Rating: 
Summary: Not The Grisham I Know
Review: What a disappointment. After so many great thrillers and suspense novels from Mr. Grisham, "House" reads like Writing 101. Told first person by a seven year old, the novel covers a cotton pickin' season in Arkansas. Oh, and a house that needs painting. I missed the "coming of age" of young Luke Chandler that some reviewers rave about. Luke starts out as a seven year old, saw some nasty things, missed his brother Ricky, and dreamed of being a St. Louis Cardinal. We leave Luke after too many pages still seven years old, missing his brother and dreaming of being a Cardinal. After 250 pages I started skip reading then resorted to skipping pages. I don't think I missed anything. Maybe this was the "artistic" effort that some critics have wanted from the author. If so, you've got it out of your system, John, now please come back with the good stuff.
Rating: 
Summary: A Painted House - a whitewash.
Review: John Grisham was going to have this as a six part serial in a magazine, but his publisher thought it would make a good book. Unfortunately that is what we got a good book if it was written by any one other than Grisham. The story is told by a seven year old boy and not someone entangled in the legal process as we have always come to expect. So this slice of life with all of its unanswered questions at the end leaves us wanting to know more. If the characters were interesting then we might demand more, but this is not as interesting as Jimmy Carter's new book which covers the same ground.
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Summary: Wonderful Yarn!
Review: I bought the unabridged Painted Houses book on tape to listen to during my morning and evening commute. While the beginning is a bit slow paced, you soon find that you feel as though you are living on the Chandler farm. The daily routine of farm life, and the rhythm of these people is mezmerizing. Once the suspense begins, you care about these folks and are drawn to find out how it ends. I also reccomend the book on tape, as the story seems to unfold like a yarn and is best appreciated when listened to in a slow rural drawl. I hope there is a sequal!
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Summary: John Grisham may enter the world of the great american novel
Review: The beautiful texture and nuances of a young Luke's mind is written with ease and reality. THE PAINTED HOUSE reminded me of Faulkner and Cather's novels THE SOUND AND THE FURY and O'PIONEERS. It is nice to see Grisham write about something that doesn't involve lawyers. This is the first time I've enjoyed his work. I hope he writes more like it.
Rating:
Summary: I give Mr. Grisham credit for working outside of the box
Review: I admire his bravery in stepping outside his familiar model of legal chicanery and redemption, but this work bored me stiff. I like his writing technique - short and pithy sentences - but this works better when there's a lot of action; it doesn't work as well in a "bucolic" as this book has been described. Also, the plot had too many loose ends. I was never sure if I was reading a child's perspective or that of an omniscient narrator. I will always buy another John Grisham book, but this one has already been passed on...
Rating:
Summary: A Painted House
Review: I found this book to be another excellent work from this fantastic author. I have enjoyed all of John Grisham's books thus far and this one is no exception. It does take on a different role from his previous legal fiction books, but this one however, is another suspense filled story which I again could not put down until it was finished. It is well written with a sometimes fun loving prankster included. You couldn't help but look back and remember days gone by. But as always this book ended to soon. I am trying to patiently wait for the next book from this exceptional writer.
Rating:
Summary: Another good book.
Review: Even though I was bored with the thought of a unnormal book by Grisham, this one was great. I know that he wrote better books in his time (The street Lawyer, The Partner, The Rainmaker Ect...) I feel that compared to other "novels" this one topped them all. Another great book by Grisham. -Jake
Rating:
Summary: Worst Yet
Review: This is the first book of Grisham's that I had little to no desire to even finish. It is by far the worst book he has written to date.
Rating:
Summary: Super Book!!!!!!
Review: This is the 1st John Grisham book I've read and I truely loved it. The little boy, Luke being the narrator is what made this story so good and absolutely fun to read. There are 2 or 3 parts that made me laugh so hard that I had tears in my eyes!! When the "city girl" came to visit with her new husband, Luke's uncle, and she got terrified by a garden snake----it was hilarious the way that Luke reacted with his boyhood innocence. He just could not believe she'd be so upset. Luke possessed curiousity that caused him to see or hear things that were terrifying and mystifying. Murder, violence, child birth, family love and tradition and so much more was a part of this book. Once you get reading and past the first chapter, it's near impossible to put the book down. Excellent. Don't pass up the chance to read this one.
Rating: 
Summary: A Painted House
Review: I have read all of your books and now reading this book. I am having a hard time because it is reminding me of 2 other books written by mystery authors who have stepped away from the norm. One is Stephen King's The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon and the other is I believe Stephen Martini I might be wrong. He wrote a book about the two children in a car with mother and father and the accident and the father, who wasa writer got killed and their mother was comotuse and theyhad to go live with their grandmother in the mountains. I am having a hard time because it reminds me of each and cheapens it. My 2 favorites of all your books were The Chamber and The client and I loved the rest. I dont know if I can even finish it and I've waited for "The House" for ages.
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