Rating: 
Summary: The story says it all
Review: Having read all of Grisham's work, The Summons, pales in comparison. Not wanting to duplicate other posted reviews, I would just highlight that the plot was cumbersome, the ending abrupt and silly, the characters 1 dimensioned and the main character clueless. While Grisham does continue his fluid writing style as in past work, the storyline here is thin and boring.
Rating: 
Summary: Solid, but, not his best work.
Review: The Summons is a fast paced "legal thriller" in the same genre as JG's other books, but not nearly as thrilling. If you stack this book up against "The Firm," or "The Pelican Brief," You will be mildly dissapointed. With all that said this book is still solid and kept me entertained on a long flight from Amsterdam to Boston. This book is not going to set the world on fire, but it will keep you awake an interested in the story of Ray and Forest Atlee and the three million in cash that is up for grabs upon the death of their father. Worth reading.-Joseph Dworak
Rating: 
Summary: ENJOYABLE!!!!!
Review: WHAT an enjoyable read. It was light, fast and interesting. Now if you are looking for a heavy-weight book, then look elsewhere. I selected this book without reading the reviews on amazon.com and I am glad I did for if I had listen to the unhappy reviews I would have missed out on this wonderful book. I am not put off by a story talking about what to do with $3 million+ found on your parents property. Simply put, I'd spend it as would most any of the other readers of this book. But, Grisham's character Ray Atlee--professor of law and son of Judge Reuben Atlee (who left the money at his unexpected death without notifying his sons of the money) has to deal with the legality of the money since he knows the impact of such a find as a professor of law. I am thoroughly convinced that Ray was doing the best he could in solving the puzzle as to what to do with the money. Give this book a read and I am sure you too would appreciate the struggle Ray underwent before arriving at the decision you or I made right off the bat. Diffrent strokes for different folks. As for Grisham deviating his writing style to provide us with this delightfully quick read, I say thank-you very much. Grisham, like anyone of us, should be given the opportunity to experiment and/or grow in various and many directions without losing his status in areas of established prowess.
Rating: 
Summary: Dissapointing but still Grisham
Review: Although Grisham's cynical style that we've all come to love does appear in this novel the story itself is quite dissapointing. I found myself not caring at all about the charechters or what happened with the money. The book was lifeless and dull. I found myself constantly bored and continually counting how many pages I had to go. As a big fan of John Girsham I was extremlly dissapointed by The Summons. If this is the best he can do then it's time for him to move on
Rating:
Summary: What Comes of this Writer?
Review: Did you ever try to chew a waxy candle? Yeah, just try it and you don't have to tell me how tasteless it is. I think J.G. now is a poison for the Legal/Courtroom drama. If money is enough made, just go to some warm islands south of Florida and retire, OK? Please? If there is nothing so specially to be told, simply drop or skip it, OK? The worst taste of a drinking water is lukewarm, it actually hurt the throat when trying to swallow. Don't try to summon me next time, I'll try all the excuses in the world to become one of your book's jury members. Amen.
Rating:
Summary: Cool Quick Read
Review: I found this book to be a typical good light Grisham read. All I ask for a book is to keep me wanting to go on and this book succeeded in that. Yea, if you read all his other books, which I have, you will know the formula but it works so their is no need for him to change it...
Rating:
Summary: shallow two dimensional garbage
Review: Very poor writing, the characters are two dimensional at best, pedestrian writing, no plot development, no reason at all for it to be a best seller. It would have been more exciting to read John Grisham's shopping list.
Do yourself a favor and give the cost of this book to charity instead, and read a cornflake packet.
If there had been a 'no stars' category on this review page, I would have awarded it.
Rating:
Summary: The Summons
Review: I have read almost all of John Grisham's books...I consider myself a great fan of his...BUT GOD "The Summons" has got to be his worst book it is that simple. It is boaring and it was a waste of my time. I never thought I would feel that way about one of his books. He rattles on and on describing an old judge through 1/2 of the book and then the other half is about how and why that same judge managed to get a fortune in cash. I have no words and no time to describe what a slow read, and boaring boaring boaring book this was. Do not waste your money or your time on this book - that is my advise to you. I wish someone had said that to me....what a waste.
Rating:
Summary: Good Grisham
Review: OK, so it's a quick read, and the character development isn't that strong. But there's something about a Grisham novel that's comforting to read, even if it's a fairly quick read as this one is. His narrative quality makes it easy to get a grasp of characters, and even the bad guys can be somewhat likeable. The story covers a son who is visiting his dying judge father. Only the father is lying dead on the couch when he gets there. The key to the novel is that the son finds something in the house totally unexpected. Something that will change his life, and that of his chemically dependent brother. I thought it prudent to keep this a secret, but even the editorial reviews spill the beans. Look at those if you wish to find it out. But it does turn out to be a good human nature story. The son has to decide what to do with the find, as it could smear the good name of his father. Or would it? Most of the story involves the son trying to figure out exactly where the find came from. And how to act while keeping the secret. I will admit that I would probably have done many of the same things he did, even the ones that were morally questionable. Read it to see what you think you would do. The solution takes us into the world of drug lawsuits, where settlements are made for hundreds of people at a time. We get to learn this world, and it does tie together neatly. And there's, in my opinion, a great surprise ending. So maybe it isn't his best, but I enjoyed it very much.
Rating:
Summary: Hardly exciting anymore....
Review: When I read my first John Grisham I was very excited about his style and his sense of plot. However, as his creative output continued I became increasingly aware of the fact that he is progressively become less and less interesting. His stories are becoming more similar and "The Summons" is an excellent example of that. It is still a fairly good read, but seriously, I think he should either stop writing while he's still on top of his game, or he should go on some kind of retreat. The storyline is entertaining, especially for those who have never picked up a John grisham before, but the concept is rather chewed up for those who know his style. The most I can give him is 3 stars and hope that either his next book will be an amazing revival of his earlier skill, or that he will never pick up the pen again.
| 
