A Painted House

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Summary: A Painted House
Review: Kelsey Stephens
Core 4
"Then, he picked up a two by four, hit him on the head and killed him," a young, seven year old told the police officer.
The police officer was interviewing the young Luke Chandler because he was a bystander in a large fight that took place.
A Painted House by John Grisham is a great book with a lot of twists and turns with morals along the way.
A lot of times people, who aren't in anyway disabled, just go on with their lives not noticing things. People, who are cripple in some way, absorb more and get more meaning out of things. Such as Trot does when he is a guest at the Chandler's home. He realizes that these people aren't blessed with fortune so they can paint their house. Instead, they don't have any paneling, siding, or paint on their house. Trot sees that this embarrasses the family so he slowly paints the house all by himself and with his own money.
Children can very easily get themselves into unwanted territory just like Luke does when he accidently witnesses murders. Also, how Luke goes out sneaking during the night and learns some things that he was never supposed to know.
I really liked this book because I got both a great read, and I learned about John Grisham's life. Also, this story is taken place in the 1950's era. I learned how people have to do hard labor to make it through the rough times. I can now compare modern life to fifty years ago. Grisham wrote this story based on his own childhood. I really enjoyed learning about him while having the pleasure of reading a great novel.
Conflicts arise very easily amongst people with different backgrounds. The Mexicans who come to the Chandler's cotton farm were very much different than the Chandler's. They believed differently on things that were right and wrong. Such as when they don't think that getting in a fight and severely hurting someone is a big deal. Even death arises in some situations.
It really moved me when Trot painted the house. It really touched me because it took Trot so long, and it would be so much trouble for him to go through.
I didn't like the parts where Luke would talk about the St. Louis Cardinals because I am a big Cub's fan. Although, I did like it, baseball was a fairly large part of the book.
I thought that Luke liking the older Mexican was cute. It made me more interested in the book. At the beginning, I thought for sure that there was no way a seventeen year old girl would like a seven year old boy. But, as I progressed through the book, I begin to believe more and more that maybe she did like Luke. But, reality struck me, and I came to my senses. I really enjoyed reading this book. Not only did I learn about Grisham's childhood, but I also got a taste of what it was like to live in the 1950's. The beginning is a little slow, but it is worth the wait to get to the suspenseful part.

Rating:
Summary: Grisham's Very Best
Review: A Painted House is simply John Grisham's finest novel ever and one of the best books I have read. His writing puts you directly into the story. You feel as if your living it and don't want it to end. If you only read one book read this one.

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Summary: On The Painted House
Review: This is an excellent book! I have been a Grisham fan for years and love his thrillers, like The Firm and The Pelican Brief. I was very excited to read this, a very different type of book than I was used to for Grisham, but it turned out to be my favorite! The story is very fast paced and the characters are developed well. Luke, the main character, is mischievous at times and very likeable. It was exciting to see what he was up to next. I would like to highly recommend this book to any reader.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but not great
Review: In this novel seven year old Luke chandler is a farm boy in 1952. This book at times lacks excitment. With nat many plot twists or suspense this book could have used more. Although some parts were exciting most wasn't. This book however had memorable charechters. You want to know everything about them and everything that happens to them afterword. The only problem is seven year old Luke Chandler sounds more like a Fifteen year old. The worry his family has for there ninteen yaer old relative fighting in Korea it makes you feel like you are right there with the chandlers in there heartbreak and suffering. This story may not be the best, but the charechters sure were. The style of writing was also well done the plot just needed some retuning. All in all Grisham returns with his same writing talent just not the same story line and plot twist tallent. The ending however was unexpected and one of Grishams good endings.

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Summary: Surprisingly different
Review: John Grisham surprised me with this story, but pleasantly so. He did not fail to keep my attention. He is indeed a wonderful story teller. I don't normally like sequels but would love to know what happens to Luke in the big city and whether he eventually fulfills his dream of becoming a national baseball player. Grisham conveyed such a descriptive setting in the cotton fields. I felt like I was on the ground beside Luke as he looked up to the sky between the tall plants. I was leary at first, knowing that Grisham has written most of his books around the legal world. This story, particularly, took me back to days I've heard of from my grandparents and parents. I actually felt as though I were stepping back in time. He is truly one of the best writers I have read!

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Summary: A wonderful story
Review: A PAINTED HOUSE is a story which tells you about hard times through a 7 year old boys eyes. It's exciting, sad, funny - it has it all. I must admit that in the beginning it sometimes didn't happen very much, but after a while I came to love the characters and I just wanted to know what was going to happen with them all.
You shouldn't miss this book!

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Summary: My First Grisham Book - and it was Great!
Review: I had only two reasons to read this book: 1) My book group was reading it; 2) I moved to the South about 2 years ago, and felt I should learn more about it. I was very pleasantly surprised at how well-written it was! I had always assumed Grisham was one of those "genre" writers who relies on murders, mysteries, etc., (plot) to sell his book, rather than working on being a good writer, and having the writing sell his book. This book is very good at showing a "slice of life": life on a farm in the Arkansas Delta, at a time when it was very difficult eking out a living at farm work. You really get a sense of how terribly hard picking cotton was, and how even a 7-year old was expected to pick. You get a feel for the people, and the economic differences between them; the sharecroppers vs. those who were luckier, and "rented" land, etc. I was disappointed in the New York Times Book Review of this book. The critic panned Grisham for failing to depict any African-Americans. The critic had no idea that there were few African-Americans in the Arkansas Delta at that time. All in all, I would definitely recommend this book.

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Summary: I want my 6 u$d dollars back
Review: Its genre undefined between suspense and "customs and manners", fails as both. Boring, boring, boring. Nothing happens. French ending. Avoid this one

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Summary: Brent Smiths A Painted House
Review: A Painted House is one of Grisham's best works yet. The story of a poor Arkansas farming family is told from the seven year old boy Luke. The story centers on the families cotton farm and the difficulties they have with their hired workers, the spurills and some migrant Mexicans. With a combination of murder and the everyday trials of farm life this book makes for a very exciting read. I highly reccomend the book to anyone who enjoys a good book.

Rating:
Summary: Another Hit
Review: What a great book! John Grisham takes another unusual road in this one but it is a most interesting road. Told through the eyes of a child, it is an easy, fascinating read. I highly recommend it.