Amazon rainforest. It is a huge, swampy area located further south. If you are expecting a jungle adventure, you are in for a disappointment. The journey has its difficulties, but they have more to do with storms and mosquitos than hostile natives and dangerous carnivores. I really didn't find it all that harrowing. Nate is taken with the relaxed pace of life and the natural beauty surrounding him. Who wouldn't be. On the other hand, these laid back people live in sqaulid, miserable conditions. The life is only idyllic as long as you don't get bitten by a poisonous snake or become sick and find yourself in the local hospital. Then it's pretty awful. Nate drifts along, does what he has to, and ultimately comes out smelling like a rose, just as Rachel assures him he will if he just trusts in God. How nice. Pretty hard to swallow, though. If you or I just sat around and waited for everything to come out the way we want, we would end up as homeless people. Grisham is a competant writer, and he does his usual capable job of developing his plot. At times, though, this story is just weak. Rachel, predictably, doesn't want the fortune. She can't even get enough money to buy the drugs she needs to treat the natives, but fails to see the advantages of her good fortune. Understadably, she wants to avoid the complications, but, for someone who really wanted to help people, it wouldn't be hard to find a way around the difficulties. I have read several of Grisham's other books. I have generally found them interesting and fast-paced. This one was often slow, the characters silly, the outcome obvious and too easy.
Rating:
Summary: Do We Have to Wait for the Sequel to Learn the Ending?
Review: Grisham strecthes his writing muscles by leaving behind his familiar Southern courtroom and takes the reader on a trip to Brazil. An eccentric billionaire looking to die, a burnt-out litigator just out of rehab and a woman who left the modern world to work in Brazil are all brought together by the secret of the Testament. Promising start leads to entertaining content, which turns down a dead-end street. I think the conclusion of this book (or lack thereof) could have been better thought out.
Rating:
Summary: Thriller........
Review: All of John Grisham's books have been bestsellers. This novel is a most definite page turner. I like the ways he describes how the Brazilians live. John Grisham definitly wrote this book with an intriging plot that will get and hold your attention. In this book there are many twists and turns and everything else that could possibly happen. This book is very fast paced. Over all this book kept my intrest. Don't be fooled by the title you don't know what it means until the end....
Rating:
Summary: Dos estrellas por el esfuerzo.
Review: La formula de los bestsellers Estos libros están diseñados para ser leídos de una manera rápida, sin tener que poner mucho esfuerzo en ellos, no sé si la formula es valida, aunque en verdad les funciona a muchos escritores para hacer dinero. Tomas una trama, la llenas de intriga , pasión, le pones un tema de moda y luego la escribes de una forma que resulte de fácil lectura, la publicas en paperback y edición de bolsillo, si ya eres famoso como Grhisam, no te olvidas de poner en tu libro un avance del libro que viene para la próxima temporada en la parte posterior y en la parte delantera todo lo bueno que dicen sobre el libro, en cada periódico, incluso en la portada si es el New York Times, le pones una portada impactante en rojo y negro con letras escarlatas o doradas y ahí tienes un bestseller Porque lo hacen? Bueno, la mercadotecnia y el publico que pide mas de lo mismo, que no se cansa de leer literatura barata que en diez años ya nadie recordara Quién estaba en las listas de popularidad hace diez años¡? A quien diablos le importa Ya ese señor hizo lo que iba a hacer, recaudo y se fue, y el ambiente literario seguirá sin él. En cuanto a esta novela, sigue las mismas pautas, que arriba he planteado, sin decirnos nada nuevo sobre nada. Un viejo milloneta amargado que le deja su fortuna a una hija que nunca menciono, parece trama de novela televisiva, cursi hasta mas no poder y totalmente aburrida, pues que se pueda leer fácilmente no deja de hacerla mas aburrida, pues no hay barreras que derrotar,ni nada que descubrir, el autor se encarga de que todo encaje a su tiempo y así no tengas que cansar tu agitada mente de lector voraz de novelas baratas de supermercado o de aeropuerto ; además no puede arriesgarse a perder su publico de lectores pasivos que lo leen todo...... Luis Mendez
Rating:
Summary: A lot of fun then it fizzles
Review: This is a good book to read when you have a long plane ride, are going on vacation, or just have some time to kill. The book starts off strong and keeps your interest most of the way through, although the last 100 pages are a bit slow and let you down after the fun read of the first part of the book. The book is still worth the read. The strong point of the book is the main character who is interesting enough to keep you interest even when things slow down at the end. Also, I appreciated the positive and realistic portrayal of religious faith Grisham gives us. Christianity is not glamorized, but it isn't beat up on either like it usually is in books and movies. As a Christian missionary who is moving to Dourados, Brazil, I found this depiction of faith refreshing. This book can be a great read if you let it be what it should: A fun way to pass the time and keep you entertained. Just be ready for the (boring) ending.
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