Rating: Summary: Lightweight fun Review: I found The Summons to be a page turner, but disappointingly simple and inelegant. The story line is uncomplicated. The answer to the mystery is more than adequately suggested. Ray's growing concern with the money is nicely done, evoking a sort of Poe-like obsession. Grisham makes the central character a law professor, not a huge leap from his past focus on lawyers. However, it is poorly researched. I spent 8 years teaching at major universities and Grisham's portrayal of the life of a professor, the relationship with colleagues and students, and the requirements of the job are thin and misguided. For example, Ray's vulnerability to insanity would be detected quickly by his students and they keep their distance rather than rallying in support over the death of his father. Further, faculty groups do not act unanimously. Ever. At least one of them would forge his own path, even if the issue were what day of the week follows Sunday. The Summons lacks the impactful resolution of his earlier works and the richness of place found in A Painted House. Read it for fun. In the meantime, John, get back to the sort of serious, quality work we have come to expect from you.
Rating: Summary: Not Very Exciting Review: It was easy reading because of so much dialog. I read the book quickly and enjoyed it but there were a few problems. I tired of reading how the money was moved around so many times, there wasn't enough action in the story, and I noticed a few mistakes in the grammer that got passed the editor. The ending was a surprise to me.But,I'm not ever able to figurer out the ending ahead of time of any book or movie. The book was O.K. but that is about it.
Rating: Summary: pretty good Review: Ths wasn't a usual "John Grisham" book for me. Ususally his stories capture me in the first page, and this one was a bit dry to begin with. As an avid reader, I know that I have to stick with a book for a chapter or two, and as always, Mr. Grisham came through. The plot twisted and turned, and I was genuinely suprised at the outcome. This is definelty a book to own.
Rating: Summary: Grisham is great but this one is just "average" Review: If you haven't read any Grisham books this one may be OK for you to start but after reading his book "The Street Lawyer" this one is a bit of a let down. Michael Beck does a good job of reading as usual but the plot lacks the punch of many of the other Grisham books. I have read about 6 of his works so far and I would have to say that "The Summons" ranks near the bottom of the list. Still better than many books but not as good as I have come to expect from Grisham.
Rating: Summary: Met My Expectations Review: I remember almost flunking an important exam in college because I couldn't stop reading The Pelican Brief to study. WIth two small children, I bought this book to read on vacation because I knew it would be an easy read at the end of long days at the amusement park. I wasn't disappointed. Grisham's legal suspense novels have become too predictable. I enjoyed The Painted House (unlike many of my Grisham-addict friends)and hoped Grisham would continue to pursue more serious writing. Skipping Christmas helped me put the right perspective on the holiday season while providing an abundance of chuckles. Meanwhile, I continue to hold out hope that Grisham will thrill us all again one day. Until then, I'll save his books for my lighter reading needs.
Rating: Summary: Mississippi Cain & Able Review: Ray Atlee and his chemically dependent brother, Forrest, are summoned to their dying father's home in John Grisham's "The Summons.". While stern and distant to his sons, Judge Atlee is a local legend for his judicial prowess and benevolence. He is also dead upon their arrival. Ray discovers a $3M stash, not far from the judge's corpse. He proceeds to hide it from his pathetic brother, the estate and a mysterious blackmailer as he searches for the source of the judge's secret fortune. While many of the main characters are associated with the law, Grisham continues his trek away from legal thrillers. Ray is simultaneously trying to discover his father's secrets while dealing with the growing guilt around his deceit. The book excels on Ray angst in seeking new hiding place for the cash. It is disappointing in Ray's inability to reconcile with his father's real greatness as the old man's true values become clearer. Despite this setback, I recommend "The Summons" and encourage the author to continue pursuing new literary paths. Grisham's pace, prose and story depth is improving with each new work.
Rating: Summary: Do you think this was written for a movie script? Review: I have loved some of Mr. Grisham's previous works, but not this one. Not to spoil the ending, but it was a HUGE let down. He gives many sermons on how bad money is, yet he rakes in millions. There is far too much time wasted on text that only drags the book out, but yet once it is cut out will make for an OK movie. My choice would be to wait for the video, no, wait until it is free on national TV.
Rating: Summary: I wanted to like it... Review: I really wanted to like this book. It was an incredibly fast read, due in part to the load of dialog. The story had a good start, but nothing exciting really happened. And the ending left me shouting "that's IT?"
Rating: Summary: Is Grisham Bored? Review: I think John Grisham's bored. What else could explain this apathetic writing? Unlike others here, I thoroughly enjoyed "Skipping Christmas" for the light-hearted little fable it was, and I was impressed by the more serious effort of "A Painted House." But this? Has he forgotten how to write an intricate, emotionally involving legal thriller? The first few chapters read more like plot outlines and character sketches. The dialogue is tired and sparse. Even the basics of the plot sound strikingly similar to another present bestseller, "The Millionares," by Brad Meltzer (a book with hipper characters, snappier dialogue, and more twists in the first 100 pages than in the entire length of "The Summons"). In "The Summons," Professor Ray Atlee becomes the heir to over three million dollars. Where did the money come from? His honorable father, a long-standing judge, had no apparent connections to such wealth. With only his drug-addicted brother to stand in the way, Ray spends most of the book trying to convince himself the money's not marked or counterfeit. Oh, and trying to find out how his father acquired it. In fact, we must witness three, yes three, separate trips to casinos for just these purposes--a sure sign that Grisham was low on plot ideas. Along the way, we witness Atlee's interest in planes and in a gorgeous floozy who also happens to be his student, but these sidetrips have little to do with anything and only add to the final frustration. I read over 300 pages for...what? "The Summons," like "The Brethren," lacks any truly sympathetic or likeable characters (maybe because we never really get to know them). At least Grisham hasn't resorted to farfetched plot twists, but I wish he'd give us at least something to hold onto, something to anticipate. I kept waiting for something, anything to happen. Instead, I reached the barely surprising elements of the last chapter only to wonder why I'd taken the time. I'm still a fan of Grisham's older legal thrillers. Until he proves otherwise, however, I'll stick to his non-legal books--they seem to be the ones with the brightest sparkle and life.
Rating: Summary: Not his best effort Review: I was very disappointed by the very lame effort put forth by Mr. Grisham. The plot was very thin and repetitive. How many times can $3 million be loaded in a trunk and hauled around? How many times can a threatening letter come, especially when you can figure out in the first third of the book who is doing it? Normally I can't wait to keep reading his books. In this case, I couldn't wait until I got done reading so I could start a more interesting book.
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