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Summary: Did John Grisham really write this drivel?
Review: I really doubt that John Grisham wrote this. The plot is trivial and unconvincing, the sentence structure is monotonous, the characters are one dimensional and boring (I didn't care if any of them lived or died) and the style, with the little smart-arse comments, is very annoying. I also found that it trivialised the plight of the indigenous South Americans and their environment. It is one of the few books of its type I didn't finish on holiday because I couldn't be bothered wading through anymore to find out what happens. Think I can guess anyway! Maybe the fact that I'd just read Pat Barker's Regeneration Trilogy had something to do with my reaction. Now there's someone who can write!
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Summary: Great premise with no conclusion
Review: You know from reading other John Grisham novels that he knows a lot about Memphis. And after reading this that he must have vacationed and been impressed with Brazil. All well in good. He convinced me that Brazil is a lot more than a square on a map. But what the hell happened to the story. The book has a great and typcially terse worded exciting beginning. From there on it is all downhill. In fact practically nothing is tied together and answered in this disappointing novel. The premise is great but what happened to the rest of the story. Maybe this is the 1st part of a series of over-blowen short stories. Mr. Grisham can be forgiven this one because of the great entertainment he has provided over the past few years. But he might consider taking a little more time and thought on the next one..and maybe someday he will write the finish to this one.
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Summary: KEEPS YOU HANGING ON THE EDGE
Review: The first chapter of the book captures you heart and soul and keeps you hanging on the edge until the very last page. Especially loved the fact that the ending wasn't predictable. Better than the "Street Lawyer" and much like Grisham's earlier novels that captured his loyal reading audience. This book has something for everyone: a tragic death, love, spirituality, greed and travel. The very vivid descriptions of the travel around Brazil would make a great backdrop for another motion picture. Similar to "Out of Africa" but only in Brazil with a recovering lawyer on a desperate search for a hiding missionary woman who has no interest in what many today can't live without: money and power. A great vacation book for those of us who can't put down a book once they pick it up!
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Summary: Those rich with children or with rich parents should read.
Review: John Grishan's books are the best material for teaching comparison literature. The reason? He is one of the few authors who study hard. From his first book, Time to kill, all verbs he used present tense, to his seventh book, The Partner, he used seven times of "They found him..." to start a paragraph. This is just amazing, not everyone can use the rhetoric repetition like Winston Churchill once used during the WWII, when he said:" We shall fight..." for more than seven times. And now, Testament. Five million population of original Indians,in Brazil's Amazon, after the culture invasion of the western countries, after five centuries, no more than one tenth of a quarter of a million left. Readers of Grishan's books, John is trying to tell us something, think, think hard. The writer of the above text is an interpreter and translator, who's read every book John has written.
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Summary: Loved the Christian Context
Review: I have always thought that John Grisham was a great writer. The Testament was like no other of his works. The Christian context was such a great surprise. I was so proud of him for writing like this. Nate O'Reilly was such a likable character. To see a character change so dramatically was refreshing. The character of Rachel Lane was also great. I can see why it's number one.
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Summary: Grishom Finally Masters Ending a Story
Review: Like all Grishom novels, The Testament, engages you in the first chapter-introducing the story and getting you comfortable for what, you know, will be a good read. Like the ghost stories you enjoyed around the campfire, The Testament, teases you with bigger-than-life (and fuller-of-flaws) characters. This time Grishom's character development takes it's time-reminiscent of A Time to Kill. In a style more refined than in previous works, Grishom takes the reader through a deliciously sensual exploration of the Pantanal. Most satisfying of all to this reader, however, was (finally) Grishom's ability to end the book in an acceptable manner. No machinations, illogical twists or character distructions. It isn't complicated, it isn't perfectly happy or sad, just satisfying-much more realistic.
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Summary: COULDN'T PUT THE BOOK DOWN
Review: EXCELLENT BOOK! WELL WRITTEN. THE ONLY THING MISSING WAS INVESTIGATION OF THE LEAD'S RELATIONSHIPS ALONG THE WAY. IN "A TIME TO KILL", (HIS BEST), YOU KNEW THE RELATIONSHIPS. THE BOOK WAS ALWAYS EXCITING AND SPELLBINDING. I FELT LIKE I COULD SEE WHAT HE SAW. FEEL WHAT HE FELT.
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Summary: Spiritual Fun
Review: I read this book expecting another easy reading yet enjoyable episode with John Grisham and his band of attornies and corruption. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised of an easy reading, enjoyable episode of attornies and spiritual growth. Very nice turn of events. The book is a typical "page-turner" by Grisham, but the message that something is more important that money and power and the discovery of that "something" is uplifting and doesn't diminish the fun of the book. I recommend it to anywone who enjoys Grisham.
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Summary: A Good Book, an Author Growing.
Review: In some ways, Testament seems the most thoughtful and sincere of Grisham's books that I have read. In the second half of the book some very deep seated beliefs seem to emerge, taking on an almost mystical quality towards the end. It is clear that the author was captivated by Brazil. His description of the journey into the wilderness is beautifully done, and captivates the reader with its detailed descriptions. I did not find them tedious or unecessary, but rather added to the flavor of the book. He took us there. In summary, Grisham seems to be growing as a writer; growing away from the interesting and absorbing, but nonetheless vapid, genre of "good airport reading" into a novelist with something to say. I say, read the book, and stay tuned.
Rating: 
Summary: Alright??????
Review: An enjoyable read. Still not representative of the fast pace, page-turning writing that Grisham became know for in his earlier writings. I read the first 10 chapters of The Testament in one sitting, then the book started to slow down, and at times it actually bored me. Grisham's earlier books were captivating, enthralling, and suspenseful. This was not the case with The Testament, (or The Rainmaker, or Runaway Jury). Perhaps its too much to ask that an author's writing continue to mature over time (like a good wine). Am I wrong to expect for an author to live up to his/her end of the reader-author relationship by writing from a center of conviction, not commercialism? Don't get me wrong, I didn't despise the book, ( I felt totally let down with The Rainmaker, couldn't even finish it!), it just doesn't measure up to his earlier writings (A Time To Kill, The Firm. . . ). But when all is said and done, . . . I'm still a dedicated Grisham fan, I have everything he's written and overall he's provided a quite enjoyable reading experience. If nothing else, The Testament convinced me that I need to prepare a will immediately!
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