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Summary: Tools for Living
Review: This book is easy to read and packed with ways to help you deal with everyday situations, or a serious relationship. Ever feel frustrated with your spouse's behavior? Read this book and you will learn how to cope in a rational, sane manner. I've read this book from cover to cover and keep it nearby to use as a reference.
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Summary: Warm, charming, interesting
Review: Not a Grisham novel as we've enjoyed in the past; totally different and utterly enjoyable. Mr. Grisham takes us to a far away place in this story, rural Arkansas in the 50's. The characterization of young Luke was so genuine, so honest -- I felt I was within the lump in that young man's throat most of the time. I too have read and loved a great many of Mr. Grisham's books, esp. The Testament. A Painted House is truly is a different genre for him and I hope he continues to write wherever his heart leads him and that his fans will give him the room to do so.
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Summary: Paints a picture
Review: This story enveloped you in the world of a seven year old during a season of change. The story did not move quickly but moved steadily with a curiosity rather than mystery or suspense. The story felt real and placed me at the dinner table and on the streets of little town America in the 1950's. In summary... in the end as you lay your head back and close your eyes a grin will slowly form at the "corners of your mouth". Enjoyable and worth the read.
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Summary: A Painted House
Review: Found this book extremely boring. Nothing really happens until you are two thirds through it. The last third of the book seems to be setting you up for the sequel. If this were someone else's novel, rather than John Grisham's, can't believe publishers would have ever considered it. Maybe they read the sequel.
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Summary: Not your typical Grisham novel.
Review: Eh. That's the best I can describe my feelings when I finished this book. Eh. There were some parts that kept me interested, but generally the book wasn't all that engrossing. I've read all of Grisham's novels, and I really love his books. It's supposed to be about a young boy, Luke, who goes from innocence from maturity. I'm not sure I followed this plotline either. Seemed to be that the kid was still a kid when the book was over. Eh.
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Summary: Loved it!
Review: John Grisham is such a wonderful writer! I predict that anything he writes will become an instant sucess! I've read all of his books, and have enjoyed them all.
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Summary: BORING
Review: I have loved all previous Grisham books. This one was so boring. Was this really written by Grisham??? Dont waste your money on this one.
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Summary: A Painted House
Review: I believe this is the best novel John Grisham has written. As narrated through the eyes of a 7 year old boy who lives on a farm in Arkansas in 1952, I felt like I was there on the farm and could see the thousands of acres of cotton. It also captures rural America and the way cotton farmers lived and how much they depended on their crops to survive. The young boy Luke Chandler has a lot of secrets to keep and a lot riding on his shoulders because he has seen things he shouldn't have, like two murders. But his relationship with his paternal grandfather is strong and special,they both love baseball and each other. The end is very emotional but uplifting.
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Summary: 388 Pages Without Getting To a Point
Review: John Grisham has been slaughtered by critics (both professional and by readers on Amazon.com) over the past couple of years because of the mediocrity of his last 2 or 3 novels, which I felt were well deserved. So I think he decided to write "A Painted House" to attempt to show that he has a literary side which would, in turn, win over the critics (and he did seem to get more positive reviews this time). I don't think this book is a bad book as the dialog is terrific, but basically, not a whole lot happens in this novel. Yes, there are a couple of killings and numerous family trials and tribulations, but it is all portrayed as just all in a day's worth of picking cotton. I also had a hard time with the fact that the narrator, Luke Chandler, was only seven years old. He seemed way too wise beyond his years for me (if Luke was 12 or 13, it might have worked for me). He had this problem with handling kids in the "The Client" as well. I picked this book up when it came out, read about 150 pages of it and put it aside until a week ago, when I decided that I was going to finish it. Once you set your mind to it, it reads very fast, but it just isn't interesting. I give the book two stars because I at least give Grisham credit for taking a risk in going away from the formula that has worked so well for him for a decade. But it would have been better if there was a real story to tell.
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Summary: MORE!
Review: I have read all of John Grisham's books and this one is my favorite. It is unlike any that he has written an is a good departure for him.
I am from the era that the little boy is from and could relate to the family and their closeness and loyalty. PLEASE Mr. Grisham continue with a sequel telling what happened to them! I did not want to finish it. MORE MORE MORE!
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